Dr. Phyto

foxglove

Digitalis purpurea

Diseases & pests on this plant

• powdery mildew (ornamentals)Golovinomyces sp.

  A white-to-grey powdery coating spreads over the upper leaf surface, shoots and flower buds; under it the tissue yellows, and young leaves may pucker, curl or be stunted; severe attacks brown and shrivel the leaves. Unlike downy mildew the growth is on the UPPER surface and rubs off; worst in warm days with cool, humid nights and crowded, shaded plants.

• slugs & snailsGastropoda

  Irregular holes with smooth (not jagged) edges eaten from leaves, flowers and soft stems, often starting at the margins; whole seedlings can vanish overnight; tender hostas, lettuces and bedding are stripped; the tell-tale sign is a silvery dried slime trail on leaves, soil and pots. Damage is worst at night and in mild, wet weather.

• grey mould (Botrytis)Botrytis cinerea

  Fuzzy grey mould on leaves and stems.

• anthracnoseColletotrichum gloeosporioides

  Dark brown to black sunken spots on leaves often with concentric rings, spots expand + coalesce into irregular blotches, severely infected leaves drop, branch dieback in heavy attacks, pink-orange spore masses produced on lesions in moist conditions.