14/06/2023
Foxgloves (Digitalis purpurea) are glorious this year. You know, these are supposed to be biennial or triennial but they have proven perennial on our land. I think it might be due to the fertility and mulch. Anyway they're not acting the way they're s'posed to, and it doesn't really bother me, the nectar still tastes as sweet to the hummingbird. Looking into the sistory (what others call history) of foxglove was truly fascinating. It entered into common use in the medical profession very late, moving from folk use to a medical doctor, and then to the lab, where the cardiac glycosides were identified and refined into the modern drugs. I still prefer the plant, though. You can find out much more about this in my book "Growing Plant Medicine Vol 1." Here's some more info off of our website:
Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea)
Family: Figwort (Scrophulariaceae)
Hardy to Zones 4 to 8
Biennial native to Western Europe, currently distributed worldwide. These are standard form foxgloves and in my opinion they cannot be improved upon. Traditional usage (TWM): Cardiac stimulant. Plant prefers part shade to sun and likes an acidic, forest-derived soil. Strew seed on acidic loam soil in the part shade, press in firmly, and allow all the seedlings to express. You will be rewarded with multiple flowering tops, classic, in the second year. Another option is to start them in the shade house in pots and transplant out at a foot apart. Once planted to the landscape, these do tend to self-seed and acclimatize.
