Digitalis purpurea (Common Foxglove / Witches' Bells) 2,000 to 50,000 Fresh Seeds | £2.99 - 39.99

A classic cottage garden icon, growing to between 1-2 m in height, producing tall spires of enchanting bell-shaped blooms from summer to early autumn, in shades of dusky rose, mauve, and creamy lavender; each speckled with eye-catching, dark, freckled throats.

Perfect for adding vertical drama to meadow-style or naturalistic planting schemes, and cottage-style gardens, slotting beautifully into shadier borders or adding contrast among softer shapes.  

Irresistible to bees, who’ll vanish inside the flowers with surprising dedication — making it a top choice for pollinator-friendly planting.

A biennial or short-lived perennial, it self-seeds freely, creating a gentle colony year after year with very little fuss.

Hardy and easy-going, thriving in partial shade as happily as in full sun, and tolerant of poor soils — just give it a spot and let it work its magic!

Potentially harmful:

TOXIC if eaten. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling. TOXIC to pets.

Please note: full germination instructions are printed on each pack.

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© Heartwood - supplying rare and unusual plants and seeds to the curious grower

Genus: Digitalis

Species: purpurea

Synonyms:

Digitalis purpurea var. amandiana
Digitalis purpurea var. purpurea
Digitalis purpurea var. toletana

Common names:

Bloody Bells
Bloody Finger
Common Foxglove
Cow Flop
Dead Men's Bells
Dog's Lugs
Dragon's Mouth
English Foxglove
Fairy Bells
Fairy Fingers
Fairy Gloves
Fairy Thimbles
Fairy's Cap
Fairy's Petticoat
Fairy's Thimble
Finger Flower
Flap Dock
Folk's Gloves
Fox Finger
Gloves of Mary 
Lady's Fingers
Lion's Mouth
Lusmore
Lustmore
Pop Dock
Thimble Finger
Thimble Flower
Throat Root
True Wild Form Foxglove
Witches' Bells
Witches' Fingers
Witches' Gloves
Witches' Thimbles

Other names (non-English):

Bysedd y Cŵn (Welsh)
Dedaleira (Portuguese)
Dedalera / Guante de Nuestra Señora (Spanish)
Digitale (Italian)
Digitale pourpre / Gants de Notre-Dame (French)
Jigitarisu - ジギタリス (Japanese)
Fingerborgsblomma (Swedish)
Máo Dì Huáng - 毛地黄 - (Chinese)
Naperstyanka purpurnaya - Наперстянка пурпурная (Russian)
Naperstyanka purpurova - Наперстянка пурпурова (Ukrainian)
Revebjelle (Norwegian)
Rohtosormustinkukka (Finnish)
Roter Fingerhut (German)
Vingerhoedskruid (Dutch)

Plant type: Biennial, or short-lived perennial

Eventual height: 1-2 m

Flowering time: Late spring to mid-summer

Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade

Soil: Moist, fertile and well-drained

Propagation methods: From seeds

Potentially harmful:

TOXIC if eaten. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling. TOXIC to pets.

Digitalis purpurea 🌱 Surface sow on propagation compost and cover with a thin layer of fine compost (around 1mm). Keep soil evenly moist at all times at 21°C (70°F). A heated propagator is ideal. Non-heated propagators can be placed within direct sunlight in a warm room to trap in heat and humidity. Fine-mist spray with clean water daily. Approx. germination time: 30-60 days.

Caution: Not for consumption. Choking hazard. Keep away from children & pets. Handle with care.

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£10.95 (incl. packaging / handling fee)

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Orders are usually processed and dispatched within 1-3 working days (not including Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holidays).