Last year I had great success W-sowing Digitalis purpurea, which is the biennial species. Native to Europe, it grows in partially shaded woodlands, along bodies of water, etc. in its natural habitat. I have read it likes medium soil and part shade. Apparently the crowns can rot over the winter if the soil is too wet. I planted mine in the hummingbird garden, which is partial sun and the moistest soil in the yard. They loved it there because they grew into huge clumps. Some retained more green foliage than others over the winter. The biggest one turned brown and looked like it had died, so I thought it might have been too wet over the winter for that one, but it is putting out a bit of new growth, so we'll see.

Have to agree - they are worth the wait. I have quite a few in the gardens which will flower this year from sowing last year and have quazillions still in containers from this year. Just started planting out in earnest this past week and those I've planted have already doubled in size. I sowed the perennial Parviflora one and am so looking forward to it. There's so many that I may place them in a new bed created last fall which measures about 7 feet long and 4 feet wide in an oblong shape. They are not as colourful as yours, but they still have that stately height! Thanks for posting. I know what I have to look forward to with the ones which are going to bloom this year.

One issue that may be confusing some is that the USDA hardiness zones ONLY apply to winter low temperatures. Summer heat or humidity or annual rainfall, etc, have absolutely no association with these zones. The only zone one should care about is the lowest one listed....that is what determines if the plant will survive winter in your location. Any other zones are just an attempt by the grower to included factors into the equation that simply cannot be addressed by this zonal system nor were they ever intended to!! btw, just to emphasize this mistake, I am also in a zone 9 climate and common foxgloves have naturalized throughout my area and grow wild!! Zone 9 is not directly associated with summer heat.....only lack of severe winter cold . Period. If you have concerns about the plant's appropriateness for your location and you live on the west coast, then check out the Sunset Western Garden Book. Their zonal system is much broader and DOES take into consideration other factors. btw, all the plants you list are just fine for Sunset zone 18 :-) I would sow any of the seeds now and with the plants in question, direct sow in the garden rather than start indoors or in pots. And if by 'fairy wand' you mean Dierama pulcherrimum, that is normally started by corms, not seed.

Thanks! I do have both larkspur and Delphiniums, and don't have any problem with them, so far anyway, they are both on thier second year. Will Monkshood grow in part shade? If the foxgloves I put in this year don't come back, that is an option for that spot. I will have to make sure to mulch the foxgloves this fall. I guess it is the tall colorful spikes I am looking for, I have a lot of blue in the garden already. I have a number of island gardens, I bet the foxgloves would grow great in what I call my front garden, everything does! But it is already soo full there is no room for more. And no space to expand it. This bed just happens to be in the one spot in the yard, where the oak leaves blow in and mulch it, with no help from me. And the largest snowbank in the yard is over it every year. Perfect! Jenny P