How to take care of Digitalis or Foxgloves? We will tell you;)

The digitalis They are herbs that produce very showy flowers, not only because they have good-sized inflorescences, but also because they are beautifully colored. In addition, they are very attractive to insects as beneficial as bees, which will not hesitate to go in search of pollen from other plants.

The genre is very interesting also because of its low maintenance. Ideal for beginners, and for all those who want to give color to their garden or patio. Next we tell you their care.

Origin and characteristics

Known as foxgloves, they are herbs and shrubs native to Europe, Asia Minor, and North Africa. They are characterized above all by their inflorescences, which are composed of tubular flowers of various colors (pink, white, pink) which sprout in spring-summer. Depending on the species, these can be quite large, up to 1 meter in height, so they are very, very striking.

The leaves grow in oval rosettes, and are hairy, green in color. All parts of the plant contain digitalis, which is a glycoside that is used as a cardiotonic – under medical prescription.

Main species

The most popular are:

Digitalis lanata

It is a perennial plant native to Eastern Europe that reaches between 30 and 60 centimeters. The leaves form rosettes of green color, and its flowers are white or pale ocher in spring.

Dark digitalis

It is known as corregia or black foxglove, and it is a plant native to the Iberian Peninsula and northwestern Morocco (Rif area) that reaches 50-60cm in height. It produces reddish stems, from which alternate and elongated leaves sprout, leathery and green to the touch. The flowers are pinkish-reddish, and they bloom in spring.

digitalis purpurea

It is the most popular. It is known as foxglove, digital, cartridge, sucker, glove of Our Lady, San Juan, bilicroques, gauntlet, staxon or viluria. It is native to Europe, Northwest Africa, and Central and Western Asia.

It has a life cycle of two years: the first grows, and the second blooms and bears fruit. It reaches a height of 1 meter or morewith purple inflorescences that sprout in summer.

Where to buy?

You can get it at nurseries and garden stores. If you are looking for seeds you can get them from here!.

digitalis thapsi

With a biennial cycle, this endemic species of the Iberian Peninsula (specifically the Central System) is a plant that reaches 60cm in height. The basal leaves are ovate or lanceolate, and the flowers are grouped in pink inflorescences in spring and summer.

What are the cares?

Would you like to know how it is cared for? Well let’s go there:

Location

Digitalis are plants that have to be abroadbut where? Well, it will depend mainly on the weather:

• Temperate-warm: if you live for example in the Mediterranean, where the insolation is quite intense, the ideal is that you have them in a bright area but protected from direct sun.
• Temperate-cold: if on the contrary you live for example in a mountainous area, or where temperatures are mild all year round and there are frosts / snowfalls in winter, you can put them in the sun, or in semi-shade, wherever you prefer.

Earth

It will depend on where you have them:

• Flower pot: it is highly recommended that you fill it with fertile and well-drained substrate. A good mix would be universal growing medium (for sale here!) with 20% perlite (for sale here!).
• the garden: the land has to be fertile, with good drainage. If not, do not worry because as they are plants with a rather small root system, just make a hole of about 50 x 50cm, and fill it with the mixture of substrates that we have mentioned before.

Irrigation

It has to be rather moderate. They are not plants that are very resistant to drought, but waterlogging does not do them well either. Water an average of 3-4 times a week during the summer, and every 4-5 days or so the rest of the year. When in doubt, always bear in mind that it is easier to recover a dry plant than another that has suffered excess watering, … and check the humidity of the soil or substrate with a thin wooden stick (if it comes out practically clean when you extract it, you can water).

Subscriber

During the spring and summer, with ecological fertilizers such as mulch, compost, guano, or others that we tell you in this article.

Multiplication

The Digitalis multiply by seeds in springfollowing this step by step:

1. First, you need to fill a seedling tray (for sale here!) with universal culture substrate mixed with 20% perlite.
2. Then water conscientiously.
3. Then, place a maximum of two seeds in each socket, and cover them with a thin layer of substrate.
4. Lastly, put the seedling tray outside, in semi-shade.

Keeping the substrate moist but not flooded, they will germinate after approximately 15 days.

Plagues and diseases

They are very resistant. They can have fungal problems if overwatered and / or their leaves / flowers get wet when watering.

Pruning

There’s no need. You just have to remove the dry leaves and wilted flowers with scissors previously disinfected with pharmacy alcohol.

Rusticity

It depends on the species, but in general they all resist frosts down to -5ºC. The D. purpurea it is less whopping: up to -12ºC it can bear.

Of course, they do not like extreme heat (more than 30ºC), especially if they have dry land.

What do you think of these plants?