Digitalis lanata aka Woolly Digitalis

Digitalis lanata belongs to the plantain family, Plantaginaceae. Gardeners know it as Grecian foxglove or woolly foxglove. Kew places its native range in southeastern Europe and northwestern Türkiye. It grows in a temperate climate, in woods and scrub. It is not native to Britain or Ireland. The plant can live as a biennial or perennial.

This upright plant starts with a rosette of evergreen leaves. Each leaf has a narrow, lance-shaped outline. Garden plants reach about 1.6–3.3 feet [0.5–1 metre] tall. Their spread ranges from 0.3–1.6 feet [0.1–0.5 metres]. Plants take two to five years to reach full size. Long flower spikes rise above the leaves in summer. The cream or pale yellow flowers have brown veins. Each flower measures about one inch [2.5 centimetres] long. The pale blooms and dark veins give the spikes clear detail.

It accepts clay, loam, sand, and chalk soils. Acid, neutral, and alkaline ground can all suit it. Keep the soil moist, but allow excess water to drain. Avoid ground that stays very wet or becomes very dry. It grows in partial shade but flowers best in sunnier spots. Both sheltered and exposed sites can suit it. The RHS rates its UK hardiness as H5. This covers winter lows near 5–14°F [-15 to -10°C].

Use it in flower beds, borders, or informal cottage gardens. It also suits courtyard, coastal, and wildlife gardens. Plant it beneath roses or shrubs, or along a woodland edge. Remove the main flower spike once its blooms fade. This helps side shoots grow and flower. Sow seed in pots in a cold frame in late spring. Other options include careful spring division or basal cuttings. Aphids and leaf and bud eelworms may attack it. Leaf spots and powdery mildew may also cause trouble.

Every part of this plant is poisonous, with no known food use. It can harm both people and pets if eaten. Poisoning can be fatal, and children face particular risk. Wear gloves and other protective gear when handling it. The plant supplies cardiac glycosides used in medicines for heart disease. These include digoxin, digitoxin, and lanatosides. That medical role does not make home use safe. Do not use it for self-treatment; dosing needs medical oversight.