Common Foxglove, <em>Digitalis purpurea</em>

Common or purple foxglove is a European biennial plant which was the source of chemicals in the drug digitalis.

Overview of Common Foxglove

Common foxglove, Digitalis purpurea, is an herbaceous biennial or short-lived perennial from western Europe in the plantain family (Plantaginaceae) that grows in woodland clearings, mountainsides and especially on disturbed sites, as well as being used as a garden ornamental. This species is sometimes called purple foxglove, fairy gloves, fairy bells, or lady’s glove.

Purple foxglove is invasive in some places, including Aoraki Mount Cook National Park in New Zealand and the US Pacific Northwest.

This plant is widely naturalized outside its native area, commonly near roads and in some places is considered a weed or invasive plant. It is hardy in zones 4a-9b.

Plants form a tight rosette of simple, coarse leaves with prominent veins in the first year. The ovate to lanceolate leaves have barely noticeable rounded teeth on the margins. The alternate leaves, up to a foot long, are covered with gray-white hairs that impart a downy texture on the upper surface and are wooly or hairy below. The clump remains low and close to the ground.

The plant forms a rosette of leaves (L and C) which have prominent veins (R).

In the second year, plants produce an upright flower stem with smaller leaves is from the center of the basal clump. The spikes normally grow 3 to 4 feet tall with the individual flowers opening progressively up the elongated, terminal cluster (a simple or sparsely branched raceme). The species usually has a one-sided raceme with 20-80 flowers but improved cultivars often have flowers completely surrounding the stem. The downward-facing, tapered, bell-shaped, tubular flowers have four lobes. Each 1½ to 2½ inch long corolla (the fused petals) has long hairs inside and is heavily spotted with dark purple edged in white on the lower lip, which serves as a landing platform for pollinators. The flowers are visited by bees – primarily bumblebees – which climb deep into the flower tube to get the nectar which lies in a ring at the base of the tube, and in the process rub against the anthers which lie flat on the upper inside surface of the corolla. When visiting another flower, the pollen rubs off on the cleft stigma. Hummingbirds also visit the flowers. The flower spikes can be used for cut flowers.

The terminal flower spike (L) has numerous downward-facing bell-shaped flowers (C) heavily spotted inside (R).

The main bloom time is in early summer but occasionally additional flower stems are produced later in the season, especially if the flower stalks are removed after blooming. Pollinated flowers are followed by rounded fruit capsules which split open at maturity to release the numerous small brown, ridged seeds. Each plant can produce 1-2 million seeds which will readily self-seed under favorable growing conditions. Deadhead after flowering to avoid excess numbers of seedlings but some flowers must go to seed to maintain a permanent planting as if they were perennials.

Landscape Use of Common Foxglove

Use common foxglove to add a bold, vertical dimension to perennial flower beds, shade gardens, and cottage gardens, particularly in front of a solid background, such as a building, hedge or shrubs where they will really stand out. They also naturalize readily in woodland gardens. Mass plantings can be very effective.

Use common foxglove in ornamental gardens to add vertical interest.

Grow common foxglove in full sun to light shade. Although it prefers light, moist soils high in organic matter, it will grow in almost any type of soil that is not too dry or too wet. Tall varieties may need to be staked to keep them upright. This plant has few pest problems and is not bothered by deer or rabbits, although powdery mildew can infect the foliage in late summer and will occasionally be infested with aphids. Plants can become rather ragged looking after they finish flowering, and could be removed from the garden, if desired.

Compounds in this plant have been used medicinally, both historically and in more recent medical applications. However, all parts of the species are toxic if ingested and contact with the leaves can irritate sensitive skin.

Propagating Common Foxglove

Common foxglove can be direct sown in late summer where plants are desired to grow to bloom the following year, or sown indoors in late spring. Seeds need light to germinate, so do not cover. Transplant seedlings to the garden after the last frost in spring. Space or thin the seedlings to about 18 inches apart. New seedlings can be easily moved while still small.

Closeup of the very tiny seeds (L), seedlings germinating (C), and very young plant (R).

Cultivars of Common Foxglove

Common foxglove is naturally somewhat variable in size and flower color. Some varieties flower the first year after sowing and can be grown as annuals. Some varieties may only be hardy to zone 5. There are a number of cultivars and a few hybrids commonly available, including:

‘Alba’ has unspotted, white flowers and grows 3.5-4 feet tall. It is sometimes listed as var. albiflora.
The ‘Camelot’ series is a first year flowering, F1 hybrid series that grows about 4 feet tall all and is available in Lavender, Rose, White, and a mix of the above colors. Because this is a hybrid series, reseeding will not produce plants true to type.
‘Candy Mountain’ is a biennial series with large flowers on sturdy stems. Flowers are held horizontally to slightly upturned to showcase the interior spotting. Grows 3-4 feet tall. Available in individual colors (Peach or Rose) and a Mix that contains these colors, plus lavender, white, and yellow.
The ‘Dalmatian’ series is a first year flowering F1 hybrid series with compact (16 to 20 inches tall) and flowers the first year from seed. It is available in ‘Creme’, ‘Peach’, ‘Rose’, ‘Purple’, ‘White’, and a mixture of these colors. Because this is a hybrid series, reseeding will not produce plants true to type.
The DiBella™ series is new for 2026. It offers tall, multi-stemmed plants with sturdy stems and large individual flowers that flower the first year after sowing. Available in ‘Creamy White’, ‘Peach’, ‘Purple’, and ‘White’
‘Excelsior Hybrids’ comes in a range of pastel colors. This group has pink, white or yellow flowers that stand out horizontally (instead of being pendant like the species) and surround the stems. Plants produced by reseeding will not be true to type.
‘Foxy’ is a compact selection (2-3 feet tall) that blooms reliably from seed the first year, producing white, cream, or rose blooms. It was an All-America Selections winnter in 1967.
‘Gloxinioides’ is a strain raised in the late 1880’s in the town of Shirley in Surrey, England, so is often listed as ‘The Shirley’. It has tall, dense spikes of flowers in cream, salmon, pink and purple.
The HANABEE™ series was introduced in 2026. Plants have a compact habit (growing 16 to 24 inches tall) and multiple flower stems per plant. It is available in ‘Pink’, ‘Rose’, and ‘White’ and flowers the first year from seed.
‘Sutton’s Apricot’ has creamy salmon pink flowers and grows 3.5-4 feet tall. It is sometimes listed as ‘Apricot’, ‘Apricot Beauty’, or ‘Apricot Delight’.
Digitalis x mertonensis (strawberry foxglove) was created in 1925 at the John Innes Horticultural Institute in England by crossing D. purpurea with D. grandiflora (yellow foxglove). It has coppery-pink flowers that are larger than either parent. It comes true from seed, blooms for several years, and is hardy to zone 4a.