How to Transplant a Foxglove

Foxglove growing in a garden
  • 0.5-1
  • Beginner
  • 25-50
What You'll Need
Compost
Hand spade
Mulch
Foxglove plant
What You'll Need
Compost
Hand spade
Mulch
Foxglove plant

The best way to transplant a foxglove depends on where the plant is coming from, and at what stage it's at in its life cycle. Foxgloves are biennial plants, meaning they have a 2-year blooming cycle. The first year, they produce only foliage, and the second year they produce colorful, bell-shaped flowers before dying. Sometimes, when the plants reseed and propagate, they show up in places that are less than ideal. In this case, you will need to be careful and mindful of the time of year your transplant, as the fall is best. If you have purchased foxglove, you can plant it in the spring while the weather is still cool.

Foxglove will be happy to be planted in a flower bed that receives plenty of sun, but it will also do well outside a flower bed, as long as the soil is healthy and has good drainage. Do not plant them in areas where children play, as they are poisonous.

Step 1 - For a Newly Purchased Foxglove

foxglove petals

If you are purchasing a foxglove to transplant into your flower bed or other spot, make sure you find one that has healthy, robust leaves. If you want the plant to bloom that year, make sure to buy one that is already a year old. If you buy seedlings, you will have to wait a year for the plant to produce flowers.

Once you have your plant, pick out a spot where you want it to go. Make sure the area receives plenty of sun and has proper drainage. If the area has poor drainage, you may want to improve the soil by adding compost all around the area. If you live in a warmer zone, choose a spot that gets shade in the late afternoon. The foxglove will struggle if it gets too hot. Plant early in the season while the weather is cooler.

Dig a hole that is larger than the plant and the soil it has around it. Add a handful of compost to the hole and then plant the foxglove on top of that. Gently fill the hole with soil, making sure the soil around the plant is firm, but not too compacted. Water and fertilize, then add a layer of mulch around the plant. Lucerne straw makes a good mulch as it will keep slugs and snails away.

Step 2 - For Transplanting From One Spot To Another

If you have foxglove growing already, but want to put it elsewhere, it is best to wait until fall to transplant. In the fall, the plant's growing season is over and it won't have to be watered so much. It will be easier for the roots to spread if they are not water logged. Dig up the plant, taking as much of the soil around it as possible. Fill the new hole with water, and when the water has absorbed, put the plant in the hole. Cover loosely with soil and add mulch.