Foxglove Plant

Herb Garden Plants - Foxglove - Both Doctor and Killer

Executive summary about Foxglove Plant by Pete Steel

Digitalis purpurea (Scrophulariaceae) Appearance

One of the taller herb garden plants, the foxglove attains from 1 to 2m (3' to 6') in height and provides an early to midsummer flower show. It has tongue-shaped, deeply veined, soft and dark green attractive foliage, but its real crowning glory is its hanging steeple of purple/red bell-like flowers with a spotted inner face.

History

the venerable Gerard counted it as one of his essential herb garden plants and recommended it as a poultice for severe bruising and external wounds. The migration to the New World of Foxglove was only accomplisher after the virtues involving the heart were recognised and publicised. Truly a wonder drug of the day, with its toxicity making it a Jekyll and Hyde amongst herb garden plants.

Usage

The cardiac glycosides extant in and obtained from Foxglove are used therapeutically in the treatment of cardiac failure, because of their anti-arrhythmic effects. In spite of its extreme toxicity to man, its virtues give it an overweening importance as an absolutely essential healing medicinal herb.

Other sources of cardiac glycosides:

Plants.

Strophanthus - ouabain

Digitalis lanata - digoxin, digitoxin

Nerium oleander - oleandrin

Animals.

Bufo toads

Cultivation

The Foxglove it is a true biennial - its rosette of leaves is forms during the first year and the flower spike the second; thereafter the plant dies, but leaves a legacy in the form of a brood of offspring around it. Foxglove grows easily from seed, and once established there will always be some offspring about, in fact the Foxglove has a set pattern of broadcasting its seed to populate its patch with successive generations. Good rich soil with leaf mould makes the Foxglove a happy plant - although dappled shade tolerant, it prefers siting in full sun. A winter mulch of pine needles should be applied after the ground has frozen. Plants living in damp soil should be transferred to growing frames during winter for Spring replanting.