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What Kind of Root Does a Foxglove Have?

Foxglove falls under the genus digitalis. This striking biennial produces long, basal leaves that form a rosette during its first year. In the second year, one or more upright flower spikes shoot up from the basal leaves, sporting drooping, tubular flowers resembling thimbles. The flowers come in a variety of colors, including white, yellow, pink and purple with some varieties marked with dark spots inside the flower. The name foxglove comes from the flowers' resemblance to the fingers of a glove, although one legend attributes the name to a bad fairy giving a fox the flowers to wear to soften his walk while hunting.

  1. Root Type

    • Foxglove plants grow above a fibrous root system of profusely branched roots. Long, thick fibers create a dense mat in the soil anchoring the plant securely in the soil support the tall flower spikes. Mulching avoids drying out the roots.

    Fibrous Root Formation

    • Foxglove's fibrous root system begins forming at germination when the radicle, or primary root, pushes through the seed coat and signals for the embryo to grow. Cells divide and elongate, and lateral or side roots form along with root hairs. In a taproot system like the carrot, the primary root is prominent and easily pinpointed. However, in the intricate and dense web of the fibrous root system of the foxglove, the primary root is not dominant. The primary root is there, but it blends in with the other roots.

    Gardeners Beware

    • All parts of foxglove, including the roots, are poisonous. The toxins in foxglove are cardenolides or cardiac glycosides that cause problems with a healthy heart. Digitalin, an important component of heart medications, is extracted from foxglove. Foxglove in pastureland can be fatal to foraging and grazing animals. Handling foxglove without proper protection may lead to health problems including dizziness, vomiting, irregular heartbeat, delerium or hallucinations and severe skin irritations.

    Chinese Foxglove Root

    • Rehmannia gets is common name, Chinese foxglove, from its resemblance to foxglove in the genus digitalis. The flower spikes filled with tubular bell flowers are similar, but rehmannia is a perennial native to China with a very different root structure. Its large taproot is used in herbal medicine to treat anemia, liver disorders, fatigue and inflammation and as a blood purifier or as a laxative.

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