# Foxglove (*Digitalis L.*)

Foxglove is a tall flower with beautiful bell-shaped blooms. It grows in gardens and woodlands, adding a touch of magic to nature.

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** Gardens and woodlands
- **Also known as:** Common Foxglove, Digitalis, Lady's Glove

![Foxglove](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771424265/objects/4892.jpg)

## Appearance

The Foxglove has a tall, upright stem, often reaching over 1.5 meters, topped with a striking spire of bell-shaped flowers. Its blooms are typically purple, pink, or white, featuring unique darker spots on their inner surfaces that act as nectar guides for pollinators.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Magnoliopsida
- **Order:** Lamiales
- **Family:** Plantaginaceae
- **Genus:** Digitalis

## Interesting facts

- Its name might come from 'folk's glove,' meaning fairies' gloves in old English tales.
- Some Foxglove plants can grow taller than an adult human, reaching up to 2 meters!
- The medicine for heart conditions, digoxin, comes from Foxglove plants.
- The unique spots inside its flowers are called 'nectar guides' and are invisible to us.

## Special abilities

- **Potent Protector:** Foxglove produces powerful chemicals that make it poisonous, helping it defend against hungry animals.
- **Bee Beacon:** Foxglove has bell-shaped flowers with spotted interiors that guide bees right to its nectar and pollen.
- **Seed Slinger:** Foxglove grows tall flower spires that later release tiny seeds from high up, helping them spread far.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 60-180 cm
- **Spread:** 30-60 cm
- **Flower Size:** 4-7 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Late spring to mid-summer
- **Edible:** No
- **Toxicity:** Deadly
- **Lifecycle:** Biennial
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** Buff-tailed Bumblebee (*Bombus terrestris*) — Visits flowers for nectar and pollen
- **Pollinates:** White-tailed Bumblebee (*Bombus lucorum*) — A key pollinator of the bell-shaped flowers
- **Pollinates:** Western Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Collects nectar and pollen from blooms

## Traits

- [Bell-Shaped Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/bell-shaped-flower): Bell-shaped flowers possess petals fused or arranged to form a cup-like or campanulate structure resembling a bell.
- [Deciduous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/deciduous): Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons.
- [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.
- [Biennial](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/biennial): Biennial plants complete their life cycle over two growing seasons, typically forming foliage in the first year and flowering/seeding in the second.
- [Shade Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shade-tolerant): Shade tolerant plants are adapted to grow and thrive in areas with low light levels, requiring less direct sunlight.
- [Spring Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spring-blooming): Spring blooming plants produce their flowers during the spring season, often signifying the end of winter and the start of new growth.
- [Medicinal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/medicinal): Medicinal plants possess chemical compounds that can be used for therapeutic purposes to treat illnesses or maintain health.
- [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life.
- [Toxic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/toxic): Toxic organisms contain substances that are poisonous and can cause adverse effects upon exposure.

## Collections

- [Flowers](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/flowers)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Explore with care and ask an adult if you’re unsure what to do.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Foxglove?

Count the petals where you can, then compare the flower's center, its symmetry, how the blooms are grouped and the leaves below. Color varies between garden varieties and shifts with the light. Flower Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is Foxglove?

60-180 cm

### How wide does Foxglove spread?

30-60 cm

### How big are the flowers on Foxglove?

4-7 cm

### When does Foxglove bloom?

Late spring to mid-summer

### Is Foxglove edible?

No

### Is Foxglove toxic?

Deadly

### What is Foxglove's lifecycle?

Biennial

## More Plants

- [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*)
- [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*)
- [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*)
- [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*)

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Source: [Foxglove: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/foxglove)