Rusty Foxglove is a biennial or short-lived perennial foxglove that commands attention with its tall, elegant spires of creamy yellow to pale golden brown tubular flowers marked with distinctive rusty interior veining. Growing 3 to 5 feet tall (occasionally to 6 feet) in hardiness zones 4 through 8, this species produces only a basal rosette of medium green, oblong leaves in its first year, then sends up dramatic flower spikes in the second year that bloom from May through July. Hummingbirds visit the pendulous blooms, and deer leave it untouched, making it an excellent choice for naturalized gardens where you want height and movement without constant maintenance.
Partial Shade
Moderate
4-8
60in H x 18in W
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Moderate
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The rusty interior veining of these creamy yellow flowers is what earned this foxglove its common name, and it's genuinely striking in person. Each pendulous bloom measures 0.75 to 1.5 inches long and is held in long terminal racemes that can stretch 2 to 3 feet up the flower spire, creating an almost architectural presence in the garden. The flowers hold up beautifully in cut arrangements, and the plant's deer resistance combined with its hummingbird appeal makes it work hard in mixed borders without the fussiness of high-maintenance perennials.
Rusty Foxglove is primarily grown for its ornamental flower spikes in garden settings, particularly in naturalized plantings where its height and structure can shine. The blooms work well as cut flowers, bringing the elegant architecture of the plant indoors for arrangements. Its tolerance for partial shade and ability to self-seed makes it valuable for woodland gardens and semi-shaded borders.
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Sow seeds directly in the garden in spring after the threat of frost has passed. Seeds are typically sown at the soil surface or barely covered, as they need light for germination. The seedlings will produce only a basal rosette of leaves in their first year, which overwinters as evergreen foliage before flowering spikes emerge the following season.
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