Yellow Foxglove, Straw foxglove

Digitalis lutea

Physical Characteristics

Digitalis lutea is a PERENNIAL growing to 0.6 m (2ft) by 0.3 m (1ft in). It is in flower in July. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Bees. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers dry or moist soil and can tolerate drought.

Distribution

Europe.

Habitats

Woodland Garden Dappled Shade; Shady Edge;

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal Uses

Cardiac Diuretic Stimulant Tonic Yellow foxglove is little used in herbal medicine but is in fact a less toxic alternative to the purple and woolly foxgloves (D. purpurea and D. lanata) which are widely used in the treatment of heart complaints[254]. The yellow foxglove has similar medical actions, but its alkaloids are more readily metabolized and flushed out of the body[254]. The leaves are cardiac, strongly diuretic, stimulant and tonic[7, 9, 46, 61]. They are used in the treatment of a weakened or failing heart, increasing the strength of contraction, slowing and steadying the heart rate and lowering blood pressure by strongly stimulating the flow of urine - which reduces overall blood volume[254]. The leaves of plants in their second year of growth are harvested in the summer and dried for later use[7]. This remedy should be used with caution and only under the supervision of a qualified practitioner, excessive doses can prove fatal[7, 254]. See also the notes above on toxicity.

Known Hazards

All parts of the plant are poisonous[7, 65]. The plant is less dangerous that the common foxglove (D. purpurea) since its effects are not cumulative[7].