Re: Campanula primulifolia

Jane,

Correct spelling is Campanula primulaefolia, in case you need to look it up,
native to moist, partially shaded situaltions in Spain and Portugal.  It is
extremely easy from seed, seldom sold in nurseries (hope to remedy this),
and completely adaptable to almost any situation with partial shade (it
would probably take full sun near the coast).  Blooms from mid-June to
mid-July for us in Pasadena.  The leaf rosette really does look like a
slighty larger-scale English primrose.  From this rises a straight stem, 2-3
ft. high, surrounded by outward-facing, shallowly cupped, 1-in. bells of
clear lavender-blue with a white base and blue-violet styles.  Once you let
it go to seed (like most campanulas the seeds are fine as dust) you will
find it comes up all over your garden, but it isn't a pest and is easily
transplanted to where you want it or just pulled up if you have too many.
It is surprisingly drought-tolerant.  It comes up in the cracks at the edge
of a concrete driveway, with minimal water, and clumps have bloomed
regularly for five years, although the stems there are only 12-18 in. tall.
In fact, if you give it enough water, it gets very lush and tall, but it
falls over when it's in full bloom.  I think it is a very elegant plant.


John C. MacGregor IV
Horticultural Consultant
815 Park Avenue #4
South Pasadena, CA 91030-2788
(626) 799-1554
jonivy@earthlink.net
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