Digitalis purpurea 'Excelsior Group'

foxglove

• Position:full sun to partial shade
• Soil: moist, humus-rich soil
• Rate of growth: average to fast-growing
• Flowering period: May to July
• Flower colour: purple, pink, creamy-yellow or white
• Hardiness: fully hardy
  
  Tall spires of large, well-spaced, tubular flowers in soft shades of purple, pin k, creamy-yellow or white, each one with throats spotted maroon or purple appea r from May to July. These pastel-coloured foxgloves are perfect for the back of a large cottage-style border. Although short-lived, given the right conditions they will perpetuate by self-seeding.
  
  All parts of the plant may cause severe discomfort if ingested and contact with the foliage may irritate skin.
  
  
• Garden care: Ensure that the soil is kept moist in summer. After flowering cut back the flowered spikes to encourage more sideshoots. Cut down to the ground after flowering. Apply a generous 5-7cm (2-3in) mulch of well-ro tted organic matter around the plant in early spring.
  
  These plants are mainly biennial, although they will produce plenty of new sideshoots and self-seed freely.