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Native alternative(s) for Campanula isophylla:
Campanula divaricata Campanula divaricata
Plants that fill a similar niche:
Viola blanda Viola blanda
Viola sororia Viola papilionacea
Viola striata Viola striata

Star of Bethlehem Campanula isophylla

Other plants called Star of Bethlehem:

Phonetic Spelling
kam-PAN-yoo-lah eye-so-FYE-lah
Description

Campanula isophylla is a tender perennial, only marginally frost hardy and often grown as an annual or houseplant. They need about 15 hours of daylight before flower buds will develop. Supplementary artificial light can induce the plants to bloom a little earlier in summer. They require consistent moisture and hey should be watered regularly to keep the potting mixture thoroughly moist but without standing water. Be careful when handling the stems and leaves as they are very brittle.

 

 

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Alba'
    white flowers
  • 'Mayi'
    Blue flowers with grey-green slightly hairy leaves
'Alba', 'Mayi'
Tags:
#hummingbird friendly#houseplant#nectar plant#dwarf#specialized bees#cascading#trailing#herbaceous perennial#delicate#milky sap#groundcover#rock garden#pollinator plant#wet soils tolerant#butterfly friendly#partial shade tolerant#bee friendly#container plant#perennial#climber#wildlife friendly
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Alba'
    white flowers
  • 'Mayi'
    Blue flowers with grey-green slightly hairy leaves
'Alba', 'Mayi'
Tags:
#hummingbird friendly#houseplant#nectar plant#dwarf#specialized bees#cascading#trailing#herbaceous perennial#delicate#milky sap#groundcover#rock garden#pollinator plant#wet soils tolerant#butterfly friendly#partial shade tolerant#bee friendly#container plant#perennial#climber#wildlife friendly
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Campanula
    Species:
    isophylla
    Family:
    Campanulaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Annual
    Perennial
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Division
    Root Cutting
    Seed
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    NW. Italy (Coast SW. of Savona) in the Italian Alps
    Wildlife Value:
    Attracts bees;  members of the genus Campanula support the following specialized bee: Colletes brevicornis.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Annual
    Ground Cover
    Herbaceous Perennial
    Houseplant
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Habit/Form:
    Cascading
    Climbing
    Growth Rate:
    Rapid
    Maintenance:
    Low
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil Texture:
    High Organic Matter
    Loam (Silt)
    Sand
    Soil pH:
    Acid (<6.0)
    Neutral (6.0-8.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
    Available Space To Plant:
    12 inches-3 feet
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Type:
    Capsule
    Fruit Length:
    < 1 inch
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Blue
    Purple/Lavender
    White
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Corymb
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Long Bloom Season
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Fall
    Summer
    Flower Shape:
    Bell
    Cup
    Star
    Flower Petals:
    4-5 petals/rays
    Flower Size:
    1-3 inches
    Flower Description:
    Flowers bloom midsummer and autumn, continuing in succession for two or three months, becoming so numerous that they hide the foliage. Single flowers last 3-4 days.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Alternate
    Leaf Shape:
    Cordate
    Leaf Margin:
    Dentate
    Serrate
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Description:
    small, heart-shaped tooth-edged leaves are bright green and somewhat brittle. If stems or leaf stalks are broken they exude a milky white sap.
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Green
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Form:
    Straight
    Stem Description:
    Stems, up to 12 inch long, will trail down or can be trained upward on a small trellis.
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Container
    Hanging Baskets
    Houseplants
    Patio
    Landscape Theme:
    Pollinator Garden
    Rock Garden
    Design Feature:
    Border
    Attracts:
    Butterflies
    Hummingbirds
    Pollinators
    Specialized Bees
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Wet Soil