Have you considered Liatrus at all? They're very tall and have amazing purple flower stalks, the bees love them.
We had an exceptionally cold winter, but did you mulch them heavily over the winter?
I don't have Lupines yet, but have the others, foxys are new to me as well, just planted some last year, along with h.h. and delphies. They seem to be doing well, don't give up yet.
What about Monkshood? Again, I don't have these yet either, but they're very nice too and do well in shade.
I hope this helps somewhat, good luck.

There is a native lupine, Lupinus perennis, also called sundial lupine, that should grow up north without issue. It is a gorgeous blue flower, and it spreads, so beware. As far as delphinium, foxglove and monkshood go, I buy inexpensive small plants and treat them as annuals. The majority of the foxglove that you refer to (great colorful spikes) are biennials anyway. Monkshood can be just as difficult, if not more than delphinium. You might want to try larkspur, it is an annual with more finely divided foliage, but the spike flowers are just as nice. If your budget does not allow for spendy annuals, how about a bunch of snapdragons? Tons of color, differing heights and you can get a bunch for a little.

Good Luck....Helen.

Delphiniums have been short lived for me but worth the effort. The ones I ws last year did not survive the winter. Am trying again with good germination on several varieties.

Digitalis 'Foxy' is said to be a first year bloomer. Not sure about 'Excelsior'. I'm looking forward to seeing bloom on 'Candy Mountain' which was ws last year.

Monkshood has been growing in my gardens for years. It hasn't required any particular care though I do mulch my gardens well for winter. Aconite has a beautiful tall blue-violet bloom and is a very late bloomer.

Thanks! I do have both larkspur and Delphiniums, and don't have any problem with them, so far anyway, they are both on thier second year.

Will Monkshood grow in part shade? If the foxgloves I put in this year don't come back, that is an option for that spot. I will have to make sure to mulch the foxgloves this fall.

I guess it is the tall colorful spikes I am looking for, I have a lot of blue in the garden already.

I have a number of island gardens, I bet the foxgloves would grow great in what I call my front garden, everything does! But it is already soo full there is no room for more. And no space to expand it. This bed just happens to be in the one spot in the yard, where the oak leaves blow in and mulch it, with no help from me. And the largest snowbank in the yard is over it every year. Perfect!

Jenny P

Monkshood would prefer to have some shade, and moist soil. I fail with it because my only shade is under a moisture sucking maple...sounds like your bed would love it.

Helen.

Have you tried digitalis grandiflora? It is yellow, more of a clump than a spike, about 2-3 feet tall, very pretty and hardy, at least in Minneapolis. It is supposed to go to zone 3. The leaves are smooth and winter over better. I've had luck with "Foxy" blooming in the fall from small plants purchased in the spring, but it never winters over.

Oh thank you, I will have to keep an eye out for that variety.

Jenny P

Not sure of the zones on these, but for spikes you could also consider astilbe, ligularia, and baptisia.

And I forgot to mention Thermopsis, sometimes referred to as 'false lupine'.

I haven't had any luck with foxglove, either, and I live in Z4. Ditto, lupines. Even monkshood has given me problems. I have found one variety that really works for me, though--Spark's variety. It gets really tall, and almost has a vining quality to it. I have it on the north side of my house, where the snow and ice is always the last to melt and the soil temp stays cool all summer long. It gets morning sun and afternoon shade since it's sandwiched between a dogwood and a lilac bush. I've been really happy with it. The flowers are gorgeous and it blooms over a long period of time.

I have lupine and it does fine. Grew it from seed probably the same variety mentioned earlier (I think the seed packet said Colorado lupine). Awesome blue color and nice big plant. Has been coming up for 8 years. Too bad your so far away. If you were comin to the swap I'd dig ya up one.

Foxglove is one of my favorites even though they are a short lived biennial. If planted early enough you should get some blooms.

Thank you for the offer Lazyweeder, I am actually down in the cities area today. At my sisters in Forest Lake, but without a vehicle for myself! My DH had a meeting Rochester yesterday and today, and we have a graduation this afternoon in Inver grove.
I would have loved to come to the swap, but it just didn't work out.

Jenny P