Yellow foxglove

About

Digitalis grandiflora is a common plant of the Carpathian meadows, clearings, and shrubs in mixed and deciduous forests. It also grows in the Right Bank of Ukraine, less frequently in the Left Bank. In the Carpathians, it sometimes forms thickets covering tens of hectares, which turn yellow from afar in summer.

This perennial herb grows 40–120 cm tall with a short rhizome. The stem leaves are alternate, lanceolate, sessile, glossy, with prominent veins. At the top of the stem is a long one-sided raceme of large drooping flowers. Each flower is 3–4 cm long, pale yellow, resembling a thimble or bell, and has a brown net-like pattern inside. It blooms from June to August. The fruit is an oval glandular-hairy capsule containing many small seeds.

All parts of Digitalis grandiflora are poisonous: they contain cardiac glycosides, including substances like digitoxin and digoxin. These compounds affect the heart: in animals that have eaten a lot of Digitalis, excitement of heart activity, narrowing of blood vessels, and digestive disorders have been described. Despite the glycoside content, this species is not used for drug production, and it cannot be harvested independently.

Digitalis grandiflora is sometimes confused with Verbascum, which has flat, widely opened yellow flowers, not tubular 'fingerbells'. Another similar plant is purple foxglove from gardens, with pink-purple flowers. In Poland, Digitalis grandiflora is under partial protection. Enjoy it along the trail, do not pick it, and do not let children play with the flowers.

Where in the Carpathians

The map shows where naturalists recorded the species (GBIF, CC0 and CC BY records), not every place it lives. The Ukrainian Carpathians are less studied, so a blank area does not mean the species is absent.

Countries

Slovakia · Czechia · Romania · Hungary · Ukraine · Poland · Serbia

Mountain ranges

Slovak Ore Mountains, Greater Fatra, Low Tatras, Lesser Fatra, Strážov Mountains, Volovec Mountains, Slovak Paradise, Belianske Tatras, Štiavnica Mountains, Slovak Central Mountains

Altitude belts

Foothills (below 600 m) · Beech forests (600–1200 m) · Conifer forests (1200–1600 m)

When to see it

From naturalists’ observations in the Carpathians (iNaturalist, research grade): the darker the cell, the more often the species is seen that month.

Safety

All parts of the plant are poisonous (cardiac glycosides). Do not pick, do not taste, do not let children play with the flowers; wash your hands after contact. In case of suspected poisoning, call 103 (or 112).

Look-alikes — how to tell them apart

Protection and rules

Not listed in the Red Book of Ukraine; under partial protection in Poland. Do not pick: the plant is poisonous.

FAQ