Foxglove – Spires, Spells, and Studio Inspiration

Introduction

Foxgloves have long been one of my favourite native plants. Beautiful, bold, and steeped in folklore, they’ve inspired not one but two fabric designs in my collection. In this post, I’m sharing the story behind one of those prints—and the place these magical flowers hold in both my garden and my imagination

The Allure of the Foxglove

When it comes to British flora, foxgloves (Digitalis) are a firm favourite. I’ll admit—I let them pop up wherever they like in the garden, even through the paving and in places I really shouldn’t let them grow. But I have no intention of pulling them up—they’ve chosen their spot, and honestly, I rather enjoy the way they appear where they please.

Outside of the garden, I love the way they rise from roadside verges and hedgerows like church spires above a village—or, rather more whimsically, like meerkats on the prairie. All right, that might be a stretch, but you get the picture.

A Flower Full of Folklore

I’ve always been fascinated by the folklore of plants, and foxgloves are thick with it. Across Britain and Europe, this plant has held a magical reputation—known for both healing and harm. From wise women and fairie folk to darker associations in Agatha Christie novels, the foxglove has long straddled the line between medicine and poison. They’ve been connected to protection against witchcraft, Roman mythology, Christianity, and fairy mischief. It’s a rabbit hole worth tumbling into, if you ever find yourself with a spare hour (or three) and a curious mind.

Their physical beauty is just as captivating—tall, tapering spires of white, pink, or purple bells, speckled with delicate patterns. There’s an old tale that fairies gave foxes the flowers to wear on their paws to move silently through the undergrowth—one explanation for their name. I always associate them with the soft buzzing of bumblebees darting in and out of the bells – it is a popular destination for Mr Bumble.

Foxglove in Print – A Border Pattern

It was only natural that foxgloves would make their way into my work. I’ve created two designs that celebrate this glorious flower.

The first (the subject for this post) is a border pattern, where foxgloves take centre stage, surrounded by supporting leaves and daisies—Shasta or Oxeye?? I can never quite decide, but they add lovely bright sparks to all that green.

This simple linear repeat is created by slicing the initial design in half vertically, swapping sides, and filling in the middle.  The two halves are moved back to their original position, which gives a linear repeating pattern.  It’s a transformative process that results in a seamless print perfect for drum lampshades. Depending on fabric and ink combinations, the design changes dramatically—and on certain backgrounds, it almost disappears when the lamp is lit, giving it a magical, ghostly quality.

Foxglove print in an ethereal white print on green-grey background crafted in drum lampshades and rectangular cushions

I’ve also used this pattern for cushions, especially longer rectangular ones, where the border repeat makes a bold, striking centre panel.

Foxglove print in luxurious gold on navy blue crafted into drum lampshades

Conclusion

The foxglove is a plant of contrast—elegant yet wild, enchanting yet dangerous—and I love weaving that tension into my work. Whether quietly blooming in a garden corner or lighting up a lampshade, it never fails to catch the eye and stir the imagination.