Foxglove (Digitalis)

            Foxglove (Digitalis): Anybody who has had, or knows someone who has had heart surgery remembers the name Digitalis. It is prescribed to strengthen the heart and regulate its beat. The plant is poisonous because of this potential so don’t think you’re saving your loved one some money on their meds by bringing a bouquet to eat.

            This full sun to shade loving bi-annual is treated like a perennial because it reseeds itself. Its height can be anywhere from 2 to 4 feet depending on the species. And, depending on the species, the blooming time is between June and September, with the bulk of it in June.

            Being that it has this heart regulating component built into it deer instinctively leave it alone. In their little deer brains they must know that eating this will pound their hearts right out of their already nervous little chests.

            Keep them watered during the dry summer months if the rainfall has not exceeded an inch a week. They are healthy feeders so a compost dressing, or some garden fertilizer in the spring will keep them in the pink, or red, or purple, white, and yellow, whatever flower color you may have chosen.

            Once past its flowering prime, removing the central flower stalk will cause the plant to produce side growth flower stalks; not as showy as the center one you removed, but quite flowery non-the-less.

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