Digitalis purpurea (Foxy Group)Foxglove
科:玄参科
Family:Scrophulariaceae
属:毛地黄属
common name:Foxglove
introduce:Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
Family: Scrophulariaceae
Missouri Native: No
Native Range: None
Height: 2 to 3 feet
Spread: 1 to 1.5 feet
Bloom Time: May - June
Bloom Color: Pastel shades of purple, pink, red, cream, yellow and white
Sun: Part shade (only)
Water: Medium moisture
Maintenance: Medium
General Culture:
Easily grown in average, medium wet, well-drained soil in full sun to part shade. Prefers moist, organically rich, acidic soils in part shade. Soil must not be allowed to dry out. Performs as an annual or biennial. If grown as an annual, seed must be started indoors early and transplanted outside in spring (usually blooms 5 months from seeding). May also rebloom the following spring. May self-seed under favorable growing conditions.
Noteworthy Characteristics:
Unlike most biennial digitalis, plants in the Foxy Group are noted for their ability to produce flowers in the first year. Flowers are borne in terminal racemes atop leafy, 2-3 tall spires arising from the centers of basal rosettes. Flowers are pendulous, 2-3" long, tubular and funnel-shaped and come in pastel shades of purple, pink, red, cream, yellow and white, with conspicuous interior spotting. Flowers are fuller (borne all around the spikes instead of being one-sided) and more horizontal on the spires than those of the species (D. purpurea - C530). Flowers are attractive to hummingbirds. Plant leaves are a source of the drug digitalis and are highly poisonous. Individual flowers resemble the snipped off fingers of a glove, hence the common name of foxglove.
Problems:
Powdery mildew and leaf spot, if left untreated, can damage foliage considerably by late summer. Dense crowns may rot in soggy, poorly-drained winter soils. Potential insect pests include aphids, mealy bugs, slugs and Japanese beetle.
Uses:
Tall spires provide striking color and good architectural height to the border and are particularly effective in front of dark backgrounds such as those provided by a wall or shrubs. Also effective in woodland gardens or naturalized areas.
