Foxgloves are not what you'd call shrinking violets. They come in vibrant colours like purple and cream and when they flower each stem produces many striking and attractive glove-like flowers - all of which tends to make them a plant that stands out from the pack rather than shrink into the background.

But the background is exactly where they come into their own. Reaching heights of over one metre tall make foxgloves the perfect plants to remove from the limelight and retire to the backdrop of your flowerbeds. Compliment their spring-flowering colours by companion planting with other tall-growing flowers such as delphinium, stocks and hollyhocks.

You can grab your Awapuni Nurseries foxglove seedlings, and other tall flowers, from your local supermarket or Bunnings. Otherwise, visit our online store and get them delivered direct to your door - a service our rural customers are particularly fond of.

Once you've got your seedlings look for a flowerbed or spot in your garden that is sunny or semi-shade and not prone to frost. They like a nutrient rich soil, so dig in a bit of compost before you get planting. Got a rose garden? Foxgloves love the same conditions and compliment roses nicely.

As you would expect from plants with a bit of height it's important not to grow each seedling too close together - around 20cm apart is ideal. However, because of their height they do need to be grouped relatively near to each other, not only so they look better, but also so they can support each other's weight.

Lastly, as with most gardening it's a particularly good idea to wear gloves when planting or dealing with foxgloves. As you're probably aware, they are toxic if ingested (be especially careful around them with small children who have a tendency to put things in their mouths).