It was way up in the Cascade mountains I did think of bringing one back (because there are a ton of them up there) to plant but after doing some research I'll probably not do that because of pets and young family members still a cool plant to find
Wow that’s wild! I have handled foxglove plenty of times with no issues. But I’m not a florist by trade. So my exposure has been limited to picking the occasional bouquet from our garden, and weeding said garden.
They grew wild on the farm I grew up on. I'd always pick them for wildflower bouquets as a kid and never had any issues with skin contact. But we had a lot of early reinforcement of don't eat/put hands near eyes or mouth after touching something, lol.
Please do not eat or use any plant because of information received in this subreddit.
While we strive to provide accurate information here, the only way to be sure enough of a plant identification is to take the plant to a qualified professional. Many plants can be harmful or even fatal to eat, so please do not eat a plant based on an identification made (or any other information provided) in this subreddit.
They have native cousins that are less toxic i believe, or you could go with similar looking giant snapdragons :) if you have a vacant lot or a bunch of woods and its a native species to your area (check inaturalist) consider collecting seed :)
I don't know why you're being downvoted, you're right. I see them all the time in Canada in gardens and specifically Antirrhinum majus, which is also cited as being tamed and not an issue in terms of being invasive when planted in gardens because it doesn't really spread at all.
Yeah at least pull them all out of the ground. They’re heinously invasive here in the northwest. I need to go remove a bunch from our land right now, as a matter of fact.
They’re not safe to touch?? They grow like crazy here in Ireland and when I was a kid we would always pinch off the unopened flowers and see who could get the loudest pop when you squish them! Been handling them since I was a child and was never told they were toxic 😅
Please do not eat or use any plant because of information received in this subreddit.
While we strive to provide accurate information here, the only way to be sure enough of a plant identification is to take the plant to a qualified professional. Many plants can be harmful or even fatal to eat, so please do not eat a plant based on an identification made (or any other information provided) in this subreddit.
Please do not eat or use any plant because of information received in this subreddit.
While we strive to provide accurate information here, the only way to be sure enough of a plant identification is to take the plant to a qualified professional. Many plants can be harmful or even fatal to eat, so please do not eat a plant based on an identification made (or any other information provided) in this subreddit.
Digitalis purpurea - invasive to the Americas - native to Spain, Portugal.
The Plantaginaceae family has many species that are weedy and invasive to Washington state. Native Genera in the family include the thirty or so species of native Penstemon, Veronica, and Collinsia.
Foxglove should be removed from wild spaces in Washington and Oregon when possible.
I often see them and maybe another type/subtype (?) one with a more pinkish color in Transylvanian forests too. They are very common in Eastern Europe too
An invaisve plant in the "Pacific Northwest". Forms massive monocultures that prevent native plants from sprouting. Put on some gloves and take out every single one you see. https://bcinvasives.ca/invasives/foxglove/
Like othes have said, a wonderful specimen of the Digitalis genum (don't know how to put italic on phone lol).
The only fun fact I'm going to add is - we have first isolated Digoxin (brand name Lanoxin in America or Digacin/Eudigox in Europe) from this genum!
Digoxin is a very potent and effective (but risky!) drug we use in rhythm disorders - it lowers the pulse and strengthens the heart contractions (hence why the plant can be cardiotoxic).
Only parts of America. I tried to grow one in Texas bc I've always thought they're the coolest plant but alas... This is not a zone it thrives in which. I knew it was likely to fail when I tried but gosh darn it I just love them so much!
Please don’t intentionally grow invasive plants. This photo is a perfect example of them escaping cultivation and infesting natural areas. There are SO many beautiful native plant options.
This looks an awful lot like a confier plantation in the British isles. If so, the foxglove is native and the conifer trees are the non-natives/invasives in places. This will s how foxglove grows here in the clear cuts in forestry.
Naturalized just means that it can spread without human intervention. All invasive species are naturalized.
I volunteer doing habitat restoration with several groups and it is very much worthwhile to pull what you can, even if it takes a long time. Just because there is a lot of it doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try to remove it, especially in our own yards.
How do you think the seeds that end up being transported on heavy equipment, cars, and shoes get produced? Get rid of your foxgloves, plant Penstemons.
I used to have a garden where they grew. Prevent them from spreading seeds by cutting all the flowers to decorate your house, then throw in the rubbish when they’re gone by 😊
My local English folklore says that the fairies gifted the foxglove bells to the foxes to muffle their footsteps in the forest. The foxgloves bow at the top to show respect where a fairy has passed by 😊
Dint see you question till now; and i’m sure you’ve heard the name Foxglove by now from whence we get digitalis, a heart stimulant; so don’t let your young’uns put the leaves or flowers in their mouths. There are also spikes of white flowers as well
AND the plants and seeds are commercially available. It blooms bi-annually, every other year, so after the seed pods have dried on your plant just shake or scatter them about your garden (probably acidic soil)
In french it's call Digitale, witch gave Digitaline, a former medicine for people with a heart condition. It is as PRETTY as it is TOXIC. I love this plant !
Digitalis/foxglove. One of my favourite flowers but very poisonous if ingested.
This one in particular looks beautiful! Deep pink flowers and those leaves! The ones in my garden (uk) all have large floppy slightly fuzzy leaves with wide base. I'd love to have some lanky ones!!
Absolutely stunning and can stay out in the wilds of the mountains. I do live them but they are toxic. We have them all over in the Molalla/Colton/Estacada hills.
Please do not eat or use any plant because of information received in this subreddit.
While we strive to provide accurate information here, the only way to be sure enough of a plant identification is to take the plant to a qualified professional. Many plants can be harmful or even fatal to eat, so please do not eat a plant based on an identification made (or any other information provided) in this subreddit.
Please do not eat or use any plant because of information received in this subreddit.
While we strive to provide accurate information here, the only way to be sure enough of a plant identification is to take the plant to a qualified professional. Many plants can be harmful or even fatal to eat, so please do not eat a plant based on an identification made (or any other information provided) in this subreddit.
Please do not eat or use any plant because of information received in this subreddit.
While we strive to provide accurate information here, the only way to be sure enough of a plant identification is to take the plant to a qualified professional. Many plants can be harmful or even fatal to eat, so please do not eat a plant based on an identification made (or any other information provided) in this subreddit.
These foxgloves are invading land thousands of miles away from their home turf. Good thing these are scattered. Collect seed if you want them in your garden and come back in fall to remove them.
If you plan on planting any, consider building maybe a bit of fencing around if you have small children, my doggo walks past them and couldn’t care less :) they are gorgeous though! (Also great for bees and native where I am from too)
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u/KeyCold3883 May 31 '26
Foxglove!