Growli
Let's go

Plant care

Foxglove 'Camelot Lavender' (Camelot lavender foxglove) care

Digitalis purpurea

Also called Camelot lavender foxglove, Common foxglove, Fairy thimbles.

RHS H6USDA 4–9Toxic to petsIndoor 120–150 cm tall in flower

Watering rhythm

Bright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)

Once or twice a week in dry conditions, ensuring even moisture during flower spike development

Jump to schedule→Get smart reminders in the app

Light

Bright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)

Soil

Fertile, humus-rich, moist but well-drained loam or woodland soil

Humidity

50–75%

Temp

−15–30°C

Pet safety

Toxic to pets

Mature size

120–150 cm tall in flower

Care at a glance

Light

Bright but filtered. Foxglove 'Camelot Lavender' burns within days in unfiltered south-facing summer sun, and stops growing within months in deep shade. Thrives in partial shade to full sun. In UK conditions, a lightly shaded position under trees or against a north-facing wall suits the woodland-edge habitat. Strong afternoon sun may scorch leaves. If you only have a south window, set the plant back 1.5 m or hang a sheer curtain — both knock the intensity down into the right range.

Watering

Watering foxglove 'camelot lavender': once or twice a week in dry conditions, ensuring even moisture during flower spike development. The number that matters isn't the day of the week — it's how dry the top 2-3 cm of the pot feels. A finger in the soil tells you more than a watering app. After every watering, tip the saucer. Keep soil consistently moist but never waterlogged. Drought stress during bud formation shortens the flowering display. Mulch around the base to retain moisture.

Soil and pot

Foxglove 'Camelot Lavender' grows best in fertile, humus-rich, moist but well-drained loam or woodland soil. Tolerates slightly acid to neutral pH (5.5–7.0). Incorporate organic matter at planting. Avoid heavy, wet clay without drainage improvement. A pot with a working drainage hole is non-negotiable for this species — even free-draining mix will turn soggy in a closed planter. If you love the look of a decorative pot without a hole, use it as a cachepot around an inner nursery pot you can lift out to water.

Humidity and temperature

Foxglove 'Camelot Lavender' sits happiest at around 50–75% humidity and −15–30°C (5–86°F). Prefers the moderate to high humidity typical of UK summers. Mulching retains soil moisture and creates the cool root run the plant prefers. If you keep the room above −15–30°C year-round and avoid placing the plant near a cold draught, a hot radiator, or an air-conditioning vent, you have already handled the two biggest indoor stressors.

Fertilising

Feed foxglove 'camelot lavender' sparingly. Apply a balanced slow-release fertiliser in spring during the second year (rosette stage). A high-potassium liquid feed monthly during the flowering season improves spike length and flower number. Skip fertiliser entirely on a stressed, recently-repotted, or actively wilting plant — fertiliser salts make damage worse, not better. Wait for a round of healthy new growth before resuming a feeding rhythm.

Common problems

Below are the issues we see most often on foxglove 'camelot lavender' in the Growli community. Each is annotated with the most common cause so you know where to start.

  • Crown rot — Overwintering rosettes can rot in waterlogged soil. Improve drainage or grow in raised beds.
  • Aphids — May cluster on flower spikes. Natural predators usually manage populations; use insecticidal soap if severe.
  • Powdery mildew — Can affect foliage in dry summers. Improve air circulation; cut back badly affected leaves.
  • Short lifespan — Most foxgloves are biennial. Ensure a succession of plants by allowing or encouraging self-seeding each year.
  • Slug and snail damage — Young rosettes are vulnerable. Use beer traps or wildlife-friendly pellets to protect establishing plants.

Companion plants

Foxglove 'Camelot Lavender' pairs well with Aquilegia vulgaris, Geranium pratense, Alchemilla mollis, and Polemonium caeruleum. These are species with similar light and water needs, so you can group them in the same room or on the same shelf and water as a batch.

Propagation

Sow seed in situ in late spring to early summer for flowering the following year. Seed is tiny and needs light to germinate — sow on the soil surface and press lightly. Self-sown seedlings are prolific in suitable conditions. Propagation is the cheapest, most satisfying way to expand a collection — and it doubles as insurance against losing a mature plant to an accident. Take a backup cutting once the parent is established and healthy.

Toxicity to pets

Foxglove 'Camelot Lavender' is toxic to pets. All parts of Digitalis purpurea contain highly toxic cardiac glycosides (primarily digitoxin and digoxin). The ASPCA lists Digitalis as toxic to dogs, cats, and horses — ingestion can cause cardiac arrhythmias, vomiting, and death. Even small amounts are dangerous; keep all parts away from pets and children. If you keep cats, dogs, or curious children in the house, weigh placement carefully — a high shelf or a hanging planter is enough for casual safety. For severe ingestion incidents, call your local vet and the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (in the US, 888-426-4435).

Pet-safety status is sourced from the ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List, which catalogues the most-asked-about plants for cats, dogs, and horses.

Foxglove 'Camelot Lavender' care — frequently asked questions

What is the common name for Digitalis purpurea?

Digitalis purpurea is most commonly called Foxglove 'Camelot Lavender', but it is also known as Camelot lavender foxglove, Common foxglove, Fairy thimbles. The names refer to the same species, so care instructions for Foxglove 'Camelot Lavender' apply identically to anything sold as Camelot lavender foxglove.

How much light does foxglove 'camelot lavender' need?

Foxglove 'Camelot Lavender' grows best in bright indirect light (just back from a sunny window). Thrives in partial shade to full sun. In UK conditions, a lightly shaded position under trees or against a north-facing wall suits the woodland-edge habitat. Strong afternoon sun may scorch leaves.

How often should I water foxglove 'camelot lavender'?

Water foxglove 'camelot lavender' once or twice a week in dry conditions, ensuring even moisture during flower spike development. Keep soil consistently moist but never waterlogged. Drought stress during bud formation shortens the flowering display. Mulch around the base to retain moisture. The finger-test (or lifting the pot to feel its weight) beats a fixed weekly calendar because pot size, light, and season all change how fast the soil dries.

Is foxglove 'camelot lavender' toxic to cats and dogs?

Foxglove 'Camelot Lavender' is toxic to pets. All parts of Digitalis purpurea contain highly toxic cardiac glycosides (primarily digitoxin and digoxin). The ASPCA lists Digitalis as toxic to dogs, cats, and horses — ingestion can cause cardiac arrhythmias, vomiting, and death. Even small amounts are dangerous; keep all parts away from pets and children.

What USDA hardiness zone does foxglove 'camelot lavender' grow in?

Foxglove 'Camelot Lavender' is rated for USDA zone 4–9 and RHS hardiness H6. Outside that range, grow it as a container plant that overwinters indoors before the first hard frost.

Foxglove 'Camelot Lavender' deep-dive guides

Every aspect of foxglove 'camelot lavender' care, each with its own calibrated guide:

Featured in these plant shortlists

Foxglove 'Camelot Lavender' qualifies for 5 curated Growli shortlists — each one filtered objectively from our structured plant-care library, so the selection is consistent and checkable:

Related guides

Foxglove 'Camelot Lavender' is also known as Camelot lavender foxglove, Common foxglove, and Fairy thimbles.