Strawberry Foxglove – Brookside Gardens, Silver Spring, Maryland

Digitalis was isolated from the foxglove and is still used for some cardiac disorders, even though the line between benefit and fatal toxicity is very fine.

This double edge is reflected in some of the common names of this plant: Dead Men’s Bells, Dog’s Finger, Fairy Caps, Fairy Fingers, Fairy Gloves, Fairy Thimbles, Finger Flower, Folks’ Glove, foxglove, Gloves of Our Lady, Ladies’ Glove, Lion’s Mouth, Virgin’s Glove, Witches’ Gloves.