Camelot
What's special about Camelot
First-year-flowering series with strong 3–4 ft spikes in named colors (rose, cream, lavender, white).
Growing this variety
Camelot follows the same growing basics as Foxglove. Variety-specific maturity above; everything else below applies to the whole Foxglove family.
Germination
Spacing & depth
How to plant
Surface-sow the dust-fine seed on damp mix — mix with sand for even scatter, do not cover. Year 1 forms a leafy rosette; year 2 sends up a 3–5 ft flower spike. Cut the main spike after bloom to trigger side spikes.
Grower's tip
ALL PARTS ARE POISONOUS — the source of the heart medication digitalis. Do not plant where children or livestock may graze. Reseeds freely in cool moist beds.
Soil preferences
Well-drained garden soil. Native/wildflower species prefer lean soil; cutting flowers prefer richer beds.
6.0–7.0
Work 1 in of compost into beds before sowing. Skip nitrogen fertilizer on wildflowers — it favors foliage over blooms.
Watering
1 in per week during establishment, drought-tolerant once rooted for most species.
Deep, infrequent soakings at the base. Overhead water on ornamentals promotes botrytis and rust.
Overwatered: rotted crowns, mildew, floppy stems. Underwatered: small blooms, curled leaves, quick fade.
Either works — Bottom-water seed trays and young potted annuals to protect fragile stems from damping-off. Top-water established plants at the base in the morning so foliage dries by night. Avoid overhead sprinkling on open blooms.
Temperature tolerance
60–80°F (16–27°C) ideal for most annuals
50–65°F (10–18°C)
Cool-season annuals (larkspur, poppy, snapdragon) tolerate light frost; warm-season annuals (zinnia, cosmos, marigold) are frost-tender.
Container growing
Possible with the right cultivar
8–14 in (20–35 cm) wide
Compact and dwarf types do best in pots; tall cutting flowers need staking.
Succession planting
Sow cutting flowers (zinnia, cosmos, sunflower) every 3 weeks through midsummer for continuous cut stems.
Detailed harvesting
Cut in early morning when stems are turgid. For cutting varieties, harvest when the bud is just showing color and 1–2 outer petals have opened.
Post-harvest storage & preservation
Immediately re-cut stems underwater and place in clean cool water for 4 hrs before arranging. Petals can be dried on screens for potpourri or crafts.
Culinary, medicinal & other uses
Cut flowers, dried arrangements, pollinator habitat, edible garnishes (borage, nasturtium, calendula, viola).
Medicinal or traditional uses are shared for interest only — this is not medical advice. Consult a qualified professional before using any plant medicinally.
Seed saving
Mostly insect-pollinated (outcrossing).
For pure strains, isolate 150–800 ft or bag heads. Wildflower mixes are meant to cross freely.
Stop deadheading favorite blooms; let heads dry brown and rattling on the stem, then collect into a paper bag.
Your zone's planting calendar
Pick your USDA hardiness zone and we'll estimate the key dates for foxglove in your area. These are regional averages — always check your own last-frost forecast before sowing.
My Camelot Foxglove notes
Camelot Foxglove seeds on hand
Track packets and loose seeds you already have. Private to your account.
Par level — leave at 0 for no alert. Anything below par shows on Seed Starting and your shopping list.
From your kitchen — grow foxglove from what you already have
Deadhead less. Let the best blooms fade and set seed on the plant — that's your next year's packet.
- 1Mark 2–3 of your favorite flowers with a bit of yarn and stop deadheading them.
- 2Wait until the seed head or pod dries fully on the plant — brown, papery, and rattling.
- 3Cut whole heads into a paper bag on a dry day; shake or rub to free seed.
- 4Sieve out chaff and store cool and dry in a labeled envelope.
Storage: 2–5 years for most flower seed.
Order more seeds
Running low? Reorder from one of these seed stores.
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Other Foxglove varieties
Digitalis Mix
Year 2The tall classic 4–5 ft spikes of white, pink, rose, cream, and purple thimbles with speckled throats.
Foxy
150 days (year 1)Compact 30 in strain that blooms in the first year from an early sowing. Same speckled pastel palette.
Dalmatian
Year 1Compact 24–30 in first-year-flowering series bred for pot production and containers.
Common Foxglove (D. purpurea)
Year 2The classic biennial with tall speckled thimbles in purple, pink, and white.
Small-Flowered Foxglove (D. parviflora)
Year 2Compact species with small rusty-orange flowers; more drought-tolerant than common foxglove.