Species Downy False Foxglove
bright-yellow flowers, yellow buds with lime-green sepals and dark-green leaves

Downy False Foxglove

Aureolaria virginica

Also Known As - Downy Yellow False Foxglove
Downy False Foxglove (Aureolaria virginica) is an annual or biennial wildflower. It grows to a height of 1-3 feet, and has simple or branched stems, yellow-green leaves and yellowish, rarely white, flowers. It flowers from June to October, and the seeds are distributed by the wind. This small plant grows in dry to moist open fields, waste areas, and along roadsides, often in full sun. The flowers and leaves both have a downy texture giving the plant its common name. It's an important food source for bee and butterfly species, as well as other pollinators.

Watering:

Minimal

Propagation:

Seed Propagation,Cutting,Division,Layering Propagation

Hardiness Zone:

Flowers:

Yellow Flowers

Sun:

Partial Shade, Shade

Soil:

Sand, Loam

Leaf:

Yes

Leaf Color:

green

Growth Rate:

Low

Drought Tolerant:

Yes

Salt Tolerant:

Yes

Care Level:

Medium

watering

Downy False Foxglove (Aureolaria virginica) requires regular watering during the growing season when the soil becomes slightly dry. As a general rule, water your plant at least once a week and apply approximately 1 inch of water. Be sure to adjust the frequency of watering according to the weather -- if it's been raining, you don't need to water as often. During drought periods, you may need to water more frequently. During the dormancy period in winter, do not water.

sunlight

Downy False Foxglove (Aureolaria virginica) prefers full sun to light shade, with at least 6 hours of direct sunlight each day. While this plant needs plenty of light, it also needs plenty of water, so indirectly it is better suited to partial shade to ensure that its soil doesn not become too dry. Morning sun is best, as hot afternoon sun, although necessary to some degree, can be too intense for this species.

pruning

Downy false foxglove is an herbaceous perennial native to the North Carolina region. It typically grows to a height of up to 3 feet tall and produces deep orange, pink, or yellow flowers in late summer. Pruning should be done when it is dormant in the late winter or early spring. Pruning only affects the height and structure of the plant, so prune conservatively and only remove unhealthy, dead, or unruly stems. Prune at least ¼ of the stems to the ground, removing as much of the stem as possible. This will encourage the plant to produce more vigorous stems the following season. Deadheading spent blooms may also be done in the late summer to reduce the amount of seed production. Following these pruning steps will ensure that your downy Foxglove stays healthy and happy!

Season

Fall
Winter
Spring
Summer
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Starts Flowering

Downy False Foxglove typically starts flowering in April.