mine said full sun but online i've seen them listed as for shade.

I have some in both. Hard to say which ones do better, but maybe the ones in sun have a slight edge. Sorry that's not more helpful.

Maybe they do better in the colder zones?

Purple foxgloves are a native plant up here. They grow everywhere. I can already tell which ones will be extremely tall. They're the ones that have already formed a huge rosette. Often some white or rose coloured ones show up too.

Libby

Do you buy foxglove plants? I did, and thats where my problem lay I believe. I noticed that the plants I bought would be small all year, and the next spring theyd just rot out, even if they should have bloomed that year. I tried sun, shade, great drainage, no drainage, and everything inbetween. They just looked horrible and the flowers would topple over at first bud. I gave up on them in frustration...
THEN last fall I noticed there was a seedling comming up in my shade garden. It was the healthiest looking foxglove I had ever seen! It put off a eight foot flower this spring! I collected seed for next year. I think that seeding often produces much healthier plants. You may have more luck doing it this way too...
Hope this helps you!
CMK

Here if in full sun they get fried. I planted some in full and in part shade last year. The two that I had in full sun well like I said they fried. The ones I have in part sun are very lush (I have the perenial kind) and full. Maybe up north or in colder climates they can handle full sun but the south is a different story.
Meghan

Yes, the one foxglove this summer I had that was just gorgeous I started from seed. But I had many seedlings just peeter out. I started some for my mom, and they thrived in her garden. Maybe it is my soil? I have no idea what kind of soil they like.

Mine are in full sun. They like rich soil with good drainage. I find that they love regualr watering.

Mine get morning sun and afternoon shade. This is their first year, and they seem to be doing fine. I hope I have some reseed for next spring.

Sue

Edna, those are gorgeous!! Maybe mine need richer soil. I'll try them in sun.

i plant mine in the direct sun and even have some blooming now -- weird huh?

My best ones are in mostly shade. Even the ones that get only morning sun fry in summer.

Karen

Mine never seem to thrive either. They would fry if set in our sun, so I grow them in shade. Even so, they never attain the proportions of the ones I saw in Scotland, both in woodland gardens and in full sun. Now that is the real thing, growing wild along the main street of a small Highland village.

Eduarda

I have some in sun and lots in dappled shade. The ones in my back shade bed this year got 6+ feet tall. I couldn't believe it! I find that they like moist soil, lots of mulch and to be left alone. After the flowers have fallen off and I've collected my seeds I deadhead the entire stalk and within a week or so I have a whole other round of stalks and blooms popping up. They are my favorite flower!!

Fantastic picture, Eduarda. Takes one's breath away. I can almost feel the breeze as well.

Edna

Let's see, Foxglove, what did you say your favorite flower was? LOL I've only grown them in a place where they probably didn't get enough water. Even when I deadheaded, I usually only got one flush of blooms. Now, I have several kinds in my new bed. They seem to like it there, but they aren't getting very tall.

I thought that if you let the plant go to seed, it wouldn't bloom again the same season, so I've been deadheading before they can go to seed. They look like they are going to bloom again. Love the pics, btw.

Sue

Wow Foxglove, am I jealous!
okay, more moisture and mulch it is. Thanks for the advice. Maybe I need you to come wave a wand over them and give them your good karma!

I grow mine in dappled shade and agree, they love well amended, good draining soil and regular watering. Deadheading really helps them to continue to bloom but in my garden I find they do better if I keep them cut back until Sept. when I get another nice round of blooms. Otherwise I get blooms in the summer but they aren't very impressive.

Diana

Eduarda that picture is so pretty - to see that view in real life must have been captivating!

I grow Foxgloves in partial sun - they get 4 or 5 hours of sun mixed with some shade through the day. I've bought a few plants over the years and they have done well.

This year I winter-sowed Digitalis purpurea and it was easy to start from seed. They sprouted early and and I got tons of sprouts. I planted out 8 or 10 little seedlings in a partial sun, nice rich, well-drained bed created by lasagne, and we've gotten tons of rain this summer. The rosettes they are creating are enormous! I can't wait to see them next year.