Tall is the operative word for Campanula americana. In my garden, it can easily top 7 feet in height in more sunny conditions. It is a ra...Read Morether lanky, but attractive plant with abundant blue flowers that last for quite a few weeks. The major pollinators appear to mostly be small hover flies. I don't see bees/bumblebees visiting the flowers, but the hover flies are in great abundance and are fun to watch.
An easy way to identify this plant, when not in bloom, is by its milky sap. (I don't know why this isn't mentioned more often?)
The only negative thing about Campanula americana is that it is prone to flopping, especially in less sunny spots. In these situations (such as bright shade) it will still flower but needs the support of surrounding plants or needs to be staked.
Campanula americana is a biennial and is easy to miss in the first year, only growing a couple of feet tall. It blooms the second year and should reseed in the garden. This is one of those native plants that seems to do just fine by directly-sowing in the fall and letting nature do the cold stratification for you.
This one acts as a biennial for me here in Zone 3/4 (central British Columbia). Makes a rosette the first year, then blooms itself to dea...Read Moreth the second year. I collect seed to re-sow. There are sometimes a few self sown seedlings. Very pretty flowers when examined close up, but too small for much garden impact. Nice in a mixed planting. Reasonably long bloom time. I like it.
(Debra) Derby, KS (Zone 6a) | July 2015 | positive
Started from seed thrown out in Fall, came up the following spring, it is in part shade and doing well for the past two years, the shady ...Read Moreside patch is being moved to the fence since the seed washed forward with rain. beautiful, looks good with cardinal flower and white salvia.
my plant off the patio came back in same location, but it was probably from seed. I have that area tagged, and it is about a foot away from where it was last year. Will see if annual or perennial next spring if the ones I move this fall come back in exact location.
Really attractive sparkly blue star flower for shady spots. Does better with moist soil.
To kneff: I strongly suspect th...Read Moree plant you are complaining about eradicating is not the native species, but a similar Eurasian bellflower (Campanula rapunculoides). C. Americana spreads readily from seed, but not runners, while C. rapuculoides is notorious for spreading into surrounding space, including sunny, drier spots that the native doesn't do well in. Rapunculoides' flower is more bell shaped, while americana is more open star shape. So, be sure you aren't damning the wrong plant. It would be a shame if someone passed up this truly beautiful, well-behaved native wildflower on the basis of your mistaking the invasive introduced plant with the native.
I bought this plant at a Dixon Garden and Gallery sale - I thought that meant it should do well in this climate. But after the first bloo...Read Morem, which was beautiful, I deadheaded it and the whole plant dried up, stems and all. I want to know if it's caput or might come back.
This is an Iowa native plant so I used it in a part - shade rain garden/stormwater infiltration area. The plant has flourished and looks ...Read Moregreat. I planted it with Showy Goldenrod and put Cardinal Plants in front, It is tall but really looks great at the back of the garden. The color is outstanding, definitly one of the most interesting and true blue Iowa native forbes.
I first saw this plant growing on the side of a shady gravel road in the fall. I was struck by it's lavender blue blooms and the fact tha...Read Moret it was 4' to 5' tall and not very wide. I broke the top off, brought it home and laid it in the garden. I wasn't very hopeful. Later that fall I saw two separate rosettes. I almost pulled them thinking they were weeds, but something told me to wait. Next spring they grew 4' tall and bloomed. I've had them since 1994 and I love them! I don't do anything special and they grow in almost all conditions. They are best for the back of the bed as they look a little weedy, but keep them close so you can enjoy the detail of the blooms.
I have been trying to eradicate this plant for 30 years. Yes, it is pretty, but it reproduces both by seed and by underground roots, any ...Read Morepiece of which will become a new plant. It will grow in sidewalk cracks, pathways, and in the middle of any perennial. Although it is an exact lookalike, It is not the tame "ladybells" (adenophora), from which it can be distinguished by its lack of scent. Redeeming qualities: it will grow in shade or sun, and it makes a great cut flower. Grow at your own risk!
This tall native wildflower is always a welcome sight in late July and August. It grows along streams and wet ditches in the shade of tre...Read Morees, often in the company of the similarly striking Lobelia cardinalis (Cardinal Flower). I have not yet attempted to grow it at home, so I don't know much about it's seeding, etc. Identified from Audubon's Field Guide to North American Wildflowers. There is some controversy over the status of this plant; several websites say it is an annual and others say it is a hardy perennial. If anyone has been growing it in their garden and knows for sure, please let me know so I can choose one option or the other. Thanks.
Tall is the operative word for Campanula americana. In my garden, it can easily top 7 feet in height in more sunny conditions. It is a ra...Read More
This one acts as a biennial for me here in Zone 3/4 (central British Columbia). Makes a rosette the first year, then blooms itself to dea...Read More
Started from seed thrown out in Fall, came up the following spring, it is in part shade and doing well for the past two years, the shady ...Read More
Really attractive sparkly blue star flower for shady spots. Does better with moist soil.
To kneff: I strongly suspect th...Read More
I am planting 2 of these in a shady bed off my deck along with some cardinal flowers.
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I bought this plant at a Dixon Garden and Gallery sale - I thought that meant it should do well in this climate. But after the first bloo...Read More
This is an Iowa native plant so I used it in a part - shade rain garden/stormwater infiltration area. The plant has flourished and looks ...Read More
I first saw this plant growing on the side of a shady gravel road in the fall. I was struck by it's lavender blue blooms and the fact tha...Read More
I have been trying to eradicate this plant for 30 years. Yes, it is pretty, but it reproduces both by seed and by underground roots, any ...Read More
This tall native wildflower is always a welcome sight in late July and August. It grows along streams and wet ditches in the shade of tre...Read More