Rehmannia – Chinese Foxglove ‘Rufus’ (3.25″ pot)

Description

Rehmannia elata ‘Rufus’ has deeper, vibrant rose-scarlet flowers compared to regular Chinese Foxglove. R. angulata features large, 2-3 inch foxglove-like flowers that are typically rosy-purple with yellow, red-spotted throats.

Chinese Foxglove is not actually related to foxglove (digitalis) – the roots are an important herb used in Traditional Chinese Medicine, where it is referred to as Sheng-di-huang “Cooked Earth Yellow”

This is a showy and dramatic herbaceous perennial native to China. It has a  400 year history of cultivation – it is short and stocky with flaring, foxglove-like flowers in magenta with spotted throats.

The root is rubbery, orange, and covered with propagative buds. Rehmannia is extremely rare in the US. In TCM, the processed roots replenish vitality, strengthen liver and kidney, also heart, treating diabetes, constipation, anemia, urinary tract problems, dizziness, and menstrual woes.

Plant prefers sun and very fast-draining soil. It is a bit tender here, but with a little winter protection, it thrives. Traditionally grown on well-drained terraces and sometimes found growing on old, crumbling walls. Water sparingly.