Folklore of Foxgloves: Witches' Thimbles and Dead Men's Bells

Foxgloves are one of the most enchanting wildflowers you might encounter in a shady woodland. With their deep pink flowers on spikes that can grow as tall as a person, they certainly arrest the attention. Even their name is evocative, with a smattering of legends to explain where ‘foxglove’ came from. Yet as pretty as the foxglove ( Digitalis purpurea ) is, the plant is also poisonous. It’s great…