Comments on: Clustered Bellflower and Iris

By: Northern Shade

Northern Shade — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 01:34:46 +0000

Sandy, these ones have been this colour combination of yellow and purple for the last ten years. I did have the opposite happen though, when some two toned purple iris suddenly appeared two years ago. I think that mine were probably self seeded. I have a lot of iris, so I must have missed dead heading some of them, and they cross pollinated, producing seed. Then I must not have noticed them until they matured and flowered. It's possible that this is what happened to yours. Perhaps some pollinators travelled a ways. I'm not sure of the percentage likelihood of solid purple iris still carrying the genetics for a two colour yellow and purple iris, but plant genetics is fascinating. Imagine all of the possibilities that breeders have to keep track of.

By: Sandy

Sandy — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 01:07:17 +0000

Your iris are very beautiful.

This may be a strange question, but where they ever a solid purple? I have the very same iris in my garden this year but they have been purple for over 20 years until now! I’m not sure what has happened. I haven’t changed anything in the soil. We live in an area with no immediate neighbours, etc. On google I can only find references to purple iris sometimes turning while or light blue.

Any thoughts are welcome.

By: Northern Shade

Northern Shade — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 01:40:02 +0000

Tina, you’re welcome, I’m glad it could help. There are so many wonderful bellflowers.

By: tina

tina — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 15:49:40 +0000

I am glad I ran into this post, as I had no idea what type of bellflowers I had. Two types, and this is one of them. Good descriptions too. Thanks.

By: Northern Shade

Northern Shade — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 19:24:53 +0000

Shady Gardener, I just picked up a new type of bellflower, but I’m not sure if it’s going to be hardy in zone 3. It might turn out to be an annual here.

By: Shady Gardener

Shady Gardener — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 15:53:49 +0000

You are right! There are many varieties of Bell Flowers. My favorite magazine in the world is Garden Gate. They often devote a lot of space to particular flower species. A couple of years ago they had a comprehensive article on Campanula and their growth habits. I really do like them, and would like to get a couple more varieties. :-)

By: Northern Shade

Northern Shade — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 20:52:58 +0000

Barbara, I used to grow Campanula persicifolia, I should try some again. I loved the blue spires. I’m fortunate that I don’t have a lot of slugs, since I have a lot of Campanula.

By: Barbara

Barbara — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 18:18:04 +0000

I prefer the campanula persicifolia in the shadow (blue and white sorts). In the sun I have c. glomerata and c. lactiflora. I like all kinds of campanulas as long as all the slugs in my garden do not attack them too much ;-) !! I have the combination, roses with campanulas.

By: Northern Shade

Northern Shade — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 23:39:35 +0000

Gail, the C. americana sounds great, a pretty bellflower with a bonus of pretty hummingbirds.
On the whole, I’ve found this genus mostly easy care. It sounds like C. americana might be flexible.

By: Northern Shade

Northern Shade — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 23:32:21 +0000

Krys, the Campanula glomerata (clustered bellflower) is really not fussy at all. It will grow in just about anything. If you have any, the next year you’ll be editing it.
The Campanula portenschlagiana and Campanula poscharskyana spread, but not as much as the clustered bellflower. They seem fairly tolerant of different soils. They are easy to pull back if you want. They tolerate shade.
The C. carpatica just expands gradually, not as much as the above bellflowers. It is very hardy and also tolerant of different soils.
C. rotundifolia will expand too, but is easy to deal with. It also is not fussy.
Some of the smallest bellflowers might like a bit better drainage.