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Purple Foxglove

Digitalis purpurea

Found in disturbed areas, bog margins. Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025), Northern Tier edition What its natural habitat tells you

Highly poisonous

Not native to West Virginia. Not suggested for planting. How scores work Is it native here?

Profile 82%

Height
2–5 feet
Spread
1–2.5 feet
Light
Full sun, Partial shade
Soil moisture
Usually moist
See native alternatives

Highly poisonous. Serious poisoning risk if eaten. Excluded from default planting suggestions; keep away from children and pets. Plant caution source

Hidden from default planting suggestions. Wildlife value and native status remain unchanged.

Plant this instead

Choose your county to list local plants first.

  • Bearded Beggarticks
    Bidens aristosa

    Sun: Full sun, Partial shade. Soil: Somewhat dry to moist. Flowers: Yellow.

    Similar growth form, height, spread

  • Black-eyed Susan
    Rudbeckia hirta

    Sun: Full sun, Partial shade. Soil: Somewhat dry to moist. Flowers: Yellow, orange or red.

    Similar growth form, height, spread

  • Common Evening-primrose
    Oenothera biennis

    Sun: Full sun, Partial shade. Soil: Dry to average. Flowers: Yellow.

    Similar growth form, height, spread

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At a glance

Life cycle
Biennial
Leaves
Deciduous
Bloom
May to August
Fruiting season
Summer to fall

Recorded in 2 West Virginia counties.

Natural habitats

Places it grows wild. Not a planting requirement. Each habitat page lists the plants and wildlife also found there.

Roadsides, fields and disturbed ground

Ground opened by people: roadsides, old fields, pastures, fencerows and lots.

All habitats

Ecological relationships

Who uses this plant?

What these records mean

5CaterpillarsGenus host records with ranges including WV

Genus host records with ranges including WV · Digitalis

  • Anaplectoides prasinaGreen Arches Dart
  • Euphydryas phaetonThe Baltimore, The Black Checker
  • Euplexia benesimilisAmerican Angle Shades
  • Junonia coeniaCommon Buckeye
  • Spodoptera ornithogalliYellow-Striped Armyworm Moth, Cotton Cutworm
Shropshire & Tallamy 2025, Lepidoptera of North America north of Mexico, ZooKeys 1261 (ODbL)
—BeesSoutheastern regional records
—Specialist beesPollen specialists
—BirdsRecorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim
Growing and identification

Plant details

Family
Plantaginaceae
Hardiness
Zones 4a–9b
Soil pH
Acidic
Flower color
Cream, pink, purple or white
Growth rate
Moderate
Growth habit
Single crown
Foliage color
Dark green
Fruit begins
Summer
Fruit ends
Fall
Growing sources and scope

Conservation status

West Virginia rankSNA
Global rankGNR
WV statusNot verified
Federal statusNot verified

Conservation source Global and federal source

Sources