Bryan McAllister’s personal reference notebook
August 1, 2026Short & citedBlog
Civic Viewpoint.
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Kept by Bryan McAllister — short guides, clear facts, and the Canadian angle when it matters.
Field Notes • Plants

Foxglove

Foxglove commonly refers to *Digitalis purpurea*, a tall, biennial or short-lived perennial flowering plant known for its tubular purple-pink flower spikes.

Updated August 1, 20261 min readCited sources

Foxglove is a tall, showy plant known for its spikes of purple-pink flowers. Though beautiful, all parts are toxic and can be fatal if eaten.

What it is

Foxglove, or Digitalis purpurea, is a herbaceous biennial or short-lived perennial native to western Europe. It grows up to 2 metres tall, with a basal rosette of leaves and an upright spike of tubular flowers. Flowering occurs from June to September. It is widely grown in gardens as an ornamental.

Why it matters

All parts of the plant contain cardiac glycosides, which can cause nausea, heart arrhythmias and death if ingested. However, the same compounds — known as digitalis — have been used in controlled doses to treat heart failure and other conditions. Handle with care, especially around children and pets.

Key details

Foxglove thrives in open woodland, hedgerows and moorland. In Canada, it is popular in gardens for its striking flower spikes. It prefers well-drained soil and partial shade. It self-seeds readily, so it can spread if not managed.

In short

  • All parts of foxglove are extremely toxic.
  • The plant is a source of the heart medication digitalis.
  • It flowers from June to September and grows up to 2 m tall.
  • Handle with care; keep away from children and pets.
Canadian angle

Foxglove is widely grown in Canadian gardens as an ornamental plant, and Canadian readers should note that it is toxic if ingested and should be handled carefully around children and pets.

Quick questions

What is foxglove?
Foxglove is a common name for Digitalis purpurea, a tall flowering plant with spikes of tubular purple-pink flowers.
Is foxglove poisonous?
Yes. All plant parts contain toxic cardiac glycosides that can cause serious illness or death if eaten.
Where does foxglove grow?
It is native to western Europe and grows in open woodland, hedgerows, and moorland. It is also cultivated as a garden ornamental in many regions, including Canada.

Sources

  1. Wisconsin Horticulture — https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/common-foxglove-digitalis-purpurea/
    Supports: Identifies common foxglove as *Digitalis purpurea*, a biennial or short-lived perennial from western Europe, and notes its ornamental use.
  2. Encyclopaedia Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/plant/foxglove
    Supports: States that foxglove is a genus of about 20 herbaceous species, native to Europe, the Mediterranean region and the Canary Islands, and that the plants are toxic.
  3. NC State University Plant Toolbox — https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/digitalis-purpurea/
    Supports: Gives the scientific name, family, native range and life cycle details for *Digitalis purpurea*.
  4. Woodland Trust — https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/plants/wild-flowers/foxglove/
    Supports: Provides common name, scientific name, flowering season, habitat, and notes toxicity and medicinal compounds.
  5. The Wildlife Trusts — https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/wildlife-explorer/wildflowers/foxglove
    Supports: Describes habitat, flower form, seasonal appearance and toxicity of foxglove.
  6. University of Oxford — https://herbaria.plants.ox.ac.uk/bol/plants400/Profiles/cd/Digitalis
    Supports: Describes foxglove morphology, native range, ornamental use, toxicity and medicinal source of digitoxin.