This tall, bright wildflower is a powerful plant that can hurt and heal.
Foxglove facts
Scientific name: Digitalis purpurea
Family: Plantaginaceae
Origin: Native
Type: Biennial or perennial
Foxglove and our canals
Foxgloves thrive in damp soil and partial shade, making them a frequent sight along our canals and rivers, either on their own or as part of a hedgerow. Due to their ability to self-seed, they naturally colonize and create excellent habitats.
Although most creatures avoid foxgloves due to their poisonous compounds and bitter taste, they are a great source of nectar for pollinators - particularly bees. Long-tongued bumblebees are able to reach into the bell-shaped flowers and scoop out the goods.
On hot days, bees also use the flowers as space to crawl into for shade and shelter.
Moth species, like the foxglove pug moth, feed specifically on the flowers too.
A tall wildflower, foxgloves can reach up to 2m in height. At the top of its long stem is an elongated spike of pink or purple flowers, which are bell- or tube-shaped and droop towards the ground. The flowers tend to have coloured spots on the insides of their petals.
The leaves form a rosette at the bottom of the stem, and are furry in appearance.
Most foxgloves are biennials, meaning that technically they flower every two years; however their proficiency at self-seedings means that they can appear to bloom annually.
Foxglove. Image credit: LouisaLouisa on Pixabay.
Can you touch or eat foxglove?
No, you cannot eat foxgloves. They contain toxic cardiac glycosides, which are poisonous to humans and mammals, including dogs. If you were to ingest any part of the plant, you may suffer from nausea, headaches, skin irritation and diarrhoea, with severe cases resulting in heart and kidney problems.
Touching a foxglove is also not advised; it's best to wear gloves to avoid coming into direct contact with its sap, which can cause skin problems or rashes. If you fear you may have done so, then wash your hands thoroughly - especially before eating.
Is foxglove used in medicine?
A chemical produced by foxgloves, called digitalis, can be used in medicine to treat heart failure, arrhythmias and high blood pressure.
Where to find foxgloves
Widespread across the UK, you'll likely come across foxgloves in partially shaded and damp environments, like canal banks, woodlands and hedgerows.
When to see foxgloves
Head to your local canal between June and September to see foxgloves in their majestic glory.
