Family: Plantaginaceae
Common name: Foxglove, Common foxglove
Foxglove plants are visually stunning, growing very easily in temperate climate in Europe and America. They have also been introduced to Asia, and many other countries in South America as well as Europe.
Plant characteristics
A very common garden plant, Foxgloves can grow to a height of 1-2 meters because of their tall flowering stems. They are biennials that usually live for 2 years, but they can also be considered perennials since they can produce seeds and self-propagate.
In the first year of growth, Foxgloves produce rosettes of leaves that are very short. In the second year, the plant sends up long spikes that produce beautiful, bell-shaped flowers dangling on one side of the flower spike.
These unique flowers make it very easy to identify Foxgloves, which are usually purple in color. Though the name of the plant Digitalis purpurea, stands for purple, there are many hybrids available now in a variety of colors like pink, white, yellow and variations of these.
Leaves of the Foxglove are simple, green, about 15-30 cm long. The leaves are covered with thin, white hairs that give it a fuzzy texture.
Foxglove flowers are loved by insects, ants, butterflies, and even small birds because of their height, brilliant colors and markings inside the flowers, inviting them to the nectar.
Most flowers have bright, colorful spots and markings that are prominent and distinct compared to the colors of the petals. After flowering, the plant produces fruit capsules that split open when they are mature, releasing numerous tiny seeds that are .1-.2 mm in diameter.
Gardening tips
Foxglove plants prefer good sunlight but they can also live in partial shade with reduced blooming. They prefer well-drained, nutrient-rich soil to encourage healthy plants and flowers.
Water them regularly especially during the growing and flowering season. Deadheading of spent blooms can prevent the plant looking leggy and unappealing.
They are usually pest-resistant and are also not eaten by grazing animals. Few moths and insects can take residence inside the bell-shaped flowers feasting on the stamens and tender seeds.
Though they are garden favorites, all parts of this plant have toxicity and can even cause cardiac arrest. The chemical called digitoxin is responsible for this toxicity.
At the same time, this chemical is very useful in treating heart conditions when taken in exact doses as prescribed medicines. So it is extremely important to keep small children and pets away from this plant.
Folklores say that the name of the plant came from fox’s gloves since they were worn by foxes on their paws to silence them while hunting. They are abundant in places frequented by fairies and were hence used as folks’ gloves or fairies’ gloves:)
Propagation is through seeds.
Photographed at: Cromwell road, London. Also Kensington garden.
