{"product_id":"foxglove-purpurea","title":"Foxglove purpurea","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFoxglove \u003cem\u003eDigitalis Purpurea\u003c\/em\u003e \u003c\/strong\u003eis a magnificent and very well-known British wildflower. It grows along verges and hedgerows, in woodland edges and clearings. It is an important plant for pollinators and it even has its very own moth that eats it! In the first year it will grow its roots and leaves, in its second year that towering flower stem will shoot upwards.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"\u003e🌸 Flowering: May to late July\u003cbr\u003e📏 Height: up to 180cm \u003cbr\u003e🌿 Biennial\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSow:\u003c\/strong\u003e from early spring or in the autumn in pots, aiming for 10–15 seeds per pot. Don’t cover the seeds, press them gently onto a moist surface because they need light to germinate. Mix seed with fine sand for even sowing. Keep at about 18°C; germination takes 3–4 weeks in spring, longer in autumn. When large enough, pot the strongest seedlings individually. For spring sowings, transplant in autumn. For autumn sowings, grow on over winter and plant out the following spring. Space 30–50cm apart. Can be sown directly from April to September.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGrow:\u003c\/strong\u003e they thrive in partial shade in most well-drained soil types. They’ll manage sun if their roots are cool under a layer of mulch. Water during summer if there has not been much rainfall. Leave some flower spikes to set seed if you'd like them to find their own places around the garden for future years.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEnjoy:\u003c\/strong\u003e after a year of sitting quietly as a rosette of leaves, voilà, watch that enormous flower spike rise. And once those bells begin to open, it really does become a garden spectacle.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e🏡 In your garden\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"\u003e•    Coastal gardens\u003cbr\u003e•    Wildflower meadows and woodland plantings\u003cbr\u003e•    City and courtyard gardens\u003cbr\u003e•    Cottage and informal gardens\u003cbr\u003e•    Pollinator plantings\u003cbr\u003e•    Flower borders and beds\u003cbr\u003e•    Cutting Gardens (with care)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e✂️ Cut flower\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"\u003e•    Adds wonderful height and structure to larger arrangements\u003cbr\u003e•    Fresh vase life is 5 to 7 days\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e🐝 Pollinator friendly\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"\u003e•    RHS Plants for Pollinators recommended\u003cbr\u003e•    Long-tongued bumblebees visit the tubular flowers to drink nectar\u003cbr\u003e•    Honeybees and butterflies will sometimes feed on the nectar-rich blooms, though the flower's shape is ideally suited for larger bees\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e🐞 Wildlife friendly\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFood plant for the foxglove pug moth.  The caterpillars eat the stamens and the developing seeds inside the flowers\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e🎨 Natural dye plant\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"\u003e•    It can be used as a dye plant; however, the colours on cotton, linen and hemp are very pale, weak yellow-green tones that wash out easily\u003cbr\u003e•    For a more reliable yellow\/green dye that bonds well with cotton, choose Dyer's Chamomile\u003cbr\u003e•    All parts of Foxglove plants are toxic, so great care must be taken in the dyeing process and when discarding plant residue\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e💡 Did you know?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIn 1785 British physician William Withering published his famous study of foxglove and its use in treating dropsy, now recognised as fluid retention often associated with heart failure. His work helped lay the foundations for the later development of digitalis heart medicines. \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e Foxglove has gathered some wonderful names over the centuries, including Bloody Finger, Cow Flop, Dead Man's Bells, Witches' Bells and Dragon's Mouth. Some are enchanting; others give a rather stronger hint that this beautiful plant is poisonous!\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e⚠️ CAUTION\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAll parts of the foxglove plant are poisonous if eaten. Wash your hands after handling and keep seeds and plants away from children and pets.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"MoreVeg Seeds","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53716228997396,"sku":"FLWFGP","price":0.6,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0918\/3133\/7236\/files\/digitalisfoxglove_wales.jpg?v=1787652739","url":"https:\/\/moreveg.co.uk\/products\/foxglove-purpurea","provider":"MoreVeg Seeds","version":"1.0","type":"link"}