An insect’s view of a foxglove. Sadly flowering is over for this year but they were spectacular and will be back next June.

They are a great plant for the garden but do be aware that the whole plant is poisonous – don’t leave them out of your garden, just let any children know – great to look at, fantastic for insects, not for eating.  

They contain a couple of medically useful glycosides: digitoxin, which is now used as a drug to treat heart problems; and, digoxin which is used as a diuretic for the kidneys. These are prescription drugs as they are lethal in the wrong quantities – so don’t try any form of home remedy from foxgloves. 

I’ve come across a few alternative names for them, interestingly most refer to them as some form of glove – ‘folks glove’ or ‘fairies glove’ are old English names and they believed that the spot are the places that the elves touched and indicating where the poison is. Norwegians refer to them as ‘fox bell’ and legend has it that bad fairies gave them to foxes to wear on their feet to sneak up on chickens.