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Digitalis purpurea

L. (1753)

This name is accepted

Kingdom: Viridiplantae Phylum: Magnoliophyta Class/Clade: Eudicot-Asterids Order: Lamiales Family: Plantaginaceae Genus: Digitalis

foxglove

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Description

Key Characters:

Growth Form:

Stems:

Roots:

Leaves:

Flowers:

Fruit:

Ploidy:

Habitat:

Elevation Range:

Historical Distribution

Images

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Uses and Culture

USES

  • Flowers are popular in florist trade

  • Toxin historically used to treat heart disease. Currently, a relative Digitalis lantana is used, and it's toxin is used in similar treatments, but is considered still very dangerous.

Natural History

Statewide Status

Naturalized

Island Status

Hawai'i Potentially naturalizing

Dispersal Agents

Water/Ocean
Wind

Pollinators

Specimens

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Notes

  • All parts of the plant contain a toxin that inhibits electrical impulses leading to nerve/muscle inhibition and possibly death
  • Contact with any plant material, fresh or dried/dust, can result in irritation, rashes, and swelling

Bibliography

Name Published In: Sp. Pl.: 621 (1753)

Other References

Parker et al. 2024:139 (NEWNAT/H); Molly Murphy pers. comm. 2025 (H†, 2024)

Poisonous Plants of Paradise (Scott and Thomas) p.67-69

Occurrences

SNo. Scientific Name Locality Habitat Basis of Record Description Recorded By Record Number Island Source Date
1 Digitalis purpurea South Hilo. Stainback Highway, near Kulani Prison entrance. Crocosmia, Metrosideros polymorpha, Fragaria chiloensis, Rubus rosifolius, Sadleria cyatheoides, Rubus hawaiiensis. Preserved_Specimen Forbe, basal rosette with 5 tall flowering stalk with 100+ flowers, branched at base. Simple leavs to 15, tomemtose when young. White, tubular flowers with purple spots on inside of bottom petal. Fruit a fleshy, green capsule. Parker, J. 262019 Hawaii BISH 2019-09-26
2 Digitalis purpurea Hilo garden cultivated. Preserved_Specimen Fl. white, speckled Kami, R. Hawaii BISH 1964-10-21
3 Digitalis purpurea South Hilo, Stainback Hwy, near Kulani Prison entrance Crocosmia, Metrosideros polymorpha, Fragaria chiloensis, Rubus rosifolius, Sadleria cyatheodes, Rubus hawaiiensis Preserved_Specimen Forbe, basal rosette w/ 5 tall flowering stalk w/ 100+ flowers, branched at base. Simple leaves to 15, tomentose when young. White tubular flowers w/ purple spots on inside of bottom petal. Fruit a fleshy green capsule. Parker, J. Hawaii BISH 2019-06-26
4 Digitalis purpurea Papaloa, Kealakekua Ranch Preserved_Specimen Fls. deep pink or white Greenwell, A.B.H. 19516 Hawaii BISH 1948-10-01
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