Without been told this plant are
eye-catching flowering plants. Foxglove plants are tall, slender plants with
tubular blooms. Some of the varieties are biennials that live for only 2
growing seasons, although some of the species can survive as perennials in some
climates. This particular plant is among the most poisonous plants commonly
grown in home landscapes. Make sure you don’t grow them if small children or
pets will be spending time in your yard.
Basic facts about the
plant
The botanical name: The botanical
name is digitalis purpurea.
The common name: The common names are
witches glove, Foxglove, dead man's bells, fairy bells.
The plant type: The plant type is biennials.
The mature size: The mature size can
reach about two to five feet tall, one to two feet wide.
The sun exposure: This plant needs full
sun, partial sun, or partial shade.
The soil type: This plant will do
very well in a well-draining, loamy soil.
The soil pH: Soil pH is between 4.5
to 8.3.
The bloom time: Bloom time is early
summer months (also in late spring in warm zones)
The flower color: The flower colors
are purple, pink, red, white, and yellow.
The USDA Hardiness Zone: This plant
is suitable for USDA growing zones 4 through 10.
The plant native area: This plant is
native to Europe and Northwest Africa.
Steps on how to grow
Foxglove
The Light requirement: Make sure the
plant is grown in full sun, partial sun, or partial shade. Once establish, they
can really tolerate dry shade but not full shade. Make sure you tailor the
amount of sunshine you give the plant to your climate. By peradventure if you
live in the South, you can give it some shade. If you live in the North, you
can grow them in a range of sunlight conditions, which is from full sun to
partial shade, but they will perform best in partial sun.
The water requirement: This plant is
susceptible to crown rot, so make sure you provide them with good drainage. Also
keep the soil moist, but not too soaked. By peradventure if there is a dry
period in the summer and it hasn't received one inch of rain in a week or the
top two inches of soil is dry, you can water the plant with a drip hose.
The temperature and humidity: This
plant tends to do better in cooler temperatures and it may wilt in temperatures
over 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Foxgloves do not actually have any humidity
requirements. The Foxglove seeds will really germinate when temperatures reach
between 70 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Make sure you provide good air
circulation for the plant by giving them sufficient spacing.
The fertilizer application: You can
apply a three inch layer of mulch for winter protection if your region is
borderline zone 4. Then also apply a one inch layer of compost around the plant
in early spring to encourage plant growth. Under normal condition fertilizer is
not necessary and excess nitrogen can really harm the flower growth. Although you
can add a small handful of slow-release 5-10-5 fertilizer in the early spring. Make
sure you scatter it around the plant and then water over the fertilizer to help
it settle.
Some of the best varieties
to grow
1. The Goldcrest variety, it has
yellow blooms.
2. The D. obscura variety, it has orange
flowers.
3. The Candy Mountain variety, it really
has bright, rosy-pink flowers that face upwards rather than nodding down.
4. The D. grandiflora variety, it has
large yellow flowers.
5. The D. x mertonensis variety, this
is a hybrid plant of D. purpurea and D. grandiflora with a very large,
coppery-pink blossom.
The pruning of plant: This plant comes
in different sizes and they should be spaced accordingly, under the general
rule, it is really good to space them about two feet apart. Make sure you stake
the taller types to actually prevent them from flopping over in a wind storm. Don’t
deadhead these biennials if you actually want them to reseed for you.
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