Foxglove is a perennial native to North Africa and Western Asia. The plant owes its name to the shape of its flowers, which have a direct resemblance to a thimble; in botany it is usually called digitalis. There are about 35 species of this plant. It is used for decorative purposes and in landscape design. Often grown by gardeners as an annual species. It can be used as a medicine, but in high concentrations it is poisonous and dangerous.
It is necessary to pay attention to this when planting, especially if there may be children in the garden.
Description and features of foxglove
The stems of the herbaceous plant are notable for their rigidity and grow up to 1.5 m in height. The perennial is devoid of lateral shoots, while the petiolate leaves, mostly oval in shape, are collected in a rosette. The dark green leaves have a pronounced relief, growing up to 30 cm in length and up to 10 cm in width. The shadow side is densely covered with pile, while the top of the leaf is shiny and has bulges. In appearance, foxglove resembles a subshrub. In nature, digitalis can be found in forests, clearings and forest edges among other shrubs.
In the summer, foxgloves develop a multi-flowered, brush-shaped inflorescence formed by bell-shaped flowers.
Shades range from red to white, and yellow is also found. Sometimes the throat is decorated with specks. The small seeds ripen after pollination. One plant produces about 2 million seeds, and their germination lasts up to 3 years.
Use in landscape design
Decorative types of digitalis (digitalis grandiflora, foxglove purpurea, foxglove rusty, etc.) are often used in landscape design. Lush and dense inflorescences, painted in spectacular rich colors, serve as decoration for garden plots and parks.
They are used in group plantings, planted in mixborders (as a vertical accent) and in the background of flower beds (as a bright spot), and used to decorate walls, trellises, and fences. Since foxglove tolerates shade well, it can be planted in empty areas under trees.
Given the high toxicity of the plant, foxglove is prohibited from being planted in children's parks and near children's institutions.
Purple, purple-flowered and other types and varieties of foxglove
Despite the species diversity of foxgloves, only 4 species are widespread in the middle zone.
Rusty
This species reaches a height of 120 cm and is covered with oblong foliage. Its dense bell-shaped inflorescences grow up to 15cm long and form a wave shape towards the edge. The calyx looks like an orchid, usually no more than 4 cm. Flowering occurs in the summer months. The yellow petals have a pink pattern, and the throat has a golden hue inside. The species is highly valued for its decorative qualities.
Purple (purple)
The biennial plant is represented by sparsely leafed stems, no higher than 1.5 m. There is pubescence of shoots in the lower part of the leaf. At the beginning of summer, a brush-shaped inflorescence usually blooms; it is not symmetrical, formed by flowers no longer than 13 cm each. Petals of different shades are strewn with black specks. This species originated from Western Europe, where the plant is actively cultivated. There are many varieties, such as spotted, large-flowered and gloxine-shaped.
The inflorescence is found both unilateral and pyramidal. Most commonly grown varieties:
- Alba. The petals are white and may be covered with dark dots.
- Mirabella. Inflorescences are multi-flowered, pink in color.
- Excelsior. This hybrid reaches a height of 1.8 m. It is notable for the fact that its flowers form a spiral.
- Peloric. The flowers of this variety are the largest among all varieties, located on a peduncle up to 1.8 m high.
Large-flowered
It grows up to 1.2 m in height, resembling a shrub in appearance. The stems have a hard, fleecy covering. The leaves are elongated towards a sharp edge, growing up to 25 cm in length and up to 7 cm in width.
In June, you can see how the brush blooms at the top of the stem; it is strewn with small flowers. They are characterized by yellow shades and are covered with pubescence on the outer surface. The corolla is divided into 5 petals towards the edge. Found in Western Europe, Russia and Ukraine.
Woolly
A small perennial grows up to 80 cm in height. Small-flowered, in comparison with other varieties. The green leaves are collected in a dense rosette low from the ground surface. On the shadow side they are bordered by cilia. In mid-summer, a brush covered with two-lipped cups blooms, often resembling a pyramid shape. The flower is white, and as it moves away from the edge it becomes covered with a brown pattern formed by veins. Among the many varieties and hybrids, the most widespread are the following:
- Tapsi. The bells on the brush are large, pink and crimson in color;
- Merton. An early flowering plant that can be observed as early as late spring, the flowers are pink in color.
It blooms in July, and the flowering duration is no more than 2 months. Has medicinal benefits. It is found in natural conditions mainly in Moldova.
Growing foxgloves from seeds
The simple method, which includes several stages, is inferior to vegetative propagation only in speed.
Sowing seedlings
Sowing of seeds is carried out in early spring and should include the following actions:
- Soaking in water, which needs to be replaced every 6 hours, while the entire soaking period should not exceed 1 week;
- Laying seeds on the surface of the prepared soil;
- Sprinkling with a small amount of sand;
- Spraying with a growth stimulator;
- Covering the container with polyethylene or glass;
After which they must be left for 2 weeks in a dark, warm place.
Growing seedlings
In foxglove, the first shoots appear quite late; after the formation of 2-3 leaves, it is necessary to pick the plant. The container is not particularly demanding - a separate cup for each person or a common container will do. When planting together, it is worth maintaining a distance of 10 cm between seedlings. The seedlings are unpretentious; it is enough to water them as needed, carefully loosen the soil, avoid drafts and organize diffused lighting. 2 weeks before planting in open ground, it is necessary to carry out a hardening procedure, which is carried out as follows:
- You should take the plant out onto the balcony for 5 minutes, provided that there is no precipitation and the weather is warm;
- Repeat the procedure daily, gradually increasing the time the foxglove stays in the fresh air.
Planting in the garden can be done after the plant can safely spend the whole day in outdoor conditions.
Sowing seeds in open ground
Throughout the spring, you can sow foxgloves in open ground, but it is preferable to do this earlier.
It is first necessary to properly prepare the soil: you need to carefully dig, level and give it enough time for further settling.
When sowing, it is necessary to maintain a distance of 30 cm between the rows, and the planting depth should not exceed 2 cm.
The planted seed should be sprinkled with a small amount of soil. In cold weather, it is allowed to cover the seedlings with lutrasil. The minimum permissible distance between plants in one row is 10 cm.
Timing for planting seedlings in the ground
Seedlings are planted in late spring - early summer, focusing on the Lunar planting calendar. Earlier is allowed, but it is worth considering that the young crop will not be able to survive return frosts. In this case, the soil should be well heated, and the seedlings should already have at least 5 leaves growing.
Foxgloves should be sown in an open place with sufficient light, but the flowers can develop normally in partial shade. Areas located near deciduous plants are not suitable, since the soil around such crops is excessively moist with periodic water retention. Under such conditions, the foxglove will not die, but will be deprived of flowering.
Foxglove planting technology
Soil requirements:
- Looseness;
- Nutritional value;
- Water permeability, that is, there is no stagnation of moisture.
The soil is first weeded and dug up, to a depth of at least 30 cm. Afterwards, the soil is fertilized with compost at the rate of 5 kg per 1 m2.
When replanting, you should not destroy the earthen ball of the plant, since the roots are very fragile. After planting, be sure to compact the soil and water it abundantly. You should not wait for flowering already in the first year of growth, at this time the plant will only form a rosette.
Landing in a permanent place
Before you start planting foxgloves in a permanent place, you need to decide where it will feel best in both summer and winter. The basic requirements for the site are:
- A sunny or partial shade location is perfect. In a shady place, the plant will bloom little, quickly, or may not form buds at all.
- A place in lowlands where moisture and rainwater accumulates is not suitable for planting, since the digitalis root system is extremely unstable to rotting even with good care.
- The planting site should not be at the foot of deciduous trees, since during leaf fall the foxglove will suffer from falling leaves, which retain increased moisture.
- During the winter months, drafts should not form in the area, as this could cause the flower to freeze.
When planted
The most suitable time is the end of May - beginning of June. In regions with a warm climate and southern regions, this can be done earlier. The main parameter is the end of night frosts.
The soil
Before you start planting, you should prepare the ground. Digitalis requires loose and permeable soil with a high content of organic matter. To do this, 4–5 kg of compost or humus per m2 is first added to the beds, after which the soil is dug up to 20–25 cm (the depth of the spade bayonet).
If the site has a high level of groundwater, drainage in the form of broken tiles, polystyrene foam, sand or expanded clay can be placed at the bottom of the beds.
Distance
The width of the beds is 15 - 20 cm for dwarf hybrids, 25 - 35 for medium-sized and 35 - 40 for tall varieties. There should be at least 20 cm between the bushes. Thickening of the planting will inhibit the development of flowers.
It is best to plant seedlings by transshipment: then the root is not damaged and after transplantation the foxglove does not become stressed and its growth rate slows down for a couple of weeks. In the opposite case, a two-week fading occurs, after which, subject to good care, the pace of development is restored.
After planting, the beds are well watered. It is preferable to carry out transshipment in the evening or in cloudy weather. It is important to remember that only rare varieties of digitalis bloom in the first year. Otherwise, flowering will not occur until the second year.
Foxglove after flowering
Proper planting and care guarantee good growth rates of digitalis and timely flowering, however, after it you should not neglect caring for the perennial.
Due to the superficial location of the root system, there is a high probability of partial exposure of the root. To avoid this, especially in autumn, you should sprinkle the foxglove with a small layer of soil.
Quite a few varieties are notable for their resistance to low temperatures, but if there is little snow in winter, the plant runs the risk of freezing. It would be a good idea to cover the outlet with sawdust or leaves. Covering for the winter is especially important for young foxgloves.
Seeds can be collected after the seed pods are fully ripe, which must be removed before they begin to burst. The seeds must first be dried in a well-ventilated room, then stored in paper bags and left in a dark, dry place.
Care
Caring for foxgloves is not at all difficult. The main thing is to water and loosen the soil around the plants in time. In hot weather, watering should be abundant and timely.
Although digitalis is able to tolerate short-term drought, this can have a negative effect on the development of the plant. Due to lack of water, the height and size of peduncles are greatly reduced.
Flowering after proper care of foxglove
After each watering, the soil must be loosened. This will help prevent the formation of a soil crust that restricts air flow to the roots. Don't forget about regular weeding. To reduce labor costs, it can be combined with loosening the soil
During the season, foxgloves need to be fed several times with a complex fertilizer for flowering plants. This will increase the duration and abundance of flowering.
But you shouldn’t get too carried away with fertilizing. If there is an excess of fertilizers, the bushes will grow luxurious leaf rosettes, but there will be no flowering.
With age, the roots on digitalis bushes become exposed, so in the fall they need to be covered with a layer of soil. Foxglove is a winter-hardy plant and under normal conditions it does not require shelter for the winter.
But in some years, when the thickness of the snow cover is very small and the frosts are severe, it is better to cover the bushes with a layer of spruce branches or straw.
Vegetative propagation of foxglove
Such reproduction is carried out using root shoots. First you need to get rid of the brushes that have already faded and wilted, while you cannot leave the dense inflorescences undisturbed - they will be useful for collecting seeds. 3 weeks after this, root shoots will sprout at the base of the pruned plants. Each of the root rosettes will acquire 7-8 leaf plates, which must be carefully removed and replanted. The shoots will get stronger until the fall and will be able to safely withstand the coming winter. The young plant will acquire flower stalks and bloom no later than the next season.
Diseases and pests
Powdery mildew. The fungus spreads at high speed through the air, as well as through irrigation water and through tools. The affected plant turns yellow, shrivels and dies. At the first signs of the disease, you should get rid of the affected parts, then immediately treat digitalis with a fungicide. If the disease was not eliminated in the initial stages, then in further stages the plant cannot be saved.
Root rot. Foxgloves affected by this disease should be destroyed to stop further spread. Then the place where the diseased plant grew must be treated with a fungicide.
Leaf spotting. Occurs on leaves and stems as a result of the activity of various pathogens. This is a symptom of the death of the affected area. Both young and mature plants are susceptible to the disease. The disease leads to premature leaf fall, drying out and deformation; weakens the immunity of digitalis.
Insect pests. The plant is susceptible to attacks by various species of aphids, which are carriers of various infections. The pest can be easily removed by treating the foxglove with an insecticide.
Mr. Summer resident informs: harm and benefits of foxglove
Previously, doctors used digitalis to treat various diseases, used it as an anesthetic for skin diseases, and also to cleanse the body during constipation. However, if a certain concentration of digitalis was exceeded, the medicine caused nausea, diarrhea and was often fatal.
In the 18th century, the flower began to be used in traditional medicine, mainly for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases. Currently, foxglove is used to:
- Strengthen the walls of blood vessels;
- Normalize blood supply to muscles and tissues;
- Improvement of hemodynamic characteristics;
- Fight against cardiosclerosis, hypertension, tachycardia;
- Normalize heart rate.
I use woolly foxglove more often than others as a raw material for medicines. Organic acids and glycosides are isolated from it. The leaves are ground to a powder, which is included in medicines. Alternative medicine includes many types of digitalis tinctures.
All types of foxglove contain poison, which is dangerous to health, so it is not recommended to self-medicate with this plant. It is especially contraindicated for people with chronic lung and heart problems, those suffering from gastric tachycardia, as well as young children and pregnant women.
Use may cause rash, itching, vomiting, many signs of food poisoning, breathing problems, cramps throughout the body and other similar symptoms. With prolonged use, anorexia, loss of appetite and hallucinations may develop.
History of the plant
There are many legends and superstitions associated with foxglove; mystical properties have been attributed to it. The medicinal properties of the plant have been known since ancient times. It is believed that it was used for medicinal purposes long before our era. Up until the 18th century, extracts and infusions of digitalis were used mainly for the treatment of dropsy of various origins and epilepsy.
The name that has come down to us was given to the plant by the German physician Leonart Fuchs, who described it in a herbal book in 1543. But for a long time, official medicine of that period treated foxglove with caution. Due to the inability to determine the exact dosage of the drug, cases of poisoning were common, so the use of digitalis was periodically prohibited and it was excluded from practice.
In 1776, the English physician William Withering discovered digitalis glycoside, and digitalis began to be used as an indispensable heart remedy. In the Russian Empire, Digitalis was described in 1866 in the first edition of the Pharmacopoeia. The great Russian doctor S.P. Botkin called foxglove “one of the most precious remedies that therapy has.”
