Wildlife value of Foxglove — an unexpected bonus

I planted Foxglove primarily for ornamental reasons. What I didn't anticipate was the wildlife it would attract. naturalistic aesthetic that suits modern ecological gardens seems to be particularly appealing to bees and butterflies during the main growing period.

I grow it in a roadside or verge planting in a community space which allows me to watch the activity up close. peak flowering from early to midsummer is the most active period for wildlife visits. avoiding any fertiliser which would favour grasses over flowers is important for keeping the plant healthy enough to flower well and provide that value. annual weed competition overwhelming slow-establishing flowers is the thing to watch — it reduces flowering and therefore wildlife visits if left unchecked. A plant that earns its place twice over.