Growli
Let's go

Plant care

Foxglove Sage care

Salvia digitaliflora

Also called Foxglove Sage.

RHS H2USDA 10-12Mildly toxic to petsIndoor Approximately 0.9–1.5 m (3–5 ft) tall and 0.6–0.9 m (2–3 ft) wide in container or sheltered border cultivation.

Watering rhythm

Bright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)

Regular — keep soil evenly moist but not saturated

Jump to schedule→Get smart reminders in the app

Light

Bright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)

Soil

Moist, humus-rich, well-drained loam

Humidity

Moderate to high

Temp

3 to 25°C

Pet safety

Mildly toxic to pets

Mature size

Approximately 0.9–1.5 m (3–5 ft) tall and 0.6–0.9 m (2–3 ft) wide in container or sheltered border cultivation.

Care at a glance

Light

In the wild foxglove sage grows on the bright edge of a forest canopy, not in the canopy and not in the open. Indoors, that translates to within a metre of an unobstructed window, sheer curtain optional. Prefers bright, indirect or dappled light reflecting its high-altitude cloud-forest habitat; afternoon shade is beneficial in hot, low-altitude gardens. The fastest test: a hand held at the leaf casts a soft-edged shadow at noon — sharp shadow means too much sun, no shadow means too little light.

Watering

Aim for regular — keep soil evenly moist but not saturated for foxglove sage, but treat that as a starting point rather than a rule. A south-facing summer windowsill will dry the pot twice as fast as a north-facing winter room. Lift the pot; if it feels noticeably lighter than it did wet, water it. Unlike many sages, this Andean species is adapted to more consistent moisture at elevation; do not allow the root ball to dry out completely, but ensure drainage is excellent to prevent root rot.

Soil and pot

Foxglove Sage grows best in moist, humus-rich, well-drained loam. Prefers fertile, leafy, free-draining mountain soil; incorporate well-rotted compost when planting and mulch to retain moisture in summer. A pot with a working drainage hole is non-negotiable for this species — even free-draining mix will turn soggy in a closed planter. If you love the look of a decorative pot without a hole, use it as a cachepot around an inner nursery pot you can lift out to water.

Humidity and temperature

Foxglove Sage sits happiest at around Moderate to high humidity and 3 to 25°C (37 to 77°F). Adapted to the moist, cloud-influenced conditions of Andean valleys; benefits from ambient humidity above 50%. Suitable for a cool, humid conservatory or sheltered garden border in mild regions. If you keep the room above 3 to 25°C year-round and avoid placing the plant near a cold draught, a hot radiator, or an air-conditioning vent, you have already handled the two biggest indoor stressors.

Fertilising

Feed foxglove sage sparingly. Feed monthly during the growing season with a balanced liquid fertiliser diluted to half strength; this species benefits from steady nutrition in a container setting. Skip fertiliser entirely on a stressed, recently-repotted, or actively wilting plant — fertiliser salts make damage worse, not better. Wait for a round of healthy new growth before resuming a feeding rhythm.

Common problems

Below are the issues we see most often on foxglove sage in the Growli community. Each is annotated with the most common cause so you know where to start.

  • Root rot from overwatering or poor drainage — Despite preferring moist conditions, roots must never sit in stagnant water; use free-draining potting compost and containers with good drainage holes, and allow excess water to drain freely after watering.
  • Aphids on new growth — Soft emerging shoots attract aphid infestations; check regularly under leaves and at growing tips. Treat with insecticidal soap spray or neem oil, and encourage beneficial insects such as ladybirds.

Propagation

Take softwood or semi-ripe cuttings in spring or early summer and root in a moist, well-drained propagation mix with gentle bottom heat. Seed can be sown at 18–22°C in spring, though germination may be slow and erratic. Propagation is the cheapest, most satisfying way to expand a collection — and it doubles as insurance against losing a mature plant to an accident. Take a backup cutting once the parent is established and healthy.

Toxicity to pets

Foxglove Sage is mildly toxic to pets. The ASPCA lists common sage (Salvia officinalis) as non-toxic to dogs, cats, and horses. Salvia digitaliflora is not individually assessed by the ASPCA; mildly-toxic classification applied as a precaution for this rare, poorly-documented species. If you keep cats, dogs, or curious children in the house, weigh placement carefully — a high shelf or a hanging planter is enough for casual safety. For severe ingestion incidents, call your local vet and the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (in the US, 888-426-4435).

Pet-safety status is sourced from the ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List, which catalogues the most-asked-about plants for cats, dogs, and horses.

Foxglove Sage care — frequently asked questions

What is Foxglove Sage?

Foxglove Sage (Salvia digitaliflora) is a flowering plant with a upright, clump-forming perennial with bold foliage and tall, erect flower spikes reminiscent of foxgloves. growth habit, reaching approximately 0.9–1.5 m (3–5 ft) tall and 0.6–0.9 m (2–3 ft) wide in container or sheltered border cultivation. at maturity. Salvia digitaliflora is a rare, tall-growing perennial sage native to the high Andes of Peru and Bolivia, where it grows at altitude in moist, cool mountain conditions. It produces large, foxglove-like tubular flowers (the trait that gives it its name) on tall upright spikes, and is an uncommon plant in cultivation outside botanical collections.

How much light does foxglove sage need?

Foxglove Sage grows best in bright indirect light (just back from a sunny window). Prefers bright, indirect or dappled light reflecting its high-altitude cloud-forest habitat; afternoon shade is beneficial in hot, low-altitude gardens.

How often should I water foxglove sage?

Water foxglove sage regular — keep soil evenly moist but not saturated. Unlike many sages, this Andean species is adapted to more consistent moisture at elevation; do not allow the root ball to dry out completely, but ensure drainage is excellent to prevent root rot. The finger-test (or lifting the pot to feel its weight) beats a fixed weekly calendar because pot size, light, and season all change how fast the soil dries.

Is foxglove sage toxic to cats and dogs?

Foxglove Sage is mildly toxic to pets. The ASPCA lists common sage (Salvia officinalis) as non-toxic to dogs, cats, and horses. Salvia digitaliflora is not individually assessed by the ASPCA; mildly-toxic classification applied as a precaution for this rare, poorly-documented species.

What USDA hardiness zone does foxglove sage grow in?

Foxglove Sage is rated for USDA zone 10-12 (indoor in most climates) and RHS hardiness H2. Outside that range, grow it as a container plant that overwinters indoors before the first hard frost.

Foxglove Sage deep-dive guides

Every aspect of foxglove sage care, each with its own calibrated guide:

Featured in these plant shortlists

Foxglove Sage qualifies for 3 curated Growli shortlists — each one filtered objectively from our structured plant-care library, so the selection is consistent and checkable:

Related guides

Foxglove Sage is also commonly called Foxglove Sage.