Digitalis

Family

Scrophulariaceae

Botanical Name

Digitalis

Plant Common Name

Foxglove

General Description

Commonly known as foxglove, the genus Digitalis is comprised of approximately 25 species of short-lived perennials. They are naturally distributed across the woodlands, meadows and mountainous regions of Europe, northwest Africa and central Asia. The flowers are held on spikes high above the foliage and are shaped like the fingertips of a glove.

The plants are generally produce basal rosettes of foliage. Occasionally they may have short branching stems or are shrub-like and semi-woody. Their leaves are usually oblong or lance shaped and may be toothed on the edges. The leaf surfaces may be smooth or slightly hairy.

The showy flowers are borne in spring or summer. They appear along tall leafy stems in branched or un-branched arrangements, often on one side of the stalk. They are tubular and flare at the ends to show small lips. They come in various shades of red, pink, white, yellow or brown and are often spotted or streaked in contrasting colors along the interior. The fruit is a capsule that splits to expel many tiny ribbed seeds.

Digitalis have been grown for centuries for ornament and other uses. There are many cultivated varieties. The most popular cultivated foxglove is the large-flowered European Digitalis purpurea. It is a short-lived perennial with soft green leaves and upright stems lined with big, lightly fragrant, tubular, rose-purple to pink flowers that appear in late spring or early summer. These typically have spotted throats and are highly attractive to bees. The large yellow foxglove (Digitalis grandiflora) is from southern Europe and the Mediterranean and offers tall spikes of pendulous pale yellow blooms which are tubular and marked with brown on the inside. The hybrid Digitalis x mertonensis, or strawberry foxglove, is a sends up really tall spikes of tubular bell-like flowers that are rose-red with a hint or apricot. The blooms are a delight to bees and make spectacular cut flowers.

Hardiness and culture are species specific. Most prefer sunny locations and grow best in well-drained soil that is moderately fertile. They are not tolerant of the heat and humidity of tropical zones and need some winter cold for dormancy. Once flowers are spent, cut them back to keep the rosette looking neat. They are easily propagated by seed and have a tendency to self-sow. The only setback is that most do not bloom in the first year from seed. Another caveat is that some are considered invasive. For more information about their invasiveness visit: http://www.hear.org/gcw/species/digitalis_purpurea.

Foxgloves are nice additions to woodland gardens, mixed borders, cutting gardens and containers. They are old-fashioned, stately plants that add a vertical element to the garden.

There are potential health concerns regarding this plant. To learn more go to: http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/consumer/poison/Digitpu.htm