Mine also reseed where I don't want them and certainly not where I do want them. I just transplant some and pull up some.

I would imagine that they do want open conditions and do want more sun, you see them growing along the road in the open and in clear cuts with the fireweed. However, it is my garden and I'll transplant them where I want them. ;)

Millions of them on clearcuts in western Washington foothills. Lots of sun there. But I think it is enabled by the higher precipitation of areas east of most populated portions. Jacobson, WILD PLANTS OF GREATER SEATTLE says

"FOXGLOVE is a bennial or short-lived perennial that comes up wild in many places, favoring rich soil and part shade; it hates hot, dry, sunny sites."

Around here foxglove is a full sun or light shade plant. In the rest of the country they're shade plants so people moving here tend to think they need shade here to but they don't. And most all the gardening books list them as shade plants too. Not so here. Reseeders will reseed where they want, not where you want. You can always transplant the volunteers. They do like organic matter and moisture and don't seem to mind competition, I have them coming up all over my raised bed right in with all the other plants, in a southern exposure with sun nearly all day long - long enough for the roses to thrive. I like it fine that way. Some get yanked, some get moved. They're not long lived perennials as stated above, but biennials that reseed and put out offshoots. You see them all over in sunny roadcuts and clearcuts and disturbed pastures, the key is moist soil.

>In the rest of the country they're shade plants so people moving here tend to think they need shade here to but they don't.Jacobson has lived here for ~46 years. I know what he's talking about, in drier areas near the Sound they aren't as good in sunny spots that dry out as shaded ones that don't bake.

Thanks, guys! Once again, the best advice comes from REAL gardeners. GardenWeb rocks!!!

I now know where to shake my seeds for the best results.
Daphne in Tacoma

I brought home two blooming foxgloves in a pot from a nursery and set them out in my forested yard to acclimate. Then I pulled a classic purple thumb boo boo and forgot about them. Now the stalks of both have bent in the middle and collapsed. No teeth marks: I think they just got too dry. This is a forested part of Seattle and we've been having light rain--just not enough (maybe) to keep these flowers happy.

How can I nurse them along so they can reseed? There are many unopened buds and many of the already opened blossoms are hanging on ....will the plants survive long enough? I was considering splinting the weakened area of the stalks with cardboard and tape to see if that helps. Any suggestions?