Foxglove - Digitalis purpurea

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Foxglove - Digitalis purpurea
© Dr Chris Gibson/English Nature

Foxgloves have broad, wrinkled leaves which form a basal rosette. The magenta bells are large and appear in June on tall, erect stems. The long spikes of flowers open from the bottom upwards. On the inside of the flower there are dark purple spots edged with white. These guide bees and other insects towards the nectar, deep inside the flower. Foxglove is a biennial, common on disturbed ground on banks, woodland clearings, sea-cliffs and heaths. It can be very abundant in recently cleared forestry plantations.

Foxgloves are an easy-going traditional cottage garden plant that will grow in full sun or shade and do well in most soils. They look particularly attractive when they are allowed to self seed and naturalise, creating drifts of tall flowering spikes and are very attractive to bees and some moths. This is the natural source of the drug digitalis, which is used to treat heart conditions.

Animals

Buff-tailed bumble bee, Common carder bumble bee, Honey bee, Lesser yellow underwing moth, Moths, Red mason bee, Red-tailed bumble bee, White-tailed bumble bee, Wool-carder bee

Foliage	Green
Flower	Pink, June to August
Moisture	(Dry)
Sunlight	(Full sun to Part-shade)
Origin	Native