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Why we like this plant
Digitalis purpurea Excelsior Group is a timeless garden favourite, providing vertical elegance, soft pastel colours, and a valuable food source for pollinators. Its ability to self-seed ensures a continuous display year after year, making it a fantastic choice for naturalistic and wildlife-friendly gardens.
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About this plant
The Excelsior Group is a well-loved selection of Digitalis purpurea, distinguished by its tall, graceful flower spikes and pastel-coloured blooms arranged in an open, outward-facing pattern. Flowering in early summer, the bell-shaped flowers feature delicate speckled throats, making them a favourite among pollinators, particularly bumblebees. These biennial or short-lived perennial foxgloves thrive in partial shade or full sun with moist, well-drained soil, adding vertical interest and a touch of wild charm to cottage gardens, woodland settings, and informal borders.
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Key features
- Stunning mix of soft pink, purple, cream, and apricot flowers
- Tall, upright spikes reaching up to 1.5m
- Highly attractive to bees and other pollinators
- Perfect for cottage gardens and naturalistic planting
- Biennial but self-seeds readily for future growth
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Height and
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Growth
habitUpright, clump-forming
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Moisture
Prefers moist soil; avoid prolonged drought
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Position in
the GardenCottage gardens, woodland edges, wildlife-friendly borders
Planting guide
- Space plants 30–45cm apart for good air circulation
- Plant in groups for a more dramatic display
- Thrives in slightly acidic to neutral soil
Care tips
- Plant in moist, well-drained soil in partial shade or full sun
- Water regularly, especially during dry spells
- Deadhead faded flowers to encourage prolonged blooming
- Allow some flowers to go to seed for natural self-sowing
- Cut back flower stems after flowering to tidy the plant
Winter care
- Leave basal foliage intact to protect the plant over winter
- Mulch lightly in autumn to insulate roots in colder regions
- Remove any dead foliage in early spring to encourage fresh growth