white form
Common Name: bellflower
Type: Herbaceous perennial
Family: Campanulaceae
Native Range: Eastern Europe, western Caucasus
Zone: 3 to 6
Height: 2.00 to 3.00 feet
Spread: 1.00 to 1.50 feet
Bloom Time: July to September
Bloom Description: Lilac to light purple
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Water: Medium
Maintenance: Low
Suggested Use: Naturalize
Flower: Showy
Tolerate: Drought
Culture
Easily grown in average, medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. Plants prefer cool summer climates. Plants are generally intolerant of the extreme heat of the deep South, and do not perform well south of USDA Zone 6. Appreciates some part afternoon shade in hot summer climates. Best in sandy loams. Established plants are tolerant of periods of drought. Plants perform best with regular and even moisture. Deadhead spent flowers to encourage additional bloom. Propagate by seed, cuttings or division.
Noteworthy Characteristics
Campanula bononiensis, commonly called European bellflower, is an upright perennial that is native from Europe to central Asia. It has escaped gardens and naturalized in a few locations in the State of Maine. Outward-drooping, bell-shaped, campanulate, lilac to light purple flowers (corolla to 3/4” long) in loose terminal spikes bloom July to September atop 2-3' tall stems rising from a rosette of petiolate, cordate-ovate, gray-green leaves. Sessile, serrate-margined, ovate to lanceolate stem leaves (to 3” long near the base of the stem) decrease in size going up the stem.
Genus name comes from the Latin campana meaning bell in reference to the bell-shaped flowers.
Specific epithet means of Bologna (formerly Bononia), Italy.
Problems
No serious insect or disease problems. Slugs and snails are occasional visitors. Watch for aphids.
Uses
Borders. Cottage gardens. Also effective in lightly shaded woodland areas where plants can be left alone to naturalize. Best planted in groups or massed.