Rehmannia elata (Chinese foxglove)

Japanese name: レーマニア エラータ
Scientific name: Rehmannia elata

[Overview]
A perennial 60–150 cm tall.
It has an enlarged rhizome.
The whole plant is hairy.
There are basal leaves and leaves alternate on the stem, all somewhat fleshy.
The basal leaves are obovate-oblong to elliptic, with a toothed or incised margin, and have long winged petioles.
The stem leaves become smaller toward the top, and their petioles become shorter.
The flowers are solitary in the leaf axils, deep pink with spots in the throat.
The corolla is about 6 cm long, tubular and two-lipped; the upper lip stands upright and is 2-lobed, while the lower lip is 3-lobed and spreads sideways, with rounded lobes.
The tube of the corolla is slightly swollen.
The flower stalks are long.
The fruit is a capsule.

[Cultivation]
Propagate from seed, by division, or by cuttings.
It prefers well-drained, fertile, moderately moist soil.
It dislikes heat and humidity, so for potted plants, keep them in a sunny place from autumn to spring, and in summer keep them in cool, airy partial shade on the dry side.
For plants in the ground, plant them under deciduous trees.
For potted plants, water thoroughly when the soil surface dries; for plants in the ground, rainfall is sufficient.
In addition to a base fertilizer, apply slow-release fertilizer placed on the soil in spring and autumn.
Pests include slugs and snails.

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