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common foxglove

Also known as: bloody bells; bloody finger; cow flop; dead man's bells; dead men's bells; dog's lugs; dragon's mouth; fairy bells; fairy fingers; fairy gloves; fairy thimbles; fairy's cap; fairy's petticoat; fairy's thimble; finger flower; flap dock; folk's gloves; fox finger; gloves of Mary; lady's fingers; lady's gloves; lady's thimble; lion's mouth; lusmore; lustmore; pop dock; thimble finger; thimble flower; throat root; witches' bells; witches' fingers; witches' gloves; witches' thimbles

A biennial or short-lived perennial, freely self-sowing, with a rosette of softly hairy, oval leaves and tall, one-sided spires of pendant, tubular, bright rosy-purple flowers 6cm long, spotted within, in summer

Scientific classification

Species: common foxglove (Digitalis purpurea)
Genus: Digitalis
Family: Plantaginaceae

TOXIC if eaten. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling
Toxicity: Annual Biennial
Plant type: 1.5-2.5 metres
Height: 0.1-0.5 metres
Spread: Deciduous
Foliage: Bushy
Habit: Spring · Summer · Autumn
Season of interest: Full sun · Partial shade
Sunlight: 15 – 25 °C
Ideal temperature

common foxglove pictures

Distribution of common foxglove

Distribution map

Western Europe

Information to be completed

Culture

Information to be completed

Toxicity

TOXIC if eaten. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling

Quick identification of common foxglove

Information to be completed

common foxglove care guide

Moderate regular watering, allowing brief slight drying between soakings
Watering: Full sun · Partial shade
Sunlight: 15 – 25 °C
Ideal temperature

Watering

Moderate regular watering, allowing brief slight drying between soakings

Fertilizing

Balanced perennial feed every four weeks from spring through summer

Pruning

Cut back after flowering

Propagation

Propagate by seed sown in-situ in late spring. Alternatively sow in seed trays in late spring and plant out to final position in late summer

Growing

Grow in almost any soil,but avoid very wet or very dry situations. Prefers a humus-rich soil in partial shade but will grow in full sun. Deadhead after flowering to avoid problems with excess numbers of seedlings.

More growing and care information →