Digitalis purpurea Excelsior Group

foxglove

Eventual height & spread

Digitalis purpurea Excelsior Group

foxglove

  • approx 1000 seeds
  • £3.49
  • In stock (shipped within 2-3 working days)
  • 9cm pot
  • £7.99
  • In stock (shipped within 2-3 working days)
  • 3 × 9cm pots
  • £19.99 £23.97
  • In stock (shipped within 2-3 working days)
Delivery options
  • Seed Packets (only) £2.95
  • Named Day £10.95
  • Position: Partial shade
  • Soil: Moderately fertile, moist, well-drained soil
  • Rate of growth: Average to fast
  • Flowering period: June to July
  • Hardiness: Fully hardy


Tall spires of large, well-spaced, tubular flowers in soft shades of purple, pink, creamy-yellow or white, each one with throats spotted maroon or purple, appear from May to July. These pastel-coloured foxgloves are perfect for the back of a large cottage-style border. Although short-lived, given the right conditions they will perpetuate by self-seeding.


  • Garden care:
    Ensure that the soil is kept moist in summer. After the first flowerspikes have finished flowering, cut them back to encourage sideshoots to develop, which can go on to provide a second flush of flower. Then, when the last of these have died off, cut them all down to the ground. Apply a generous 5-7cm (2-3in) mulch of well-rotted organic matter around the plant in early spring.

    These plants are mainly biennial, although they will often self-seed freely.


  • Sowing instructions:
    Lightly press the seed onto the surface of a well-watered seed compost in mid to late spring and keep in a cold frame. When large enough to handle, pot on into individual cells and once they have developed a decent basal rosette of foliage they can be hardened off before planting out. They will usually start to flower in their second year.


  • Sow: March to May
    • Humans/Pets: TOXIC if eaten

    Goes well with