We are glad to welcome you to the site of summer residents: site. Today we’ll touch on the flower theme again and talk about this beautiful plant, like foxglove. It adequately decorates flower beds and flower beds near the house with its long and very beautiful flowering.
Description of foxglove:
- It is very important to know that this flower also has toxic properties. Therefore, landing him on personal plots not recommended if you have pets or small children who may play near the plant.
- Foxglove will bloom only in the 2nd year after planting.
- Foxglove is native to the northern hemisphere and can be perennial or biennial. There are about 36 species, such a rich variety.
- Landing at open ground done in June, flowering lasts until autumn.
- The flowers are bell-shaped, quite large in size and, depending on the variety, can have different colors. For example: white, lilac, cream, pink, etc.
Types of foxgloves for planting in the country
All varieties of foxglove are divided into 3 categories:
- Dwarf: from 30 to 60 cm.
- Medium height: from 65 to 100 cm.
- Tall: from 120 to 180 cm.
When choosing seeds for planting, carefully study the packaging. The manufacturer indicates both the variety and its characteristics: when is the best time to plant seeds, how best to do it, flower colors, plant height, etc.
If you plant foxgloves with seeds, it is better to do this in early or mid-March, then the plant will sprout well, and such planting coincides with the timing of planting in open ground. Before planting, you need to prepare boxes, seeds and soil in advance.
The seeds are planted superficially and then covered with a small layer of sand. You also need to create Greenhouse effect: To do this, the containers need to be covered with film or glass. You also need to constantly irrigate the land and do temporary ventilation.
If you choose boxes for planting that are not deep, then a couple of weeks after planting, the first leaves on the sprouts will appear and after that you can make a pick.
Plant care, foxglove diseases
Caring for the first shoots includes constant watering and fertilizing. seedlings are allowed after 5-6 days, after they are planted in their place. The first fertilizing is done with ammonium nitrate, for subsequent fertilizing they use mineral fertilizers 1 time every 10-12 days.
- Water regularly;
- Loosen the ground;
- Spud;
- Weeding;
- feed;
- Disease and pest control.
Watering should be done frequently and abundantly. The soil should be light with good drainage qualities, it must be constantly loosened.
Fertilizing with mineral fertilizers can be carried out no more than twice a season.
Diseases that the plant carries:
- mosaic,
- types of rot,
- powdery mildew.
You can fight digitalis diseases chemicals. If the disease situation is advanced and you cannot save the plant, then you need to get rid of it in order to avoid infection of healthy plants.
Foxglove: planting and care, photo 
Photo: blossoms Foxglove (Digitalis) is an unusual plant with large interesting flowers bell-shaped, a real decoration for any front garden, eye-catching. There are annual and perennial varieties foxgloves. The plant grows far from people shady places, which cannot be reached sunlight. Foxglove prefers to grow on steep river banks and slopes.
Foxglove species
There are several perennial species foxgloves, but they often behave like juveniles, that is, they live no more than three years.
Large-flowered
This variety is found in Polesie, the Carpathians and the north of the Forest-Steppe. Favorite places for foxglove grandiflora are open clearings and meadows. Always surrounded by bushes.
The main feature of this variety is its delicate pastel yellow pubescent flowers with abundant brown splashes. The height of the plant is about a meter. The flowers, reaching a length of 6 cm, are collected in graceful drooping inflorescences. The first year after planting, foxglove grandiflora forms a large rosette of leaves, and in the second year buds appear. Flowering is observed from June to August.
By nature, foxglove is a perennial, but often behaves like a biennial, that is, it degenerates in the third year.
Yulia Petrichenko, expert
Preparations for the treatment of chronic and acute heart failure are prepared from the leaves of the plant. All medicines, made from this flower, are strong poisons. It is strictly prohibited to use without a doctor's prescription.
Yellow
This variety of foxglove is slightly lower in height than the previous one (up to a meter tall). Tolerates the cold remarkably well perfect option for the northern latitudes of the country. Blooms from June to August.
Stems and long leaves devoid of pubescence. Pure yellow flowers have small size, and about 2 cm in length. Some specimens of this variety are endowed with whitish flowers and brown inclusions.
Mertonskaya
This variety is often found in the literature under the name Merton's foxglove. This plant is the result of a mixture of foxglove grandiflora and purple foxglove. Height is about 85 cm. The plant is recognized by its shiny dark leaves and swollen strawberry-colored flowers with light splashes. It begins to bloom early - in May or early June.
Tapsi
The plant is perennial, the smallest in height of all varieties (40-80 cm). Takes its roots from Spain. Foxglove tapsi has large thin leaves with abundant pubescence. Light pink flowers are intricately curved. Their size is about 5 cm in length and 2 cm in diameter. The inflorescences consist of two dozen such bell-shaped flowers. The month of flowering is June. When cold weather sets in, they require shelter.
Dark or unclear
This variety of foxglove is quite rare. Grows only in Spain or among collectors. The height of the plant is about half a meter. The flowers have slight pubescence and an unusual shade - the color varies from creamy yellow to brownish-red. The plant blooms for a long time - from July to September. Tolerates heat and drought well.
Description of foxglove perennial
Properties of foxglove
Foxglove - poisonous flower, which has been associated with magic and magic since ancient times. An overdose of the active substances contained in the plant can result in death. Symptoms of overdose are cardiac arrest, nausea, dizziness, intestinal upset, hallucinations.
Gardeners love foxglove because the plant blooms all summer and sometimes into early fall. The boxes contain a huge amount of seeds that do not lose their ability to germinate for several years. If you do not collect it on time, the seeds spill out onto the ground and germinate on their own.
Foxglove cannot tolerate high humidity soil, because of this the plant gets sick and dies. Treats temperature changes calmly. In the first year it forms a rosette, the next year the first flower stalks appear.
Foxglove flowering is regulated by pruning. Leave the only one - the very first peduncle, then its buds will be larger. After cutting, the plant appears with fresh flower shoots.
Flower propagation
Foxglove propagation occurs only by seeds. Growing foxgloves from seeds does not require special skills, since seedlings appear without additional manipulations and preparations. The most important thing is to choose the right sowing time.
Growing foxgloves from seeds
Preparing and planting seeds
To begin, select the seeds from the boxes. Take planting material from the largest flowers, which will give the best seedlings. Plant simple varieties of foxglove directly into the ground, rare varieties are used for seedlings. Soak the seeds in a little water. This will ensure friendly and quick shoots.
If the goal is to have flowering foxgloves this year, sow the seeds in April. If you are ready to wait until next year, then plant the seeds in July in seedling boxes.
Picking seedlings
Plant the seedlings into individual pots. To make the seedlings comfortable, the diameter of the planting container must be at least 9 cm. Keep the seedlings in a heated greenhouse throughout the winter.
Transplanting seedlings into open ground
The basic requirements for soil are good drainage. If there is excess moisture in the soil, the plant will not survive. Loosen the soil first. For better plant development, apply fertilizers containing nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus. Planting in such soil will give impetus to rapid growth.
How to plant foxglove seedlings in open ground:
- plant foxgloves in rows, leaving a distance of 40 cm between them;
- You can’t plant it too early, as large rosettes of leaves will grow;
- To maintain soil moisture levels, cover the crops with a special covering material;
- don't drop off on open areas, shade the crops, water carefully;
- if you plant seeds directly into the ground, then expect germination in a week or two;
- after a month, pick up the seedlings, make the distance between the rows 5 cm;
- if necessary, thin out again with a distance between rows of 10 cm;
- V winter time Cover the crops with branches and leaves.
Foxglove Care
This graceful flower It does not require special care. Growing foxgloves is a fairly simple task. Do not overdo it with watering, avoid stagnation of moisture. Excess water is the main enemy of this plant. Weed the soil where the foxglove sits periodically so that the plant can develop freely.
Feed the flower with mineral fertilizers twice a season. In the spring of the plant’s second year of life, add substances containing nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus to the soil. Repeat the manipulations during the foxglove flowering period.
Make sure that the plant does not get sick. Most often, foxglove is susceptible to powdery mildew, leaf spot and gray rot. The plant also suffers from aphid attacks. The drug “Topaz” and the like help the flower very well. Use only as directed.
Foxglove is an unpretentious plant, but it also requires love and attention. If you provide proper care for your foxglove, you will soon be pleased with a huge head of peduncles of interesting shapes and rich colors.
How do you prefer to grow foxgloves? Do you plant its seeds directly in open ground? Share in the comments to the article!
Foxglove belongs to the plantain family. The Latin name “digitalis” translates as “thimble”. The family includes 35 plant species that grow preferentially in the Mediterranean region. Foxglove is also found in the lands of Europe, Asia and North Africa.
In Western Siberia you can find two species of this plant. Four species are found in the Caucasus. Foxglove grows mostly in clearings in forests, as well as in forest edges and meadows.
This is an unpretentious plant. Suitable for growing as experienced gardeners, and for beginners. The flower is drought-resistant and also undemanding to soil.
Foxglove is either perennial or biennial. Digitalis has rigid stems that reach a height of 30 to 150 cm. The leaves are large, light green, oblong and sharp. Bunches of flowers are collected in brushes. The flowers have irregular shape, are yellow, red or purple in color, reminiscent of bells. Foxglove pollinates well due to the shape of its flowers. Pollen is carried by flies, wasps, bumblebees and bees.
Flowering begins in June and ends by early autumn. The plant has capsule-shaped fruits. Brown seeds ripen in such boxes. One plant can produce more than 2,000,000 seeds. Seeds remain viable for 1 to 3 years.
All types of foxglove are poisonous, so it should not be grown in flower beds near children's institutions. Some types are used as ornamental plants, and others are used in pharmacology. The leaves of the flower are rich in glycoside, which is used in medicine.
Gallery: foxglove flower (25 photos)
Growing from seeds
Before planting, foxglove seeds are soaked in water for a week. The water must be changed every 6 hours. There is no need to plant seeds deeply. Planting occurs at a shallow depth, and the top is sprinkled with sand. The top of the seed is covered with a glass container or polyethylene. The planted seed should be in a warm room with soft light. After planting, the first shoots appear within two weeks.
Caring for digitalis seedlings is quite simple. The seedlings develop slowly, however, when the plant forms the first leaves, it must be planted into separate cups at a distance of 7–10 cm. The seedlings must be watered as the soil dries out, and also be monitored for direct sunlight. The scorching sun leads to drought of the earth and scorches the leaves of the plant, this can lead to the death of the flower.
Before planting in open ground, the plant must undergo a hardening procedure. This helps the flower acclimatize to the garden conditions. To harden, the seedlings are exposed to the street for several hours every day. A gradual increase in time spent outside allows seedlings to adapt to the climate. When the seedlings are able to stay outside for a day, they can be planted in open ground.
Planting in open ground
The plant is planted in the ground when the climate calms down and frosts and rains disappear. Landing will be favorable at the end of May or at the beginning of June. By this time, the soil is well warmed up, and the seedlings acquire 5–6 leaves.
The plant prefers well-lit areas of the ground, but also grows well in the shade. You should not plant digitalis under trees that fall in the fall. Moisture accumulates under them, and its increased concentration makes it difficult for foxgloves to bloom. In addition, falling leaves will interfere with the comfortable growth of the flower.
To plant, the plant needs loose soil. The soil must be dug up to the depth of a spade bayonet.
Landing is carried out as follows:
- It is necessary to dig a hole, the depth of which is the length of the roots of the seedling.
- When planting, you do not need to remove the earth ball from the seedlings.
- Planted at a distance of 15–30 cm between seedlings. The holes should be located at a distance of 20–30 cm from each other.
- After planting, the soil around the plant is compacted and watered.
The flower forms a rosette of leaves in the first year of life, and flowering begins in the second year.
Plant care
Growing foxgloves requires the following procedures:
- Watering.
- Loosening the soil.
- Removing excess plants from the site.
- Feeding.
- Treatment against pests.
Watering digitalis is necessary only during periods of drought. If it rains in the summer, there is no point in watering. After each watering or rain, the soil around the plant must be loosened. Foxglove roots are located close to the surface, so you need to be careful.
Mineral additives are used in water for feeding. Feed foxglove twice a season, at .
To prolong the flowering process, it will be necessary to remove dry, wilted flowers. With this care, the foxglove will not lose its beauty until autumn.
Because of root system digitalis is located on the surface and is easy to replant. This is done in a hole that has already been prepared in advance. It is transplanted together with a lump of earth into a hole slightly larger than the root system of the flower. After transplantation, the plant is watered.
Digitalis suffers from various diseases, such as viral mosaic, powdery mildew, spotting, and rot. When affected by powdery mildew, it is best to remove a section of the flower. To treat diseases, a fungicide solution is used. Rotten areas of the plant, as well as those affected by mosaics, are removed and burned. It is impossible to cure a plant affected by these diseases, which is why it is necessary to cut off diseased areas from healthy ones.
Foxglove species
Used in growing culture the following types flower:
Plant properties
Digitalis has been used in medicine since the 18th century. It was then that doctors noticed its beneficial qualities. Medicinal properties possess the leaves of the flower. They contain glycoside, digitoxin, lanatosides “A”, “B”, “C”, “D”, “E” and others. These substances are used in the fight against cardiovascular diseases.
In medicine, foxglove woolly is most often used. Substances such as organic acids and steroid glycosides are obtained from it. Foxglove purple is also used medicinally.
All types of digitalis are poisonous. Self-medication is highly discouraged, as this leads to severe poisoning.
Bright, high and spectacular plant foxglove is welcome guest on any garden plot. This honey plant with bell-like flowers grows well everywhere. Foxglove will feel great in the center of a flower garden in the sun and among garden bushes in the backyard. The plant is very unpretentious in care, so it is very loved by gardeners. Growing a flower from seeds does not present any particular difficulties, but it has its own characteristics.
Description, varieties and photos of foxglove
The plant got its name due to the shape of the flowers, which look like thimbles. Its tall erect peduncles are strewn with large flowers, collected in pyramidal brushes. Red, purple, pink, cream, white flowers are strewn with spots of dark color. Foxglove petals open gradually. The plant blooms in June and blooms until autumn. The matte green bright leaves of the flower have an oval shape and deep veins.
When planning a flower garden or flower bed in your garden plot, you need to decide on the necessary varieties, since they differ not only in the color of the flowers, but also in height. Most often in landscape design The following varieties are used:
Foxglove: growing from seeds
The plant can be propagated by seeds in two ways:
- planting seedlings;
- sowing in open ground.
Growing seedlings
Sowing seeds at home is done in March. To do this, seedling containers are filled with soil mixture for indoor flowers, which can be bought at a flower shop. The soil is moistened and the seeds are evenly distributed over it. There is no need to sprinkle them on top, but they should be sprayed with water at room temperature from a spray bottle.
The containers are covered with plastic wrap and placed in a warm place until the seeds hatch. As soon as the first seedlings emerge, the film is removed, and the boxes are placed in a bright place. When cotyledon leaves appear, the sprouts need to be thinned out. Seedlings with 4–6 true leaves are planted in separate pots.
When growing foxglove seedlings, you must ensure that the soil does not dry out. The plant likes moderate watering. Since the flower grows and develops very slowly, seedlings are planted in open ground only in the fall. The distance between plants should be from 35 to 40 cm.
Sowing seeds in open ground
Most often, foxglove is grown from seeds directly in open ground, where it also germinates and develops well. The most suitable period for this is May and June. The flower does not tolerate stagnant moisture, so the site for it should not be near water sources or under deciduous trees.
The plants are undemanding to the soil, but when digging, it is recommended to apply fertilizers with nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus. Seeds are sown in rows, the distance between which should be 40 cm. For one square meter One gram of seeds is sown per plot. Grooves and holes should not be made in advance; the soil just needs to be loosened. Small foxglove seeds are distributed directly over the surface, since they simply cannot break through from under a thick layer of soil. The planted area is covered with a non-woven covering material, which helps retain moisture and protect the seeds from wind and birds. Foxglove sprouts should sprout in about one to two weeks.
It is almost impossible to sow the seeds so that they are at the proper distance from each other. Therefore, the seedlings emerge very densely and require thinning. This is done in several stages:
- When young plants are in the cotyledon stage, the weakest ones are removed. The distance between the remaining seedlings should be 5 cm.
- When the fourth true leaf appears, the excess seedlings are dug up and transplanted to another area. Minimum distance there should be 25–30 cm between them.
Throughout the summer, caring for young foxglove bushes consists of moderate watering and protecting them from direct sunlight.
In the first year, the plant will grow a leaf rosette and root system. It will begin to bloom only the next year after planting in open ground.. However, breeders have developed annual varieties that bloom in the first year. Young plants must be covered for the winter, otherwise they may freeze.
Foxglove: planting and care
Before planting bushes, the soil is dug up and enriched with manure or compost and mineral fertilizers. You can use “Nitrophoska” or add 1–2 cups of wood ash to the holes.
Caring for adult plants is easy. Watering is done only as needed, since the flower does not like excessive moisture.. The soil around the bushes should be regularly cleared of weeds and loosened from time to time. Foxglove roots are horizontal, so loosening is done very carefully.
Plant care includes feeding two or three times per season. Special mineral fertilizers are used for blooming flowers. It is not recommended to overfeed foxgloves, otherwise you may end up with a lush plant without flowers. WITH flowering bushes Faded and faded flowers are removed. In this case, flowering will last longer. Inflorescences that have already completely faded are cut off.
When caring for foxgloves, it is recommended to monitor the condition of the roots. By the end of summer they may come out. In autumn they must be sprinkled with a thick layer of soil., otherwise in the winter cold the root system will freeze and the plant will die.
At proper care In autumn the seeds will ripen on the plant. In this case, the adult plant reproduces by self-seeding, which facilitates its reproduction.
Foxglove in landscape design
The plant looks great both in single and group plantings. Different varieties can be planted in one flowerbed, selecting them according to color scheme . However, it should be taken into account that insects will cross-pollinate, as a result of which the purity of the variety will be compromised.
A flower garden of tall plants with foxgloves, peonies, valerians, and roses planted in it looks beautiful. Bright tall candles can be used to create a backdrop for more low plants. Foxglove will look impressive against the background of a building wall of contrasting color.. It should be borne in mind that the plant is poisonous, so it should not be planted in children's institutions.
Even dwarf varieties are not suitable for decorating borders. But they can be grown in containers, decorating gazebos or verandas. Some varieties stand well as cut flowers and are used for making bouquets.
Planting unpretentious foxgloves in the garden is an excellent alternative to high-maintenance plants. flowering perennials. Once grown from seeds, the plant will decorate the area for many years with its bright candle-shaped flower stalks.
Foxglove - tall and showy two- or perennial with large bright flowers. It got its name thanks to unusual shape buds that resemble a sewing thimble. Flowering plant with many bright and large buds in the inflorescences it looks very attractive, and the duration of flowering, which in most varieties is observed from June to August, is also pleasing.
Depending on the variety, foxglove may have different heights and the color of the buds. Some large varieties reach a height of 1.5 meters, and the color of the flowers ranges from light pink to red and purple. Foxglove leaves are large, bright green, soft and pubescent, and are formed in the first year of the plant's life. The inflorescence is located at the top of the stem and, with proper care, can occupy up to half the height of the plant.
After flowering completes, the flowers ripen into seeds in boxes, of which there are a lot on one plant, so there are problems with collecting planting material will not be. Seeds retain decent germination up to 3 years.
Foxglove has long been considered a mystical plant, widely used in medicine potions to treat a variety of ailments. But traditional medicine did not recognize its pharmacological properties for a long time, and only in the 18th century did English doctors analyze folk remedies and discover that the “purple” variety actually contains substances that can fight various heart diseases. Since then, flowers began to be used as components for heart medications; “purple” is also included in modern drops and tablets to stimulate the work of the heart muscles.
But when using the plant you need to be very careful, since it is safe only in small doses, and if you take the plant in excess, severe poisoning can occur, causing nausea, vomiting, intestinal upset, muscle cramps and even cardiac arrest.
Growing, care and planting
The plant is unpretentious and can withstand frost, drought and shade. But ideally, it is better to plant it in sunny or slightly shaded places protected from the wind. In the sun, the culture develops well, but the flowers dry out faster, and in partial shade the buds retain their original freshness for a long time.
Foxglove is indifferent to soils and can grow in any area, although flowering will be more luxuriant on loams and fertilized soils. Before planting, the soil on the site should be dug deeply and fertilized with humus, nitrophoska and ash. Next, the bed is raked and moistened with water.
Let's look at how to grow foxgloves from seeds. The plant can be grown in open ground from seeds or prepared seedlings can be planted. To obtain seedlings, seeds should be placed in the soil in early March; special small containers filled with seedling substrate are most suitable for sowing.
When sowing in open ground, the seeds are sown in the middle or end of May. To do this, the seeds are dug into the soil not very deeply into the grooves made in the garden bed, and since they are small in size, sometimes it is enough to simply sprinkle them with sand and cover them with film. Autumn sowing of foxgloves is also practiced; for this, the seeds are immersed in the soil and covered with leaves to protect them from frost, and with the arrival of spring the plants will germinate on their own.
Growing, care and planting
In the first year, foxglove forms succulent and large leaves collected in a rosette, and by the second year a tall stem with buds is formed. The first flowers open in June, the last ones in August, after which the stem dries up. Caring for foxgloves is simple; you just need to weed and loosen the soil around the plants as needed and water on dry days. Although some experts advise against watering flowers, many gardeners find that weekly moderate watering significantly increases flowering.
Fertilizing for these crops is not necessary; if desired, you can apply complex fertilizers once a year, even if the soil is not particularly fertile. Care also involves cutting off faded buds, which will prolong flowering and prevent the dispersion of flowers to nearby areas, as well as provoke the formation of inflorescences in the axillary buds.
Let's look at what diseases this plant has. The foxglove flower is susceptible to most common diseases, including powdery mildew, leaf spot and gray rot. In addition, the plant is often inhabited by different kinds aphids. It is recommended to combat diseases and pests with the help of special solutions sold in gardening stores.
Foxglove varieties
Let's look at the main varieties of foxglove:
- Purple
The most common plant variety, often found in gardens and flower beds. The plant reaches 1-2 meters in height. Although the crop is perennial, most experts prefer to grow it for only two years, since after flowering stops in the second year, it loses its decorative value with the death of the stem. Although gardeners have to wait a whole year to bloom, because in the first season the plant produces only its lower leaves, the luxurious inflorescences have made foxglove very popular among gardeners.
An adult plant looks very impressive - a long arrow rises above a lush rosette of large, fleshy leaves, almost half strewn with inflorescences with large bell-shaped buds. The color can be snow-white, as well as pink, red, beige, apricot, yellow with red splashes. The flowers are large, up to 6 centimeters long, collected in lush inflorescences.
Flowering of foxglove purple occurs in June and lasts up to 1.5 months; to continue the period of bud formation, it is necessary to regularly remove faded inflorescences. Foxglove flowers tolerate cutting well and can be used to make bouquets. Because of its toxicity, it is not recommended to plant foxglove purple in gardens where small children walk. At the same time, some doctors claim that the danger of the plant for children is minimal, since it has a bitter and astringent taste and is almost impossible to eat.
- Large-flowered
It is no more than 1.2 meters in height and is distinguished by lanceolate fluffy leaves and drooping yellow inflorescences 5-6 centimeters long. The buds are collected in large brush-shaped inflorescences. WITH outside the flowers are pubescent, and inside are covered with specks and stripes of brown shades. Flowering occurs in June-July of the second year of life and lasts about a month. Found in wildlife in the mountains and steppes of temperate latitudes.
- Rusty
A highly decorative variety with a height of 75-120 centimeters, but some specimens can grow up to 2 meters. It is distinguished by fluffy elongated leaves and flowers similar in shape to orchid buds. Their color can be yellow, cream, grayish, golden and rusty. The flower has purple and brown veins and an elongated lower lip.
Flowers are no different large sizes and reach only 3-4 centimeters, but many buds and inflorescences are formed on one stem. Flowering begins in June of the second year and lasts until the end of summer. This variety is very beautiful and will decorate any flower garden, as evidenced by the foxglove photo.
- Tapsi
Perennial, reaching a height of 50-80 centimeters, brought from Spain. It is distinguished by long bluish leaves and small crimson flowers collected in bell-shaped inflorescences. The plant is not highly frost-resistant and requires light shelter for the winter.
- Yellow
It is 75-100 centimeters in height and is distinguished by smooth stems and leaves without pubescence. The flowers are small, up to 2.5 cm long, bright yellow, sometimes with brown speckles. The flowering period lasts from June to August and occurs in the second year of crop growth. This variety of foxglove is perennial and does not lose decorative value over the years.