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Rehmannia elata is a perennial plant from China. It can
height 24-36 inches tall. It makes an excellent cut
flower.
Rehmannia elata are Foxglove-like tubular, pinkish-purple,
3 inch flowers with yellow throats, that are lightly
freckled in red. This is a great alternative plant to
grow instead of its cousin Digitalis purpurea. Not only
does it bloom longer than Digitalis it has a showier
flower. The spikes are sometimes only three feet tall,
though our oldest specimens have shot up flower stalks
that are over five feet tall. The tallest spikes do lean.
Rehmannia elata takes advantage of mild climate and
blooms over a long period. Flowers continuously from May
to November with the heaviest bloom in late Spring. It
can bloom as late as December, though certainly not full
big exciting blooms like in Summer and early Autumn.
During cooler temperatures the plant will flower more
than during hot weather. In zones farther South it will
be unhappy in Summer but bloom in Winter.
Its furry foliage, quite short under the tall spikes of
flowers, forms mottled bronzy rosettes. Smaller rosettes
of leaves pop up from underground rizomes all around
parent plants. The leaves on this plant are triangular,
coarsely serrated, and grey-green, often with red tinges.
All parts of plant are poisonous if ingested.
Hardiness zones 6-11, (-20°C/-5°F, 4°C/40°F) in
Winter. There are other reports of hardiness to zone 5.
The plants are easy to grow in sun or shade. It wants
neutral rich moist, very well draining soil, becoming
drought tolerant once it's been established for a year or
two. In early Spring it can be given a slow-release
fertilizer, but demands little else. Water regularly, do
not overwater.
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