What Are Foxgloves Called: Scientific and Common Names

Foxgloves, with their striking bell-shaped flowers, are beloved in gardens and forests across temperate regions—yet few know the precise botanical names that define these iconic plants.

What Are Foxgloves Called Botanically

Foxgloves belong to the genus Digitalis, derived from the Latin word for ‘little finger,’ a reference to the plant’s finger-like tubular flowers. This genus comprises over 20 species, including Digitalis purpurea, the most widely recognized foxglove known for its purple blooms.

Common Names and Regional Variations

Beyond Digitalis, foxgloves are referred to by several common names: English foxglove, purple foxglove, and simply foxglove. In British horticulture, Digitalis purpurea is often called ‘purple foxglove,’ while other species may carry regional names, reflecting local botanical traditions.

Cultivars and Garden Use

Gardeners favor hybrid varieties bred for vibrant colors—pinks, whites, yellows, and bicolors—named cultivars like ‘Lamportal’ and ‘Kittens’ which expand the visual appeal. Though beautiful, all foxglove species contain cardiac glycosides, making them poisonous if ingested—essential to handle with care.

Understanding what foxgloves are called—from their scientific genus Digitalis to regional nicknames—enhances appreciation and safe gardening practices. Whether admired in wild woodlands or cultivated gardens, these plants remain a symbol of delicate wild beauty.
Consider exploring foxgloves in your garden with confidence—knowledge is your best companion.

Digitalis lutea Pink common foxglove with bumblebee Digitalis blossoms and immature flowers Digitalis (/ ˌdɪdʒɪˈteɪlɪs / [3] or / ˌdɪdʒɪˈtælɪs / [4]) is a genus of about 20 species of herbaceous perennial plants, shrubs, and biennials, commonly called foxgloves. Digitalis is native to Europe, Western Asia, and northwestern Africa. The flowers are tubular in shape, produced on a.

"fox's glove." The flower shape is that of the finger of a glove (compare German See origin and meaning of foxglove. Fox's glove and butcher's broom: Where do common plant names come from? Ever wondered why a crab apple is called a crab apple? Or whether foxes had anything to do with foxgloves? 3.

Digitalis grandiflora Digitalis grandiflora, commonly called the large yellow foxglove, is a striking perennial native to central and eastern Europe. It is known for its tall, elegant spikes of bright yellow, tubular flowers that bloom in late spring and early summer. Foxglove, genus of about 20 species of herbaceous plants in the family Plantaginaceae.

Foxgloves are cultivated for their attractive flower spikes, and purple foxglove is the source of the heart. The name "foxglove" evokes images of whimsical woodland creatures and delicate, bell-shaped flowers. But why is this striking plant, with its vibrant purple.

Totally Toxic A folk myth about foxgloves claims that the foxes who make dens in the woodland hills wear the flowers on their paws when they attack rural villagers. Sometimes called "witches' gloves," the plant's toxicity was known for centuries by herbalists. Digitalis is commonly known as "Foxglove".

This common name comes from the old Anglo-Saxon "foxes-glofa" meaning "the glove of the fox", because the plant looks like a fox's paw. Digitalis is a group of about 20 different plant types. These plants are usually called foxgloves.

They can be herbaceous perennials (plants that live for more than two years and die back in winter), shrubs, or biennials (plants that live for two years). Foxgloves are originally from Europe, parts of Asia, and northwestern Africa. The word digitalis can also mean special medicines.

These. Digitalis purpurea, the foxglove or common foxglove, is a toxic species of flowering plant in the plantain family Plantaginaceae, [2] native to and widespread throughout most of temperate Europe. [3] It has also naturalized in parts of North America, as well as some other temperate regions.

The plant is a popular garden subject, with many cultivars available. It is the original source of the.

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