Wikimedia Commons
Plantaginaceae
Rusty Foxglove
Digitalis ferruginea
Enigmatic elegance and warning.
- Family
- Plantaginaceae
- Genus
- Digitalis
- Native to
- Southern Europe, Western Asia
- Bloom season
- Summer
- Type
- biennial
- Height
- 3-6 ft
- Sunlight
- full sun to partial shade
- Soil
- well-drained, average
- Water
- moderate
- Hardiness
- 4-8
- Lifespan
- biennial to short-lived perennial
Did you know
- Its species name 'ferruginea' means 'rust-colored,' referring to the distinctive brownish-orange veined flowers.
- Like all foxgloves, it contains cardiac glycosides and is poisonous if ingested, though less potent than common foxglove.
- The flowers form tall, elegant spires that can have over 100 individual blooms on a single stalk.
- Bees crawl deep inside the tubular flowers to reach nectar, and the lower lip acts as a landing pad.
- It has become a favorite of contemporary garden designers for its unusual color that blends with both warm and cool palettes.
Color meanings
0
enchantment
1
caution
2
hidden danger