Foxglove 'Bishy Barnabee Mix' Seeds

Digitalis purpurea 'Bishy Barnabee Mix' is a robust Hardy Biennial (H7). It is perfectly adapted to the UK climate, surviving temperatures as low as -20°C. It operates on the classic two-year rhythm of the cottage garden: growing a lush rosette of foliage in its first summer and exploding into majestic flowering spires in its second.

The "House Blend" Advantage: We curated this mix to provide an evolving tapestry of colour and texture. By blending diverse heritage strains, we’ve ensured a long flowering window and a high level of visual variety. This mix is specifically designed to self-seed, allowing the plants to "wander" and renew themselves naturally in your garden year after year.

Pollinator Haven: Listed on the RHS Plants for Pollinators list, Foxgloves are vital for British biodiversity. They are specifically evolved to accommodate long-tongued bees, such as the Garden Bumblebee, providing a critical high-summer nectar source in shady or woodland-edge spots.

Foxglove seeds are exceptionally fine (dust-like) and require light to germinate, so they should never be buried deeply.

How to Sow:
Sow indoors in April to May or directly outdoors from May to July. Scatter the seeds onto the surface of moist seed compost. Do not cover them with soil; a very fine sprinkling of vermiculite can be used but is not essential. Keep at 15-20°C; germination usually occurs within 14-21 days.

Where to Plant:
They thrive in shade or partial shade, making them the perfect solution for brightening the dark spots under deciduous trees or along north-facing fences. They prefer humus-rich, moisture-retentive soil; adding leaf mould or well-rotted compost to the planting area will ensure the tallest, strongest spires.

Ongoing Care:
Move young plants to their final flowering positions in September or October so they can establish roots before winter. Once the main central spike has finished flowering, cut it down to the base; this often triggers the plant to send up smaller side-shoots, extending the display of colour through to late summer.

Foxgloves are the structural stars of the shade garden. Pair this mix with these available shade-loving favourites from our range:

• 🪙 Honesty (Lunaria annua): The Spring Bridge. Honesty and Foxgloves are the perfect biennial partners. The rich purples and whites of Honesty provide late-spring colour, transitioning into spectacular silver seed pods just as the 'Bishy Barnabee' spires reach their peak.
• 🌸 Red Campion (Silene dioica): The Naturalistic Tapestry. Red Campion creates a frothy, rose-pink base that complements the vertical majesty of the Foxglove spires perfectly. Both are native-style hero plants for woodland edges and attract a huge range of pollinators.

Sow in summer for architectural rosettes in Year 1, followed by a majestic, multi-coloured display in Year 2.