Foxglove 'Excelsior Mix' Seeds
If you want the wild, romantic look of Foxgloves but with a bit more flower power, 'Excelsior' is the variety to grow. Unlike the wild forms that hang their bells on just one side of the stem, this improved heritage strain holds its flowers horizontally all around the stem, creating a dense, heavy cylinder of colour.
These are majestic architectural plants, towering up to 1.5 metres tall. The mix includes shades of creamy white, soft pink, deep rose, and purple, all with the classic speckled throats that bumblebees find irresistible. Whether planted in a dappled woodland corner or at the back of a herbaceous border, they provide the essential vertical line that every garden design needs.
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🌿 Understanding the Plant
Foxgloves are classic Hardy Biennials.
They operate on a two-year cycle:
Year 1: You sow the seeds in late spring/summer. The plant grows a low rosette of large, fuzzy leaves.
Year 2: It sends up the huge flower spike, blooms in June/July, drops its seeds, and then dies.
Top Tip: Let them self-seed! If you leave a few stalks to dry, they will scatter seeds around the base, giving you a free supply of plants for future years.
🌱 Growing Guide: How to Sow and Grow
Foxglove seeds are dust-like and need light to germinate.
Germination:
Sow outdoors in a seedbed or in pots from May to July. Scatter the tiny seeds on the surface of the soil. Do not cover them—they need light to trigger growth. Keep moist. Germination takes 14-21 days.
Where to Sow:
They love shade or semi-shade but will tolerate sun if the soil is moist. They thrive in humus-rich soil (add leaf mould or compost!).
Care While Growing:
Planting Out: Move your young plants to their final flowering position in Autumn (Sept/Oct). This allows them to get their roots down before winter so they can rocket up in spring.
📋 Plant Specifications
| Latin Name | Digitalis purpurea |
| Common Name | Foxglove 'Excelsior Mix' |
| Hardiness | H7 (Very Hardy) |
| Light Required | Shade / Part Shade ⛅ |
| Height | ↕️ 1.2m - 1.5m (Very Tall) |
| Spread | ↔️ 45cm |
| Spacing | 🌱 50cm apart |
| Great for | 🌳 Shady Borders 🐝 Bumblebees 🏰 Architectural Height 🏡 Cottage Gardens |
| Seed Count | Approx. 1000 seeds (Dust-like) |
🤝 Perfect Garden Companions
Foxgloves are the stars of the shade garden. Pair them with these woodland favourites:
- 🌿 Ferns & Hostas: Texture Contrast. The coarse, hairy leaves of Foxgloves look fantastic against the sleek, shiny foliage of ferns. They thrive in the same damp, shady conditions.
- 🌸 Aquilegia 'McKana Giants': The Granny's Bonnet Mix. Aquilegia flowers in late spring, leading perfectly into the Foxglove season. Both plants self-seed to create a relaxed, natural woodland tapestry.
📅 Sowing & Flowering Calendar
Sow in summer. Plant out in autumn. Flowers the following summer (June-July).
| Month | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sow Outdoors | 🟢 | 🟢 | 🟢 | |||||||||
| Plant Out | 🌱 | 🌱 | ||||||||||
| Flowers (Yr 2) | 🌸 | 🌸 | 🌸 |
⚠️ Toxicity Warning
Foxgloves are highly toxic if ingested. This protects them from deer and rabbits! Always wash hands after handling the plants or seeds, and keep away from small children.
🏆 Officially Recognised Excellence
Foxgloves are vital for bumblebees. The spotted throats of the flowers act as a "landing strip," guiding bees to the nectar hidden deep inside the bell.
- Regular price
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£2.15 - Regular price
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- Sale price
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£2.15
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