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Herbaceous Perennial

Campanula lactiflora

milky bellflower

An upright perennial to 1.2-1.5m tall. Conical panicles of white to blue, open, bell-shaped flowers are borne on strongly branched stems from summer to early autumn

Other common names

milk-white bellflower

Synonyms

Campanula celtidifolia

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Ultimate height

1–1.5 metres

Time to ultimate height

2–5 years

Ultimate spread

0.1–0.5 metres

Chalk

Clay

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Moist but well–drained, Well–drained

pH

Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun
Partial shade

Aspect

North–facing or West–facing or South–facing or East–facing

Exposure

Exposed or Sheltered

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Campanulaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Columnar upright
Genus: Campanula may be annuals, herbaceous or evergreen perennials, with bell or star-shaped, often blue, flowers in late spring or summer
Name status: Correct
Plant range: Caucasus

How to grow

Cultivation

Requires a fertile, moist but well-drained, neutral to alkaline soil in sun or partial shade. The delicate flower colour is best preserved in partial shade. The plants may require staking in exposed positions

Propagation

Propagate by seed in containers in a cold frame in spring. The plants will self seed, if allowed to do so and produce plants with some colour variation. Divide clumps in spring or early autumn. Take stem-tip cuttings from new growth after flowering

Suggested planting locations and garden types

City and courtyard gardens
Cottage and informal garden
Wildlife gardens
Flower borders and beds

Pruning

Cut back after flowering to prevent self-seeding and to encourage a second flush of flowers

Pests

May be susceptible to slugs and snails

Diseases

May be susceptible to powdery mildews and a rust

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