Species guide

Foxglove

Toxic if eaten

Digitalis purpurea

Foxglove
Photo: guywallbanks · CC BY

What does Foxglove look like?

A tall spike of tubular, bell-shaped flowers (purple, pink or white) with spotted throats, rising from a rosette of soft, fuzzy oval leaves.

Is Foxglove dangerous?

Contains potent heart-affecting compounds — poisonous if any part is eaten.

Commonly confused with

  • Comfrey: before flowering the leaves look similar

What should I do about Foxglove?

Keep children and pets from eating it and wear gloves when handling. Seek medical care if ingested.

Never decide what's safe to eat or touch from a photo or a web page. Identification here is for learning and curiosity only. For anything you might eat, handle or that could harm you or a pet, consult a qualified local expert, and seek medical or veterinary care if exposure has happened.

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