Plant 🌺
🌺
Digitalis purpurea
| Size | 50–150 cm tall Can grow taller than a child |
|---|---|
| Lifespan | Biennial — flowers in its second year then dies |
| Rarity | Common |
| M vs F | N/A — flowers are hermaphrodite |
| Habitat | Woodland clearings, hedgebanks, moorland, disturbed ground, upland grassland |
| Best time | June–August |
| Conservation | UK: Green LC |
Did you know?
Foxgloves are deadly poisonous — every part is toxic — yet the heart drug digoxin, which saves thousands of lives annually, is derived from this plant
Foxgloves are deadly poisonous — every part is toxic — yet the heart drug digoxin, which saves thousands of lives annually, is derived from this plant
More for experts
The flower tube, speckle pattern, and landing platform are all precisely tailored to admit bumblebees — virtually no other pollinator is the right size and shape to reach the nectar
Often confused with
Vervain (much smaller, pale lilac flowers), Great Mullein (yellow flowers, woolly leaves)
Vervain (much smaller, pale lilac flowers), Great Mullein (yellow flowers, woolly leaves)