Foxglove Excelsior Mix

Digitalis purpurea 'Excelsior Mix' Foxglove 'Excelsior Mix'

The improved heritage Foxglove strain famous for its horizontal flower arrangement — bells held all around the stem rather than drooping to one side as the wild form does, creating a dense, symmetrical cylinder of cottage-garden colour up to 1.5m tall in creamy white, soft pink, deep rose and traditional purple.

If you want the wild romantic look of Foxgloves but with significantly more flower power per spire, 'Excelsior' is the variety to grow. The improved heritage strain — bred for symmetrical horizontal flower placement, creating denser, more uniform spikes than the wild form. Each majestic spire (typically reaching 1.2–1.5m) carries densely-packed bell flowers around the entire stem, in a generous mix of creamy white, soft pink, deep rose, and traditional purple, all with the classic speckled throats that bumblebees find irresistible. Hardy biennial (H7), surviving below -20°C. RHS Plants for Pollinators recognised. The architectural choice for formal cottage borders and design-led plantings where regular structure matters as much as wild charm.

A note on growing

Foxglove seeds are exceptionally fine and need light to germinate — never bury deeply. Sow indoors April–May, or directly outdoors May–July. Surface-sow onto moist compost. Do not cover with soil; very fine vermiculite optional. Maintain 15–20°C; germination 14–21 days. Plant out in autumn into shaded or semi-shaded position with moist well-drained soil. Year 1: rosette establishment. Year 2: spectacular flowering display.

⚠️ Important toxicity warning: All parts of Foxglove are highly toxic if ingested by humans or pets. Wear gloves when handling. Keep seed packets away from children.

Where it shines

In formal cottage borders where 'Excelsior's' improved symmetry and horizontal flower placement provides architectural quality. In design-led shaded plantings where regular structure matters. At the back of mixed cottage borders providing the essential vertical anchor. In dappled woodland edges and along north-facing fences. As cut flowers for substantial vertical arrangements (handle carefully given toxicity). As a self-seeding colony establishing wandering populations year after year — the 'Excelsior' colour palette persists reasonably well in self-sown offspring.

Plant alongside

For a complete English cottage spring-and-summer scheme, combine 'Excelsior Mix' with Honesty (Lunaria annua) for the classic biennial partnership, Aquilegia 'Barlow Mixed' for matching pastel-rich colour at mid-height, and Sweet Rocket (Hesperis matronalis) for fragrance and additional vertical structure. For wildlife-focused planting, the open accessible bells complement Echinacea purpurea and Verbena bonariensis for season-long pollinator forage.