Foxglove
Digitalis purpurea
📖 About this plant
A striking biennial or short-lived perennial producing tall, dramatic spires of tubular flowers in shades of purple, pink, white, and yellow, often with speckled throats. Foxgloves are a cottage garden classic that naturalizes beautifully in woodland edges and partially shaded borders. They are the source of the life-saving heart drug digitalis, but must never be consumed raw or without medical supervision.
🧑🌾 Care requirements
Partial shade (3-5 hrs)
Every 1-2 weeks
Moderate to high (50-70%)
10-22°C
Rich, well-draining loam with ample organic matter; pH 5.5-6.5. Prefers acidic to neutral soil
Light application of balanced fertilizer in spring; excessive fertilizer promotes leafy growth and can reduce flower spike height
🌐 Common Names
📋 Plant facts
- 🌍 Origin
- Europe (western and southwestern), North Africa
- 📏 Max height
- 90-180 cm
- 📐 Spread
- 30-60 cm
- 🕰️ Bloom time
- Summer
- 🎨 Bloom color
- Pink, Purple, White
- 🍃 Foliage color
- Green
- ⏳ Lifespan
- Biennial
- 📈 Growth rate
- Moderate
- ☠️ Toxicity
- HIGHLY TOXIC — all parts contain potent cardiac glycosides (digitoxin, digoxin) that affect heart rhythm. Ingestion of any part can cause nausea, vomiting, cardiac arrhythmias, and can be FATAL. Especially dangerous to children and pets. Has narrow therapeutic index in medicine — do not self-medicate
- 🌱 Propagation
- Direct sow seeds in late spring to early summer for bloom the following year; surface sow — light aids germination; stratify at 4°C for 2-4 weeks; self-seeds prolifically
🛡️ Health & Safety
HIGHLY TOXIC — all parts contain potent cardiac glycosides (digitoxin, digoxin) that affect heart rhythm. Ingestion of any part can cause nausea, vomiting, cardiac arrhythmias, and can be FATAL. Especially dangerous to children and pets. Has narrow therapeutic index in medicine — do not self-medicate
Common issues
- Powdery mildew on foliage
- Crown rot in wet heavy soil
- Slugs and snails on young rosettes
- Self-seeding aggressively — remove spent flowers if unwanted spread
💡 Care tips
- Towering spikes of tubular flowers are a garden showstopper
- All parts are highly toxic so keep away from children and pets
- Self-seeds freely and naturalizes in woodland settings
- Attracts hummingbirds and long-tongued bees
