Foxglove(Digitalis) is a decorative plant with bell-shaped flowers arranged in oblong inflorescences on the tops of tall, stiff stems. It is an inseparable element of rustic and naturalistic gardens. Get to know the best ideas foruse of digitalisin garden plantings. We suggest whichspecies and varieties of digitalisare popular, what isgrowing digitalis in the gardenand how to reproduce it.
Purple foxglove - Digitalis purpurea
Fig. pixabay.com
Foxglove - properties and application
The genus of foxglove(Digitalis), belonging to the leper family (Scrophulariaceae), includes several dozen species found in both temperate and tropical climates. In Poland, the most common are:
- Foxglove (Digitalis grandiflora),
- purple foxglove (Digitalis purpurea),
- woolly foxglove (Digitalis lanata).
The beauty of these beautiful plants and the possibility ofusing foxgloves in gardensmake the cultivation of digitalis very popular. The foxgloves look great when planted in groups, creating colorful spots. They look great in the company of species that like shade, such as rodgresja, funky, ferns, bells, pygmy or bedbug. In rural and rustic gardens, the beauty of foxgloves is emphasized by eagles, zinnia, roses, marigolds, geraniums, mallow and ornamental grasses.Plants can also be cut flowers.
When deciding togrow digitalis in the garden , however, you must remember that the entire plant, along with the seeds, contains toxic glycosides. In the 18th century, thehealing properties of digitaliswere discovered and ceased to be considered only poisonous plants. Currently, digitalis is grown commercially due to the content of glycosides used in the pharmaceutical industry. In Polandonly woolly foxgloveis used for medicinal purposes because it has the weakest toxic properties among the foxgloves.
Digitalis glycosidesare a component of many drugs, mainly cardiac. They are also used as a diuretic to fight high blood pressure, bronchitis, liver disease and skin diseases.
Warning!Toxic substances contained in digitalis can lead to cardiac arrest. Digitalis poisoning manifests itself with impaired vision and hearing, nausea and shortness of breath.Therefore, be careful when there are children in the garden, and carry out all maintenance work on the foxglove with gloves.
Foxglove - species and varieties
In gardens, the most commonpurple foxglove(Digitalis purpurea). It also occurs naturally in forests, shrubs, meadows and mountains. It is considered an invasive species. It is also included in the group of the most poisonous plants found in our country.
Purple foxglove is a short-lived perennial , grown as a biennial. Growing from a dense rosette of green leaves, long (up to 1.5 m) inflorescence shoots are overgrown with large, bell-shaped flowers with a spotted throat. The flowering period of the purple foxglove is in May and June.
The most famousgarden variety of the purple foxgloveis Digitalis purpurea var. Gloxiniaeflora, called gloxinia or persistent digitalis.This variety has exceptionally large flowers.
Purple foxglove - Digitalis purpurea
Fig. pixabay.com
Thethe most interesting varieties of purple foxgloveare those with flowers:
- whites:Elsie Kelsey, Virtuoso White, Camelot White, Anne Redetzky, Pam's Choice, Pam's Split, Snow Thimble,
- pink:Camelot Lavender, Camelot Rose, Virtuoso Red, Virtuoso Rose Compact, Sugar Plum.
Foxglove(Digitalis grandiflora) is a long-lived perennial that perfectly tolerates Polish winters. It reaches a height of 60-120 cm and produces many shoots. Flowers up to 5 cm long are yellow, brown-mesh inside, gathered in one-sided clusters. The plant blooms from June to August. It prefers soils rich in calcium and not too moist.
The varieties of digitalisthat can be found on sale are:
- Foxglove 'Carillon' with pale yellow flowers,
- Foxglove 'Large Yellow' with dense buttery yellow inflorescence,
- Foxglove 'Creme Bell' with cream-colored flowers.
Woolly foxglove(Digitalis lanata) is grown primarily as a medicinal plant. In our climate, it is treated as a biennial plant, because it dies after giving up the seeds. It tolerates frost well. Small caramel flowers and a dense rosette of pointed leaves blend beautifully with rustic flower beds. This perennial blooms from June to August.
An extremely decorative variety is thewoolly foxglove 'Cafe Cream'with a profuse inflorescence of cream flowers with a coffee pattern inside the throat.
Woolly foxglove - Digitalis lanata
Fig. depositphotos.com
Foxglove - cultivation
Foxgloves adapt well to changing conditions. They can grow on any soil that is not too dry.The best location for foxglove cultivation issheltered, semi-shaded or shady, and the soil rich in nutrients. Recommendeddigitalis planting spacingis 30 x 40 cm.
Watering in dry weather and covering in winter are the main treatments indigitalis careto keep in mind.
After floweringfaded foxglove inflorescences can be trimmedjust above the rosette and the plant will repeat flowering in the same season under favorable conditions. You can also leave inflorescences if you want the digitalis to spread. Purple foxglove varieties may produce flowers of different colors in the second generation.
Foxglove - reproduction
We reproduce foxgloves from seedssown in February in a greenhouse.The seeds can also be sown in May or June into the ground on a seedbed. Before sowing, the soil must be well prepared, free of weeds and moist. Due to the fact that digitalis seeds are small, we sow them rarely. Coated seeds are much easier to sow, as they can be sown in spots.
Digitalis seeds germinatein good lighting within 8-10 days. After the formation of 3-4 true leaves, young seedlings should be picked into pots or so that the distance between the plants is about 15 cm. We plant them permanently in August, spaced 30 x 40 cm. Plants will not bloom until the second year of cultivation.
MSc Eng. Anna Błaszczak
