About Digitalis ferruginea L.
Nomenclature and Family
Digitalis ferruginea, commonly known as the rusty foxglove, is a flowering plant species in the family Plantaginaceae.
Native Range
It is native to Hungary, Romania, Turkey, and the Caucasus.
Growth Habit and Size
It is a biennial or short-lived perennial plant that grows up to 1.2 meters (3 feet 11 inches) tall.
Foliage and Flowering
It forms a rosette of oblong dark green leaves, and produces spikes of russet, tubular flowers in summer.
Etymology of Specific Epithet
Its Latin specific epithet ferruginea means "rusty coloured", a name that refers to the plant's flowers.
Ingestion Toxicity
Like all foxglove species, all parts of Digitalis ferruginea can cause severe discomfort and vomiting if eaten.
Contact Allergy Risk
Contact with the plant's leaves may also trigger an allergic reaction.
Horticultural Recognition
This plant has received the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.