Foxglove Alba Seeds

Elegant and luminous with tall spires of pure white tubular flowers. Foxglove Alba forms neat rosettes of veined green leaves in the first year and sends up striking flowering stems in the second year that are much valued for vertical impact in cottage borders and woodland edges.

 

Loved by bees and long tongued pollinators these biennial or short lived perennial plants also make good cutting material and provide architectural structure in mixed herbaceous schemes.

 

Seed Qty Approx 1000

 

Sow March to May or July to September for autumn sowing

Germination 10 to 21 days often improved by a cool period

Soil Light to medium well drained loam or sandy neutral to slightly acidic

Height 90 to 150 cm

Flowering May to July in the second year with possible rebloom in mild seasons

Good Companions Aquilegia delphinium primula shrubs that provide shelter

Avoid Pairing With Heavy waterlogged soils or exposed windy sites

 

Sowing Instructions

 

Sow thinly on the surface or cover very lightly in trays of moist seed compost. For spring sowing sow March to May and provide a cool period to aid germination. For autumn sowing sow July to September so seedlings establish before winter. Keep at cool temperatures around 10 to 15°C and maintain even moisture but avoid waterlogging. Transplant seedlings when large enough to handle and space 30 to 45 cm apart. Harden off before planting out into a sheltered position after the risk of severe frost has passed.

 

Grow in partial shade to full sun in cooler sites and in moist well drained soil enriched with organic matter. Mulch to conserve moisture and protect crowns in winter in exposed locations. Support tall spires if planting in windy positions. Allow some seedheads to mature for naturalising and collect seed if you wish to propagate. Divide congested clumps in early spring to maintain vigour.