How many foxgloves in a half barrel?

Hi,

I want to plant some foxglove plants (5) in a half whiskey barrel. Is that too many?

Also, what could I plant around them?

Any input greatly appreciated.

 

What's the diameter of a half-whiskey barrel?

 

This one is 23.5” in diameter

 

The standard size of a whiskey barrel is between 26 and 28 inches at the belly.

 

Hi! Your post didn't show up when I spotted your thread. Sorry about that. Is your 23.5" measurement taken at the bottom of the barrel or at the belly? Just curious. The different whiskey distillers will have a variety of sizes it seems.

 

Good point. That measurement is the belly of the barrel (so the top of the half barrel)

 

Does your barrel have drainage holes?

What soil mix are you using ?

Make sure you put your large heavy barrel on a wheeled plant caddy (I like the one from Down Under by B_____(can’t think of name) — here is an example Bosmere Plant Caddie | Bed Bath and Beyond Canada

One thing I sometimes do is plant in a nursery pot that fits the decorative container — then have a « spiller » that conceals the difference (the gap)

This means you can change out with seasons because foxgloves are short lived (they seed very freely!)

(Thriller / fîller / spiller)

Question - is there a label with your foxgloves? What does it say ?

Foxgloves are blooming now at the coast so I would be surprised if they would transplant well.

Remember foxgloves are digitalis so don’t let your dog or cat or kids sample it ever

PS - if you want year-round structure you could plant a small-size evergreen shrub like a purpose-bred boxwood (buxus) then enhance with seasonal like a few pots of daffodils in spring tucked in .... then summer with hosta and foxgloves — then fall with mums and winter with festive etc.

 

I was just going to use potting soil I got at Art Knapp.

I bought them off FB marketplace so I don’t have any other info unfortunately.

 

5 plants in that amount of space would probably be denser than one would ever see in the wild--the stalks would be fine, but the leaves take up a lot of room. I can't imagine there being room / light for growing too many things with them in that space. Keep in mind they are also biennial, so you will have one year of leaves and one year of flowering stalk.

 

Thanks everyone for your advice!

 

You’re welcome

To give you an idea of foxglove in a large container -

I took some coast pictures today

Thé foxglove is very tall

And I have it mixed in with ...

hosta - a perennial but has leaves only in summer

heuchera - thé bronze - burgundy leaves - they last all yr

Aster - it will have purple flowers in autumn - it’s the September flower

White flower is a volunteer I happen to like - chamomile perhaps?

Added height from twigs of curly willow and a sword fern

I tucked in some sedum (hens and chicks) in a decorative container next to the huge foxglove container

When foxglove is finished a a couple of weeks fr now - I have some lilies potted up to tuck in where foxglove leaves a gap —- like outdoor flower arranging!

Last spring I tucked in pots of tiny daffodils (tête à tête) and that looked nice too

 

In my opinion - still pulling up dozens of foxglove seedlings after 'eliminating' them many years ago - one is too many.

 

In addition to garden accidents — we’ll have to start planting accidents thread (alstroemerias anyone?!)