White Flower Farm
Digitalis purpurea 'Sugar Plum'
Best vertical accent for gardeners seeking low-maintenance, self-seeding floral drama.
Digitalis purpurea 'Sugar Plum', commonly known as Foxglove, offers dramatic vertical accents with tall spires of pink flowers featuring heavily speckled deep purple throats. This vigorous biennial is splendid for mixed beds, borders, or lining fences, providing rich color that is hard to duplicate. While some Digitalis species are perennial, this variety tends to be short-lived, though it often reseeds itself. It thrives in sun or partial shade and makes an excellent cut flower when blooms are half open. Foliage generally remains evergreen, requiring minimal fall cleanup.
$16.95
Owner Satisfaction
4.5
/ 5
Category Rank
1787
/ 3268
#1787 in Landscaping & Garden Plants
Price vs Category Average
-39%
Below average
Common Name
Foxglove
/ Foxglove
Who it's for
- Gardeners seeking dramatic height for mid-to-back border displays
- Eco-conscious homeowners wanting to support local hummingbirds and bees
- Low-effort gardeners preferring plants that naturally replenish themselves
Who should skip it
- Busy homeowners looking for strictly low-maintenance, hands-off landscaping
- Pet owners and parents of small children needing safe plants
- Gardeners wanting permanent, long-lived perennial garden fixtures
Performance breakdown
Visual Impact
Tall, speckled spires create an unmistakable focal point in any border.
Versatility
Adapts easily to both full sun and partial shade garden environments.
Maintenance Ease
Evergreen foliage minimizes the need for tedious seasonal cleanup.
Longevity
Biennial nature requires patience, though self-seeding helps maintain the display.
Floral Utility
Sturdy stems perform beautifully as dramatic additions to indoor arrangements.
Hardiness Range
Robust growth across zones four through nine ensures wide regional viability.
Key Specs
Common Name
Foxglove
Hardiness Zone
4-9
Exposure
Sun to Part Shade
Blooms In
June-July
Mature Height
3-4 feet
Spacing
18-24 inches
Ships as
1 Pint (28.86 cu in.)
Features
- Provides dramatic, richly colored vertical accents in the garden.
- Features tall, densely packed spires of flowers.
- Flowers have unique pink coloration with heavily speckled deep purple throats.
- Ideal for adding structure to mixed beds and borders.
- Tolerates both sun and partial shade conditions.
- Foliage tends to remain evergreen, offering winter interest.
- Self-sows, ensuring return in subsequent seasons.
- Excellent for use as cut flowers.
What customers say
Customers consistently praise the exceptional quality of the 'Sugar Plum' foxglove starts, noting they arrive healthy and robust. The primary delight is the reliable performance and stunning aesthetic impact these plants provide. Gardeners appreciate how easily this variety establishes and how true the unique plum and cream coloration blooms, making them a standout feature in the garden. This Digitalis delivers on its promise of dramatic vertical interest and vibrant color, confirming its status as a premium garden investment.
Know before you buy
This variety is a biennial, meaning it typically completes its life cycle over two years. While it is short-lived, it is known for self-sowing, which often allows it to return to your garden year after year.
It is quite versatile and performs well in both full sun and partial shade. In hotter climates, providing some afternoon shade will help the plant maintain its vigor.
No, the foliage is generally evergreen. It will provide some structure and interest in your garden even during the colder months, which also means you don't need to worry about extensive fall cleanup.
For the longest vase life, harvest the flower spikes when the individual blooms are about half open. This allows them to continue opening beautifully once placed in water.
To ensure proper air circulation and allow the plants to reach their full height of 3 to 4 feet, space them 18 to 24 inches apart.
Still have a question?
Ask Hayley anything about this product before you decide.
Ready to buy?
$17