Protect your plants from slugs with foxglove

The foxglove is safe from snails in the garden, because it doesn't do them any good. You can take advantage of this and protect flowers and vegetables from the animals.

Red foxglove, also known as purple foxglove (Digitalis purpurea), is not a harmless plant. For this species, but also for all other foxgloves, all parts of the plant are poisonous and even small amounts, such as eating two leaves, can be fatal to humans. It is understandable that such a dangerous plant does not taste good even to snails. With its magnificent, colorful inflorescences, the foxglove is therefore a great asset as an ornamental plant in the garden.

Around 100 toxins in the foxglove keep snails at a distance

The red foxglove is a very poisonous plant. Snails also feel this after consumption. © Panthermedia/Imago

Foxglove is an unpretentious plant and feels comfortable even in semi-shaded or shady locations. There it is also often approached by bees and butterflies. However, voracious snails usually give the bitter-tasting plant a wide berth so as not to come into contact with one of their approximately 100 toxins, the glycosides or digitaloids. Other pests also leave the plant largely alone and it is also not susceptible to diseases.

The foxglove is not only a plant that snails avoid, according to Gartenjournal.net it is even suitable as a defensive planting as a border for beds to keep the animals away from vegetables, flowers and the like in a natural way.

You can find even more exciting gardening topics in the regular newsletter of our partner 24garten.de.

Other plants also scare away snails

The following plants are also said to have a deterrent effect on the snails:

• Garlic
• Rosemary
• Spurge
• Common lavender

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If you want to actively fight slugs and snails with home remedies such as beer traps, keep in mind that not every slug in the garden is equally harmful.

Incidentally, since the leaves of the foxglove contain not only toxins, but also numerous nutrients and minerals, they can also be used well as green manure, which, according to the Nature and Biodiversity Conservation Union Germany (NABU), is well suited for fruit trees and rhododendrons as well as vegetables such as tomatoes and potatoes.