Advice on creating a bluebell wood

[Billabong Karen]

Originally Posted by Cotham Marble

Foxgloves tend to prefer a fairly rich, deep soil, so may struggle in an area that is heavily tree rooted, light requirements shouldn't be problem though. You may find it difficult to get foxgloves to develop from seed sown under trees, so it may be necessary to grow them on in pots and plant them out for flowering; they are binnniels (although sometimes reflowering in the third year but only rather sparsely), so you would need to propogate more each year. They do produce plenty of seed though.

CM

It seems to me that foxgloves grow in the woods wherever trees have been felled... I always assumed this was because they take advantage of a space where there is light available, and they dont seem to have a problem with the tree roots. Thank you for the advice about starting them out in pots - unfortunately I have already strewn the seed I had, but am purchasing some more and will try potting and replanting in the spring. Maybe I'll try some in a flower bed too, that's also good advice.

I did know they were biennials - my hope was that once two years' worth had grown, that they would re-seed naturally. Fingers crossed!

[King Edward]

Their natural habitat is essentially temporary gaps in woodland, where they can take advantage of the high light levels to grow, flower and seed before the area gets overgrown again by woody regrowth. The seed has a very long lifespan, so can survive considerable periods waiting for suitable conditions.

[Billabong Karen]

Originally Posted by King Edward

Their natural habitat is essentially temporary gaps in woodland, where they can take advantage of the high light levels to grow, flower and seed before the area gets overgrown again by woody regrowth. The seed has a very long lifespan, so can survive considerable periods waiting for suitable conditions.

Yes, that's what I thought; so hopefully the area where we felled one tree will be perfect for foxgloves (and possibly the bluebells too). I'll keep you posted...

[King Edward]

Hopefull, yes. One other thing I forgot to mention is that they also like the freedom from competition with e.g. dense grasses, which is why they should do well in regularly weeded areas, obviously so long as you don't weed the foxglove seedlings out.

[galanthophile]

What a lovely project. I find foxgloves seed just about anywhere in my garden, in sun, shade, moisture or very dry. Take a chance and see what happens. Good luck.

[Billabong Karen]

Just wanted to say - many thanks for all the advice I got on this thread, the bluebells did indeed come up and while they have not yet created the true 'bluebell wood' look, they do look very nice, and I hope will spread! K

[Janec]

Glad your bluebells came up.
I did the same and planted some last autumn, some under some trees where the ground was covered with leaf litter and some in a small grassy clearing.
They all come up, despite the numerous rodents we have in the garden and I was delighted when buds began to form, which I hadn't expected the first year.
What I didn't expect was my husband calling me down the garden to show me what a nice job he'd made of mowing the grassy clearing
Does anyone know if they'll come up next year when they've been mown down in their prime?

[Billabong Karen]

Originally Posted by Janec

Glad your bluebells came up.
I did the same and planted some last autumn, some under some trees where the ground was covered with leaf litter and some in a small grassy clearing.
They all come up, despite the numerous rodents we have in the garden and I was delighted when buds began to form, which I hadn't expected the first year.
What I didn't expect was my husband calling me down the garden to show me what a nice job he'd made of mowing the grassy clearing
Does anyone know if they'll come up next year when they've been mown down in their prime?

Oh how infuriating!!! I dont know if the mown down bluebells will come back again - maybe you'll have to do another lot of planting. Perhaps get your husband to plant them this time, so he knows where NOT to mow!!!

(On the other hand, at least he does do some of the gardening... )