Description

A classic cottage garden favourite with towering flower spikes in a beautiful range of colours. Well-suited to UK gardens and great for both beginners and experienced growers.

Highlights:

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  Flowering Season: May to July (from second year)


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  Height & Spread: 120–150cm height | 30–45cm spread


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  Position: Full sun to partial shade | Moist, fertile, well-drained soil


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  Great for: Cottage gardens, wildlife planting, shady borders, raised beds

Why We Love It:

Foxglove ‘Excelsior Mix’ produces tall, elegant spires covered in tubular blooms in soft pinks, purples, creams, and whites. A magnet for bees and other pollinators, it adds vertical drama and colour to the back of borders or woodland-style planting. These biennials are easy to grow and naturalise beautifully, offering that effortlessly romantic look year after year.

Planting & Care Tips:

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  When to Plant: Sow indoors from February to May, or directly outdoors from May to July for flowering the following year


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  Where to Plant: Shady or partially shaded spots in borders or large containers


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  Spacing: 30–45cm apart


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  Care Notes: Water regularly while establishing, especially in dry spells. Tall stems may need staking in windy spots. Allow some seed heads to ripen if you’d like them to self-sow

The Nunhead Gardener Recommends:

Pair with ferns, aquilegias, and hardy geraniums for a true woodland feel. Ideal for South London gardens with dappled shade or for softening fences and shady corners.

Please note:

Images show how this plant may look at various stages of maturity. The size you choose may look different.