Foxglove and Mountain Laurel

Foxglove

Mountain Laurel

Both Foxglove and Mountain Laurel are in bloom now at One Love Farm. Foxglove (Digitalis) is native to Europe, Northern Afica and Central Asia. It is grown in North America as an ornamental biennial. Biennials take two years to bloom. The first year the foxglove produces long leaves. The second year it bolts and sends up a long spike that produce its distinctive bell shaped flowers. Some species of Foxglove are poisonous. In fact, some Foxglove are so poisonous that you can die from drinking the water that a cut stem has been in. Because of this toxicity, Foxglove is also known as Dead Man's Bells.

Mountain Laurel (Kalmia latifolia) is native to the Eastern United States. Mountain Laurel grows well in rocky conditions. We grow it as a shrub at One Love Farm on a small hill where it is protected by small evergreens. In some very windy and exposed areas, we have found Mountain Laurel does not do well. It is also said that Mountain Laurel does not like limestone conditions. Further south, in the Carolinas, Mountain Laurel can be grown as a tree. The star shaped flowers bloom in late spring and early summer and come in many different colors. We love the striking red of the Mountain Laurel at One Love Farm.

This plant is poisonous. Mountain Laurel is also known as Spoonwood, allegedly becuase Native Americans made spoons out of the wood. I would not recommend trying this due to the plant's toxicity. Mountain Laurel was introduced to Europe in the early 17th century and is still successfully grown there today.