Shade Gardening: Foxgloves - great stems, no flowers, 0 by Lily_love

Lily_love wrote:
Growing perennial, biennial seeds are quite a challenge so I've found. I thought I sowed a package of California poppies this winter (direct sow outdoor), lo and behold, the whole package and I found one seedling came up. Mind you, one lonely seedling of Ca. Poppy, but I too found ton of digitalis seedlings came up as if from no where. The garden was a lasagna bed that was newly created (2007), what chances are there for natural/wind scattering old seeds from neighboring plants? I think the seed package got mixed up? (I was hoping the California annuals would give the bed some color until other perennials becomes mature).

Anyhow, those digitalis planted in year past returned and bloomed beautifully. I agree your problem with the foxglove probably root rot due to too moist an area? Mine are in well drained soil, they bloomed well in partial shade, bloomed better out in full morning-noon sun. Those in semishade retained their blooms longer.