Herb. No. 060 · Plantaginaceae
Atlantic European woodland edge and cottage border.
Native · Europe
Native Also grown
LegalDeadlyplant
Foxglove
Digitalis purpurea
The spotted thimble that became digoxin — a poison-garden teaching plant, not a homegrown heart tonic.
Treat this as a poison-garden specimen. Read Safety before any use.
Foxglove is the botanical parent of digoxin and digitoxin. The therapeutic window is tiny; plant potency varies by leaf, weather, and year. Hospital digitalis exists because dose is measured. This plate is here so the plant is named and left in the border.
Flavor
Do not taste. Bitter cardiac glycosides.
Parts used
None for self-care. Pharmaceutical glycosides only.
Helpful
- Teaches why some garden plants became drugs
Cautions
- Fatal arrhythmia at garden doses
- Looks a little like comfrey to the uncareful