Star of Bethlehem Campanula isophylla
Other Common Name(s):
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'
- 'Alba', 'Mayi'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Alba'
white flowers - 'Mayi'
Blue flowers with grey-green slightly hairy leaves
- 'Alba'
- 'Alba', 'Mayi'
- Tags:
-
-
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.
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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
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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
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Fruit:
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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
