What is the difference between foxglove and larkspur? Both are beautiful and I want to grow both
Another name for foxglove is digitalis. A gardening friend spotted two kinds of plants while taking photos outside and asked whether they were foxglove or larkspur. In fact, there are still many differences between foxglove and larkspur. Next, let me explain them in detail.
1. Differences in color
Most digitalis flowers are mainly purplish red, and the inner part has dark purple spots; the name of larkspur, of course, comes from its shape, which closely resembles a swallow. The colors of larkspur include blue and blue-purple, among which blue-purple is the main one. If you find the two plants growing together in the wild, you can walk closer, pick them up and carefully observe their colors to get the answer.
2. Differences in appearance
The appearance of digitalis reaches more than 1 m in height, and its cauline leaves are ovate and have fine teeth on the edges, with long or short petioles at the cauline leaves; as for larkspur, of course its flower shape closely resembles a swallow, and the height of larkspur is only between 30 and 60 cm. The lower leaves on the stem of larkspur have long petioles, but after the flowering season arrives, the long petioles mostly wither. The palm-shaped part of larkspur leaves appears cracked. Naturally, the above conditions can also be relied on to distinguish the two plants.
3. Growing environment
Digitalis likes sun, but is also cold-resistant and drought-resistant. When growing, it is suitable for moist soil with good drainage; as for larkspur, it mainly grows on hillsides and grasslands. Larkspur mainly prefers a moist and cool climate. Larkspur also likes sun and likes places with fertile soil and good drainage. So seeing both plants in the wild is also a common thing.
The flowering period of digitalis is mainly from June to August, the seeds are very small, and the fruit ripening period is mainly from August to October; as for larkspur, the temperature for seed germination is mainly around 15 degrees, and the suitable growing temperature is mainly above 20 degrees and below 25 degrees.
4. Medicinal value of both
Both foxglove and larkspur can be used as medicine, and their medicinal values are different. The main therapeutic function of foxglove as medicine is that it can be used for heart failure. Foxglove is best used for patients with chronic congestive heart failure whose cardiac chamber dilation and diastolic period are obviously increased. If the patient has heart failure accompanied by atrial fibrillation, using foxglove is the best thing.
The main therapeutic function of larkspur is to treat toothache, and after the stems and leaves of larkspur are made into juice, they can also be used for insecticide. The seeds of larkspur can be taken internally. If a patient has symptoms of wheezing and edema, the seeds of larkspur can be used to remove them. In addition, the roots of larkspur can also be used to treat abdominal pain.