Botanical Foxglove (botanical style)

The foxglove, Digitalis purpurea, is a native British wildflower of woodland clearings, heaths and hedge banks. It's usually biennial: a rosette of soft, downy leaves in the first year, then a tall spike in the second. The bell-shaped flowers open from the bottom upwards, and the spots inside guide bumblebees in. William Withering described its use for heart conditions in 1785, and digoxin, still prescribed today, comes from a close relative, Digitalis lanata. Every part of the plant is poisonous.

Foxgloves like dappled shade and moist soil rich in leaf mould, though they'll cope with sun if the ground doesn't dry out. Sow seed from May to July on the surface of the compost, as it needs light to germinate, then plant the young rosettes out in autumn to flower the following June and July. Cut the main spike once it's over and side shoots often follow. Leave a few spikes standing if you want seedlings next year, and wear gloves when handling the plant.

The study shows one pink foxglove spire with its leaves, drawn against a cream ground. A single spike is the clearest way to see how the flowers stack up the stem, each bell hanging to one side. Nothing else is in the picture, so the height and rhythm of the spire carry the whole drawing.