The whimsical foxglove plant (Digitalis purpurea) has brought joy to my heart for years. And as far back as the 1700s, foxglove flowers have also brought physical healing to hearts in need. The man credited with the introduction of digitalis into the practice of medicine was William Withering, who first used extracts of the plant to help with Dropsy. Even Dr. Erasmus Darwin, grandfather of Charles Darwin, wrote a poem extolling the good effects of this lovely flower.
In our modern times, certain compounds found in the leaves are used to help in the fight against cardiac disease. And while its extracts prove beneficial, the foxglove plant itself—stems, flowers, leaves and all—is entirely toxic and should not be ingested.
[/et_pb_text][et_pb_ src=”https://flowermag.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/foxglove-excelsior.jpg” alt=”Large, peach, salmon, and pink ‘Excelsior’ foxglove flowers in garden.” title_text=”foxglove excelsior” _builder_version=”4.24.0″ _module_preset=”default” enable_caption_text=”on” enable_description_text=”on” _caption_font=”Open Sans|300|||||||” _caption_color=”#000000″ _caption_size=”12px” _description_font=”||on||||||” _description_size=”14px” _description_alignment=”center” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][/et_pb_][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.24.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]
Foxgloves are stunning wildflowers that can make for beautiful photographs. With their tall spires of tubular flowers in shades of purple, pink, white or yellow, foxgloves have an elegant, haunting beauty. In this article, we’ll explore tips for capturing gorgeous pictures of foxglove plants in bloom.
A Bit About Foxgloves
Foxgloves, also known as Digitalis purpurea, are biennials or short-lived perennials that can grow up to 5-6 feet tall The flowers bloom on tall spikes rising above large basal rosettes of leaves. The blooms open sequentially from the bottom to the top of the spike, so you’ll usually see flowers in different stages—some still in bud, some fully open, and some going to seed
Foxgloves thrive in part shade and do well in wooded areas. They are highly toxic so they are not eaten by deer. You’ll often find them growing wild along roadsides streams and woodland edges. They bloom from late spring to early summer.
Tips for Photographing Foxgloves
Here are some tips to help you take eye-catching photos of foxgloves in bloom:
Look for Good Backdrops
Pay attention to what’s behind the foxgloves to make for a pleasing, uncluttered background. Sidelighting can illuminate the flowers against a dark background. Backlighting can create rim lighting on the flowers. Shoot toward open sky rather than busy, distracting backgrounds.
Focus on Flowers at Their Peak
Capture the foxgloves when the flowers are at the height of bloom with many flowers open along the stem. The buds and unopened flowers can also add interest. Avoid plants that are mostly spent where few flowers remain.
Shoot Low and Up
Get low on the ground and shoot up toward the towering flower spikes for an intriguing perspective. Use a wide-angle lens to emphasize the height of the flower stalks.
Try Side Lighting
Side lighting illuminates the outline and details of the tubular foxglove blossoms. It can create striking backlit images when shooting toward the light.
Capture Gently Lit Portraits
Shoot in open shade on an overcast day to capture soft, detailed portraits of the flowers and avoid harsh shadows. Use a macro lens and tripod for ultra-sharp close-ups.
Work the Colors and Patterns
Move in close and fill the frame with the elegant spotted throats of the flowers. Capture the rich purple hues or the softer pinks and creams. Photograph the striking veining and speckles on the blossoms.
Shoot Flower Details
Focus on the graceful drooping bells, the fuzzy pistils or the dancing bees visiting the blossoms. Isolate sections rather than the entire flower spike.
Capture Peak Bloom at Popular Locations
Visit botanical gardens, parks or roadsides where foxgloves grow profusely. Return to locations year after year to experience peak bloom.
Add Scale
Place a person, animal or insect near the flowers to demonstrate their impressive size. A bee on a foxglove flower can make a great photo.
Try Infrared Photography
Use infrared photography to create unique, otherworldly images of foxgloves. The purple and pink flowers will turn white while the greens become fluorescent.
Explore Black & White
Convert images to black and white to focus attention on the striking form and patterns of foxgloves. The high contrast draws the eye.
Work Diffused Light & Soft Bokeh
Shoot in foggy or rainy conditions to capture softened foxgloves with diffused lighting and dreamy backgrounds. Use shallow depth of field for artistic bokeh.
Create Painterly Images
Use an art filter like watercolor or painting effect to render the foxgloves in an artistic, painterly style. This works well for soft color images.
I hope these tips inspire you get out and photograph the beautiful foxgloves blooming in your area! Let your creativity run wild as you explore different vantage points, lighting and compositions.
Here are some additional tips for taking top-notch pictures of flowers:
-
Use a macro lens for detailed close-up shots. Get as close as you can to capture the fine details.
-
Adjust your aperture for soft, diffused backgrounds and bokeh. Open up to f/2.8 or wider.
-
Focus precisely on the stamens, pistil or other interior details. Use manual focus if needed.
-
For portraits, position flowers facing toward or away from the light source. Side-lit is often most appealing.
-
Frame creatively using leaves, branches or other natural elements. Shoot through obstacles to soften foregrounds.
-
Capture highlights glistening on flower petals after rain or morning dew. Backlight or side-light the droplets.
-
Photograph flowers at different stages from tight bud to fully open to seed head. Variety tells a story.
-
Follow flowers on a stalk as they progress through bloom sequence. Document the changes.
-
Shoot from ground level and angle your lens up to emphasize flowers against the sky.
-
Use a polarizing filter to decrease glare and saturate colors. Intensify blues and greens.
-
Opt for softer early morning or late afternoon light. Avoid harsh midday shadows.
-
Cloudy overcast days work great for vivid flower close-ups. Avoid direct sunlight.
-
Use flash fill to illuminate shaded areas and flower interiors. Open shadows with a touch of light.
-
Change your perspective. Shoot down from a high angle, up from ground level, or eye to eye.
-
Fill the frame with the flower and nothing else. Simplify the scene.
With practice and persistence, you can capture absolutely stunning images of vibrant foxgloves in their natural habitat. Use these tips to guide you as you explore photographing these beautiful wildflowers.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/tall-toxic-foxglove-plants-2132588_08-48d22fa5870c45bc91bf6320fc3fc903.jpg)
WHEN TO PLANT FOXGLOVES
While some are perennials, most common foxglove varieties are biennial. This means that when grown from seed, in their first year, they will grow out their root system and produce leaves, go dormant over winter, and will bloom in the summer of their second year.
Plant seeds in spring, after the threat of frost for flowers the following year.
If you’re impatient for blossoms, you can let a grower spend part of that first, flowerless year with the plant, and purchase established foxgloves to set out in late summer or fall. As with seed-grown plants, the foxgloves will be dormant through the winter, sprout in spring, and bloom in early summer.
Biennial foxglove varieties will die after they flower and produce seeds. Some foxglove varieties will give you a second year of flowers if you cut off the flower stalk before it sets seeds. Whether you purchase plants or start with seeds, you’ll want to plant two years in a row so that you’ll have plants in flower every year.
[/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.24.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]
KNOWING AND GROWING FOXGLOVES
Foxgloves blooms May to June. Most foxglove plants are biennials. This means they have vegetative growth the first year and flower the second year.
Foxgloves need to be staked before the florets open. Once they open the weight of the flower can break the stalk.
Foxgloves do best in morning sun light with afternoon shade.
When it comes to pruning foxglove, remove the center flowering stalk after it blooms. This will enable the side stalks to have more energy to grow and bloom.
Cut foxgloves for arrangements just before the blooms reach their peak.
[/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.24.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]
My Experience with Foxglove! // Garden Answer
FAQ
Is foxglove poisonous to touch?
-
HowStuffWorkshttps://home.howstuffworks.comFoxglove Flower: The Beautiful Bloom That’s Good (and Bad) for Your Heart | HowStuffWorks
Do foxgloves come back every year?
-
Biennial Foxgloves:Most foxgloves are biennials, meaning they bloom in their second year after being planted from seed, then die back. However, they readily self-seed, so you can have new plants blooming the following year.
-
Perennial Foxgloves:Some foxglove varieties, like Digitalis grandiflora, are perennial, meaning they can flower every year for several years.
-
Self-Seeding:Foxgloves are self-seeding, meaning they will naturally spread seeds and create new plants if allowed to go to seed. To encourage this, don’t deadhead spent flowers; allow them to set seed, says Gardening Know How.
-
Maintaining a Foxglove Border:To maintain a continuous border of foxglove blooms, you can sow seeds in two consecutive years to ensure a continuous display, notes Homes and Gardens.
-
Deadheading:While you want to allow some flowers to go to seed, you can also deadhead spent blooms to encourage a second flush of flowers or to prevent excessive seedlings.
-
Choosing Varieties:If you want to ensure foxgloves bloom every year, consider perennial varieties like Apricot Beauty, Regal Red, and Snow Thimble.
What plant is mistaken for foxglove?
Comfrey could be mistaken for foxglove when not in flower, as the leaves are similar. However, comfrey leaves are untoothed, meaning they have smooth edges, and foxglove leaves are toothed. Great mullein (Verbascum thapsus) is another plant foxglove might be confused with when no flowers are present.
What do perennial foxgloves look like?
Looks. Perennial foxgloves send up elegant spires of bell-like flowers above rosettes of glossy or downy leaves. The different species vary in height, flower shape and size, from Digitalis grandiflora with spikes of large yellow blooms to D. ferruginea with slender spires of small rust-coloured bells.
How many foxglove plant photos are there?
Browse 2,592 foxglove plant photos and images available, or start a new search to explore more photos and images.
What is a foxglove flower?
Foxgloves are a traditional cottage garden flower, well known for their tall and stately spires of pretty bell-shaped tubular flowers with a spotted centre. Foxgloves are available here in a range of colours from pale, pinks to purples and blues and yellows. Looking for other architectural flowering plants? Check out our range of delphinium plants.
What does a foxglove look like?
Foxgloves have an oblong, often spoon-shaped basal rosette with soft, gently serrated or toothed leaves. This evergreen foliage is a distinguishing feature of the plant according to the North Carolina Extension Gardener Program at North Carolina State.
What flowers are in a foxglove set?
Strawberries, mushrooms, fir branch, bright field wildflowers. foxglove stock illustrations Watercolor set with wild meadow flowers, herbs, leaves and berries. Forest botany, summer nature elements. Strawberries, mushrooms, fir branch, bright field wildflowers.
Is Foxglove a native species?
Foxglove is not a native plant and is considered an invasive species in only a few states. The costs of treating foxgloves within a habitat restoration site are relatively low when compared to more aggressive invasive species.