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Common Name: Rusty Foxglove

General Information

Digitalis ferruginea is a Biennial/Perennial up to 1.20 metres tall.
It is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine..

Known Hazards

All parts of the plant are poisonous[, ].

Botanical References

,

Range

S. and S.E. Europe to W. Asia.

Habitat

Woods, grassy clearings, rocky slopes and scrub to 2700 metres[, ].

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Habit	Biennial/Perennial
Height	1.20 m
Pollinators	Bees
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

An easily grown plant, succeeding in ordinary garden soil, especially if it is rich in organic matter[]. It also succeeds in dry soils and, once established, is drought tolerant[, ]. It prefers semi-shade but succeeds in full sun if the soil is moist[, ].
Plants are hardy to about -15°c[].
This species is a short-lived perennial[] and is best grown as a biennial[].
Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer and rabbits[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

The leaves are cardiac, stimulant and tonic[, ]. They are often used in the treatment of certain heart complaints.

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - surface sow early spring in a cold frame. The seed usually germinates in 2 - 4 weeks at 20°c[]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in the summer. Another report says that the seed is best sown in the autumn[].