Foxglove Excelsior Group (Digitalis purpurea Excelsior)
Foxglove Excelsior Group (Digitalis purpurea Excelsior) is a plant in the annuals and biennials category that can grow 1.5m – 3m tall and 10cm – 50cm wide. In this growing guide we’ll learn the cultivation details and how to plant Foxglove Excelsior Group (Digitalis purpurea Excelsior).
This plant is commonly known as foxglove Excelsior Group.
This is a semi-evergreen plant that takes 1-2 years to reach full maturity.
In this article
Plant profile
Common name: foxglove Excelsior Group
Scientific name: Digitalis purpurea Excelsior
Plant type: Annual / Biennial
Habit: Columnar / Upright
Height: 1.5m – 3m
Spread: 10cm – 50cm
Foliage: Semi-evergreen
Sunlight: Full Sun, Partial shade
Soil: Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Moisture: Moist but well drained, Well drained
Garden type: Informal Garden, Wildflower meadow
Planting type: Flower borders and bedding
Other characteristics: Plants for pollinators
Seasonal colors
| Season | Stem | Foliage | Flower | Fruit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | ||||
| Summer | ||||
| Autumn | ||||
| Winter |
How to plant Foxglove Excelsior Group (Digitalis purpurea Excelsior) – Photo by David J. Stang, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Annuals and biennials are ideal for formal or informal flower beds, but also for growing in pots and containers of all kinds. They are important plants for their rapid growth, instant color and relatively low cost.
They are also useful plants for filling spaces between newly planted trees and shrubs, as well as in perennial beds that may need to be revived after the first spring bloom.
They are an important ingredient in country house gardens and wildflower meadows.
Other types of Digitalis to consider:
See all Digitalis
How to plant
In this section we will learn how to plant Foxglove Excelsior Group (Digitalis purpurea Excelsior), know its needs in terms of soil, watering and sun exposure.
Soil
Foxglove Excelsior Group (Digitalis purpurea Excelsior) is a plant that adapts to all types of soils, chalk, clay, loam or sand.
-
The chalky soil is pale and contains chunks of calcium-rich rock. It is a fertile and well-draining soil, almost always alkaline.
-
Clay soil is composed of more than 25 percent clay particles. These particles have a high moisture holding capacity and the soil is heavy to dig and can be waterlogged in winter (dry in summer).
-
The loam soil is dark, rich in organic matter but balanced in minerals. It offers the best of all worlds, retaining enough water for the plants, but allowing excess moisture to drain away. This is the most desired type of garden soil, perfect for most plants.
-
Sandy soil is light, porous and very easy to drain. It is a soil poor in organic matter and nutrients. It is composed of relatively large mineral particles that allow water to drain quickly.
It is not very sensitive to soil acidity or alkalinity and grows well in soils with pH acid, alkaline or neutral.
Regarding drainage, Digitalis purpurea Excelsior likes to grow in moist but well drained or well drained soils.
Sunlight
Foxglove Excelsior Group (Digitalis purpurea Excelsior) is a plant that should be grown in full sun or partial shade positions.
Cultivation profiles – Growing Foxglove Excelsior Group (Digitalis purpurea Excelsior) – Photo by David J. Stang, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
