Star Bellflower Campanula isophylla

Italian bellflower is a tender, trailing perennial native to northwest Italy and is a member of the bellflower family (Campanulaceae). It grows up to 8 inches tall with soft stems, heart-shaped, pale green leaves, and purplish-blue, star-shaped flowers. The genus name, Campanula, is derived from the Latin word campana, meaning bell, and refers to its bell-shaped flowers. The specific epithet, isophylla, is derived from two Greek words, isos, meaning "equal," and phyllon, meaning "leaf."

This plant prefers full sun to partial shade and moist, well-drained, organic soils of chalk, sand, or loam. Acid to neutral pH is recommended. It is winter hardy in USDA Plant Hardiness Zones 7a to 10b. It is only marginally frost-hardy and is 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 should be watered regularly to keep the potting mixture thoroughly moist, but avoid overwatering. As a houseplant, use a potting mix with the addition of perlite or sand to promote drainage. Be careful when handling the stems and leaves, as they are very brittle. To encourage reblooming, pinch back the tips of the stems during their growing season, and cut dead stems to the base of the plant at the end of the growing season. This plant may be propagated by stem cuttings or division. 

The plant's ultimate height is from 4 to 20 inches tall and equally as wide. The brittle leaves have toothed margins and measure up to 1.5 inches long. The flowers appear during mid-summer to fall and grow upright, with bell or star-shaped blooms. They measure 1.5 inches in diameter. The flowers are usually purplish-blue, occasionally white.

Italian bellflower is ideal for containers or hanging baskets. It is also recommended for use as a border, or for a cottage garden, patio, or greenhouse.

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:  Monitor for slugs, snails, aphids, vine weevils, and spider mites. Susceptible to rust, leaf spot, and powdery mildew.