Rehmannia elata

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Chinese foxglove

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Chinese foxglove RHS
Chinese foxglove RHS 1999

Synonyms

Rehmannia angulata misapplied

RHS Recommended

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Bedding Herbaceous Perennial
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An upright perennial to 1.5m tall, with deeply toothed, ovate leaves and lax racemes of two-lipped, purplish-pink flowers to 10cm long in summer and autumn

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Chalk, Loam, Sand

Max Height

1-1.5 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
2–5 years
Max Spread
0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height
1-1.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Loam Sand
Moisture
Well–drained
pH
Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun Partial shade
Aspect
South–facing or East–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

  • H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
  • H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
  • H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
  • H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
  • H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
  • H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
  • H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
  • H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
  • H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)
H3

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Orobanchaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Bushy
Genus
Rehmannia are erect perennials with large leaves in basal rosettes, and large, 2-lipped, trumpet-shaped flowers
Name Status
Correct
Plant Range
China (Hubei)

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in full sun or light shade in well-drained soil in a sheltered site. Can be lifted in autumn and overwintered in a cool, dry frost-free place

Propagation

Propagate by seed in late winter; take softwood cuttings in spring or root cuttings in late autumn

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • City and courtyard gardens
  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Wall side borders
  • Flower borders and beds

Pruning

No pruning required but remove spent flower stems by deadheading

Pests

Susceptible to slugs and snails

Diseases

Generally disease-free