Woodlands & Shade Seeds

Foxglove 'Excelsior' Mix Seeds (Digitalis purpurea – Biennial)

The Foxglove 'Excelsior' Mix is one of the most admired cottage garden classics, producing tall, elegant spires of tubular flowers in shades of rose, lavender, purple, cream, and white, often marked with speckled throats. Unlike traditional foxgloves, the Excelsior strain displays its flowers all around the stem, creating a fuller and more impressive floral column. As a biennial, it flowers in the second year after sowing and readily self-seeds for future displays.

What Makes It Special

• Traditional cottage garden favorite with tall, majestic flower spikes

• Excelsior strain bears blooms on all sides of the stem for maximum impact

• Attracts bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds

• Excellent cut flower and stunning for borders or woodland plantings

Key Features

• Botanical name: Digitalis purpurea

• Variety: 'Excelsior' Mix

• Height/Spread: 120–150 cm tall, 40–60 cm spread

• Position: Partial shade to sun; prefers rich, moist, well-drained soil

• Flowering period: Late spring to mid-summer (second year)

• Lifespan: Biennial, often self-seeds for naturalized displays

Ideal For

• Cottage and woodland-style gardens

• Back borders for height and structure

• Naturalizing in shaded areas

• Pollinator-friendly gardens

Sowing Instructions

1. When to sow: Late spring to summer (May–July) for flowering the following year.

2. How to sow:

   • Sow seeds on the surface of moist compost (do not cover – light aids germination).

   • Keep at 18–22°C until germination (14–30 days).

   • Transplant seedlings 45 cm apart in borders or beds.

3. Care: Water regularly, especially in dry spells. Remove spent flower spikes to extend blooming, or allow some to seed for natural regeneration.