Plant your own foxglove haven at home

Attract bees and wildlife to the garden by featuring foxgloves in your planting scheme. They’re sure to give a burst of colour to any corner of the garden.

Foxgloves were a clear favourite at this year’s BBC Gardeners’ World Live at the NEC in Birmingham, appearing in the Beautiful Borders, Show Gardens and throughout the Floral Marquee. Popular in cottage gardens, foxgloves make a lovely addition to the garden, coming in many colours and varieties.

With the help of our friends at BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine, we’ve put together some top tips to help you grow your own foxglove haven at home. 

BBC Gardeners' World Live (15th - 17th June 2022)
The Hideout, inspired by Peaky Blinders in celebration of the BBC’s 100th anniversary, designed by Alex Froggatt.
JI_GWLive2022_1501
Foxgloves in the Floral Marquee at BBC Gardeners’ World Live

Let’s get growing!

To start growing foxgloves, sow the seeds in a tray of seed compost. Instead of covering the seed, place a propagator lid or sheet of glass over the tray. Already grown plants can be plotted straight into the garden in spring or autumn.

When looking for a spot to plant your foxgloves, it’s important to remember that most varieties of foxgloves prefer the shade and do best in a well-drained, moist soil. What’s more, you might not get flowers the same year you plant. To get your foxgloves to self-seed around the garden for flowers every year, plant them two years in a row.

Foxgloves will self-seed on their own in the garden – just avoid deadheading the flowers until seeds have developed and ripened. You can collect the seeds and scatter them where you’d like them to grow, or sow seeds in a tray of compost.

Top tips

  • Deadhead blooms after flowering for a second wind of flowers, or let them self seed over the garden.
  • Protect young plants from slugs and snails
  • All parts of foxgloves are poisonous, and can kill an adult human if any of the part is ingested. Avoid this plant if your pets are prone to eating garden plants.

Browse the gallery below to get foxglove garden inspiration from the gardens at BBC Gardeners’ World Live

Ready to plant? Check out some of the floral features, Beautiful Borders and Show Gardens from BBC Gardeners’ World Live 2022 for ideas of where to plant in your garden, as well as colour schemes and ideas for planting.

New year, new garden, new trends!

We’re through the garden gate into 2023, with a host of gardening trends blooming throughout the country. From house plants reaching dizzying heights of popularity, to the colour of the year ‘Viva Magenta’, read on for our full list of trends.

To get up close and personal with fresh garden inspiration, new plants, the latest gardening kit and more, join us in 2023.

Colour of the Year 2023

Hand-picked by Pantone, the colour of the year has been named as ‘Viva Magenta. 

Pantone describe the colour as ‘brave and fearless, and a pulsating colour whose exuberance promotes a joyous and optimistic celebration, writing a new narrative.’

Discover a world of colour and scent in the stunning Floral Marquee,  bursting with award-winning nurseries and display.

Sustainable gardening

Whilst your garden might seem to already be very green, it can always be greener!

Discover ways you can make gardening more sustainable, like upcycling common items to make stylish features. What was a pallet, hessian bags, bits of pipe, and tin cans, could become a planter, grow bags, water features, and wildlife habitats.

Be inspired by the BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine editorial team as they’re joined by experts to give tips and advice.

Grow your own food

Looking to go from soil to supper this year? Get brilliant advice from the National Allotment Society at the event.

Peat-free gardening

Learn about the latest peat-free compost from exhibitors who can offer face-to-face advice.

Indoor gardening

Foliage doesn’t just belong outside – bring nature indoors and be inspired by the Houseplant Hub.

Mindful gardening

Beautiful Borders returns with this year’s theme ‘My Garden Escape’ to give you space savvy ideas.

Gardening on a budget

Discover different ways you can let your garden bloom under a tighter budget, with advice from expert gardeners.

Fermented foods

Visit the BBC Good Food Summer Show (with free entry with your ticket!) and discover the latest foodie trends.

Feeling inspired? Find out what else is happening at BBC Gardeners’ World Live this June!