Campanula "Summertime Blues" Plants

The bellflower family has more than 300 species.

Bellflowers (Campanula spp.) are woodland darlings. Their cup-shaped flowers may face cheerfully upward or, depending on the species, demurely keep their petals facing down. If they find your garden to their liking, however, most campanulas aren't shy about taking over new territory. Some species, such as great bellflower (Campanula latifolia), combine their aggressiveness with a relatively short bloom season. Campanula "Summertime Blues" is a breath of fresh air, combining a long bloom season with good manners.

Appearance

This bellflower lacks the robust growth of Summertime Blues.

Summertime Blues is a hybrid between C. punctata and C. trachelium. It takes the best characteristics of both parent plants to produce a plant with 2-inch, silvery-violet, downward facing bells. The numerous flower clusters last roughly five days before fading, and more buds appear from May through September. The seeds are sterile, keeping your garden neat, and the serrated oval leaves mound to 12-inches tall. The flower stems rise above the foliage, reaching 24 inches.

Care

Its creators list Summertime Blues as hardy in USDA zones 5 to 8, but gardeners report success to zone 3. Like most members of the Campanula family, Summertime Blues prefers average, well-drained soil and sun. It performs best in cool-summer areas where nighttime temperatures drop below 70 degrees Fahrenheit, but may grow well in hotter gardens if given partial shade and adequate water. Other than snails that find the leaves tasty, bellflowers don't have many pests but are not for dry locations.

Division

Because Summertime Blues has a clumping habit and does not produce viable seed, you must divide the mature plant or take cuttings. Divide bellflowers in spring, before they begin to bloom, or at least six weeks before the first fall frost to allow for root growth. Take terminal stem cuttings in spring for the best chance of success. Summertime Blues has an average lifespan of just five years, so plan your divisions accordingly.

Companion Plantings

Strap-like daylily leaves contrast with the serrated leaves of Summertime Blues.

Because Summertime Blues grows as a dense mound, it has leaves down to the ground and does not produce the spindly growth of some bellflower species. This habit means you do not need a foreground plant unless your garden plan calls for it. Plant seasonal bloomers for an ever-changing theme -- use pink carnations (Dianthus spp.) for a midsummer purple-pink combination, use yellow daylilies (Hemerocallis) for a complementary accent or plant tall garden phlox (Phlox spp.) as a background.

References

• "Perennials for Every Purpose"; Larry Hodgson; 2000
• University of Wisconsin; Herbaceous Perennials; Ed Lyon; 2009
• Free Patents Online: United States Patent USPP19261

Resources

• Northern Shade Gardening: Campanula 'Summertime Blues' a Tall Bellflower
• Northscaping: Summertime Blues Bellflower
• University of Vermont; Campanula; Dr. Leonard Perry