Digitalis purpurea Excelsior

Excelsior Digitalis

igitalis purpurea ‘Excelsior’ is an upright, clump-forming biennial to short-lived perennial valued for its tall, stately form and large, outward-facing tubular flowers in shades of pink, rose, purple, and white with speckled throats that bloom in early to mid-summer, creating a classic cottage-garden display, with lance-shaped green foliage forming a basal rosette that may remain semi-evergreen and can develop subtle yellowing in fall.


Mature Size:
Width: 12–18 in
Height: 36–48 in

USDA Zones: 4a–8b (typically grown as a biennial; readily reseeds in the garden)
Light: Full sun to partial shade
Blooms: Mixed-color tubular flowers with speckled throats in early to mid-summer
Soil: Well-drained, moderately fertile soil
Water: Moderate; prefers consistent moisture


🌸 Landscape Uses
Cottage gardens, borders, woodland edges, cut flowers, naturalized plantings


🌼 Attracts & Tolerances
Attracts: Bees, butterflies, hummingbirds
Tolerances: Deer resistant, partial shade

Plant type

Perennial

Height

36-48"

Width

12-18"

Hardiness zones

4–8

Sunlight

Full Sun, Partial Shade

Bloom time

Early Summer, Mid Summer

Leaf color

Green

Fall color

Green

Attracts

Bees, Birds, Butterflies

Soil

Loamy, Well Drained

Shape

Clump, Upright

Fragrant

Yes

Deer resistant

Yes

Drought tolerant

No