Chinese Foxglove Plant Care
Rehmannia glutinosa (Gaertn.) DC.
Updated · Sources · How we source care data
Rehmannia glutinosa is a flowering broomrape, and one of the 50 fundamental herbs used in traditional Chinese medicine, where it has the name shēng dì huáng. It is often sold as gān dì huáng, gān meaning "dried".
Every 5–7 days
Partial shade to full sun
50–80°F
40–60%
At a glance
How do you care for Chinese Foxglove?
Water Chinese Foxglove every 5–7 days, letting the top layer of soil dry out between waterings, and give it partial shade to full sun. It prefers temperatures of 50–80°F (10–27°C) and 40–60% humidity. Fertilize it every 6 months during the growing season.
What Is the Chinese Foxglove?
Chinese Foxglove (Rehmannia glutinosa) belongs to the Orobanchaceae family within the Rehmannia genus. Chinese Foxglove is also known as Jishentang, Di Huang.
Chinese Foxglove displays a clumping herbaceous perennial growth habit, reaching up to 1.5 ft tall with a spread of approximately 1 ft. Chinese Foxglove produces tubular flowers in shades of pink, purple, or white.
Leaf size: approximately 4 inches.
How Often Should You Water a Chinese Foxglove?
Rehmannia glutinosa requires watering every 5–7 days. Allow the top layer of soil to dry between waterings to prevent root rot. Reduce watering frequency during winter when growth slows.
Watering Frequency
Every 5–7 days
Let soil partially dry between waterings
What Light Does the Chinese Foxglove Need?
Chinese Foxglove thrives in partial shade to full sun.
Light Requirement
Partial shade to full sun
What Temperature and Humidity Does the Chinese Foxglove Prefer?
Rehmannia glutinosa grows best at temperatures of 50–80°F. Chinese Foxglove prefers humidity levels of 40–60%.
Temperature
50–80°F
Humidity
40–60%
What Soil Mix Works Best for a Chinese Foxglove?
Well-draining sandy loam with added organic matter. Good drainage is essential for Chinese Foxglove to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.
How Often Should You Fertilize a Chinese Foxglove?
Feed Chinese Foxglove every 6 months during the growing season (spring and summer) with a balanced fertilizer diluted to the strength on the label.
Pause feeding in autumn and winter, when growth slows, and never fertilize dry soil — water first.
Fertilizing
Every 6 months
During the growing season
The PlantoScan app can remind you when to water and when to fertilize each plant.
How Do You Repot a Chinese Foxglove?
Repot every 1-2 years in early spring. Choose a pot one size larger than the current container, and ensure it has drainage holes to allow excess water to escape.
How Do You Propagate a Chinese Foxglove?
Chinese Foxglove can be propagated through division of rhizomes, seeds.
Is the Chinese Foxglove Toxic to Pets and Children?
Pet safety not verified
The ASPCA does not list Chinese Foxglove, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Keep pets from chewing it as a precaution.
This is a general caution, not veterinary or medical advice. If your pet ate a plant, contact your vet or animal poison control.
See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.
What Pests and Diseases Affect the Chinese Foxglove?
Chinese Foxglove is susceptible to aphids, spider mites, whiteflies. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.
Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.
What USDA Hardiness Zone Does the Chinese Foxglove Need?
Chinese Foxglove grows outdoors in USDA Zone 12a. It survives winters down to planting zone 12a. In cooler regions, grow Chinese Foxglove as a houseplant or bring it indoors before the first frost.
Hardiness Zone
Zone 12a
Keep exploring plants
Chinese Foxglove is one of many species covered in the complete plant care and identification guide, which groups plants by genus, attribute, and popularity.
It belongs to the Rehmannia genus — compare its care with other Rehmannia species on PlantoScan.
Rehmannia is part of the Orobanchaceae plant family — browse all Orobanchaceae genera and species.
Chinese Foxglove thrives in bright light and direct sun — see other bright-light plants.
Related Plant Care Guides
Closely related plants with similar care requirements:
Sources
- Scientific name & taxonomy: Rehmannia glutinosa (Gaertn.) DC., family Orobanchaceae (first published in Prodr. 9: 275 (1845)) — World Flora Online record, IPNI name record.
- Pet toxicity: Pet safety not verified: the ASPCA does not list Chinese Foxglove, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Checked against the ASPCA plant list; any other toxicity note on this page comes from PlantoScan's plant database.
- Hardiness zone: USDA Zone 12a, calculated from the plant's minimum temperature.
- Care values(watering, light, temperature, humidity, soil, fertilizing): PlantoScan's plant database, filtered by automatic plausibility checks — values that fail them are hidden. How we source and check plant data.
Spotted a mistake? Email info@upvision.media with the page link — we check and correct reported errors.
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