By East Kootenay Invasive Species Council

Foxglove (Purple foxglove) is a highly prolific invasive plant that has naturalized across British Columbia, often mistaken for a native species due to its widespread presence. Native to Western Europe, the Mediterranean, and Northwest Africa, Foxglove was introduced to North America for ornamental and medicinal purposes. Today, it can be found across most of Canada, particularly abundant in southwestern B.C.

Thriving in disturbed areas such as roadsides, clearings, fields, gravel pits, and forest edges, foxglove prefers nutrient-rich, moist soils with moderate light and heat. It is a biennial or short-lived perennial that flowers and sets seed in its second year of growth. Each plant is capable of producing up to 5,000 seeds annually -but only if its flowers are pollinated by bees.

All parts of the plant, including its seeds, are highly toxic. The chemical compound digitalis, originally derived from foxglove, is used in heart medications due to its potent effects on the cardiac system.

Foxglove spreads through wind, water, contaminated soil, and gardening tools. Its distribution is also helped by its continued sale in nurseries and garden centres as an ornamental plant.

How to Identify:

 Foxglove is a biennial or short-lived perennial plant known for its tall, leafy stems, which can reach heights between 0.5 and 1.5m.

The stems are densely covered in fine hairs that become glandular closer to the top. Its lance-shaped green leaves are coated in soft, grey-white hairs on both sides and measure between 10 and 35cm in length. These leaves spiral along the stem, forming a tight basal rosette at the bottom and gradually decreasing in size toward the top.

In its second year of growth, the plant produces showy, bell-shaped flowers that typically appear in shades of pink to purple, often with dark purple spots inside. These flowers grow in a column along one side of the stem, though they can also be white, rose, or yellow.

After flowering, foxglove produces egg-shaped capsules about 12mm long that split open at maturity to release tiny seeds.

The plant’s root system is fibrous, generally reaching a minimum depth of 15 centimetres.

Impacts:

Foxglove poses significant health risks to both humans and animals. All parts of the plant, particularly the leaves, flowers, and seeds -contain toxic compounds such as the glycoside digitoxin, which can cause serious illness or even death if ingested.

Additionally, handling the plant may lead to skin irritation in some individuals.

Ecologically, foxglove can disrupt natural ecosystems by outcompeting native vegetation, especially in disturbed areas. Its aggressive growth and ability to dominate through natural succession processes allow it to spread rapidly, reducing plant diversity and altering habitat structure.

Management Strategies:

Preventing the spread of Foxglove is KEY!

The most effective and efficient method for controlling common foxglove is mechanical removal through hand-pulling. When doing so, it is essential to wear gloves to protect against the plant’s toxic properties. Care should be taken to remove the entire root system and to bag all flowers to prevent seed dispersal. Avoid shaking the plant during removal, as this can cause seeds to fall back into the soil.

Chemical control trials have shown that herbicides such as metsulfuron-methyl and triclopyr can provide some level of effectiveness against foxglove. However, hand-pulling remains the preferred method. If herbicide use is necessary, application should only be conducted by individuals with a valid BC Pesticide Applicator Certificate. It is also important to carefully follow all herbicide labels, application rates, and comply with relevant municipal, regional, provincial, and federal regulations, as well as site-specific and species-specific treatment guidelines.

At this time, there are no biological control agents available for common foxglove, largely due to its toxic nature.

East Kootenay Invasive Species Council photos

The East Kootenay Invasive Species Council works to minimize the threat of invasive species that impact the environment, the economy and human health in the East Kootenay region of B.C., and we couldn’t do it without you! as a non-profit, we rely on grant funding and the generous support of our community to operate. Your donation will help us continue to protect the East Kootenay from invasive species. Donate here.

Article Share