Digitalis purpurea Excelsior Mixed - Foxglove

Digitalis purpurea Excelsior Mixed is a carefully selected mix of foxgloves from the 'Excelsior' series. The large flowers are carried horizontally. They come in shades of vibrant pink, pastel pink, peach, white, or light purple with a throat marbled with plum and white.

Digitalis purpurea is the wild species that we encounter in clearings, at the edge of the undergrowth, or simply along a path when the forest becomes less dense. It is a biennial that belongs to the Plantaginaceae family. It forms a 20 to 40cm (8 to 16in) wide basal clump in the first year. In its second year, it produces tall flower spikes that can reach 2m (7ft). After this, the plants naturally replace themselves through self-sowing. They can sometimes be ephemeral perennial.

Foxgloves are easily recognisable by their finger-shaped flowers, hence their other common names of lady's thimble, witch's gloves, our lady's gloves, and fairy's gloves. The flowers are tubular corollas, 4 to 5cm (2in) long, with fused petals. They are usually pendulous, with a slight upward inflection that reveals the throat.

The 'Excelsior' series are multicoloured plants derived from Digitalis purpurea, producing wider corollas than the typical variety. They produce large bell-shaped flowers in bright pink, pastel pink, peach, white, or light purple with a marbled throat of plum. They are in flower from July to September. They bloom from bottom to top, providing nectar to bees and bumblebees.

When mature, 'Excelsior' foxgloves can reach 1.5m (5ft) tall, making them ideal for the background of a flower bed or to define different areas in small gardens. They are not very demanding in terms of soil, although they prefer humus-bearing and moist soil. They especially dislike stagnant moisture. They should be positioned in partial shade at the edge of the undergrowth, in sparsely wooded areas, or in an alpine garden.

According to legend and folklore, foxgloves were once used for white or black magic purposes. They are all related to digitalin, which is present in all parts of the plant. It has subsequently been found to be a powerful cardiac tonic that is still used in the pharmaceutical industry.

Attention. The seeds are reserved for highly experienced gardeners accustomed to sowing very fine seeds. These seeds are as fine as dust and barely visible to the naked eye.