Foxglove (II): one's poison is another's nectar

A poisonous beauty for humans and most animals turns out to be bumblebee heaven

Since the first post about foxglove a week ago, I've been seeing these flowers everywhere—in gardens and on the roadside. I saw a bee on a purple foxglove spike and asked the gardener if the toxic flower would harm the bee. 'Of course not,' they said lightly, 'they're delicious food for bees.’

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1. Poisonous ≠ deadly

Poisonous doesn't mean deadly. Toxic effects can be subtle, and the dose determines if a plant is safe or hazardous. All parts of foxglove contain cardiac glycosides, especially the most potent digitoxin, but poisoning is rare because the plant tastes bad.

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2. Important source of pollen

Foxgloves are an important source of pollen for bees. Their vibrant colors attract bees, and the dark spots inside the tubular flowers guide them to the nectar. Besides foxglove, there are other beautiful but toxic flowers that bees favor.

Source of photos: Woodland Trust

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3. Detoxification

How can bees safely collect nectar from toxic foxglove? Bees have specific gut microbes that break down the toxic compounds in foxglove nectar. Additionally, bees often collect nectar from multiple plants, which dilutes any toxins from the foxgloves.

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4. The survival of bees

Biodiversity, food security, and ecosystems all depend on the survival of bees. Bees and other pollinators help pollinate over 75% of the world’s food crops and nearly 90% of the world’s wild flowering plants.

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5. Nature’s balance

From observing the relationship between foxgloves and bumblebees, I’ve come to appreciate the interconnection in nature. Everything has its role to play in the ecosystem. Bees rely on toxic foxglove for food. In turn, bees help crops and wildflowers reproduce, providing food for us and other animals.

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Reference(s):

1. Cornell University

2. American Collage of Veterinary Pharmacists

3. Wild Life Trust

4. Nature

5. United Nation

6. Woodland Trust