Peach-leaved Bellflower Campanula persicifolia
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Campanula amygdalifolia
- Neocodon persicifolius
- Phonetic Spelling
- kam-pan-YOO-luh per-sis-ih-FOH-lee-uh
- Description
-
Peach-leaved bellflower is a clump-forming, herbaceous perennial native to Europe and western Asia, and is typically found in mountain meadows and shrubby slopes. It has become naturalized by escaping from cultivation in the northeastern United States and eastern Canada. It has tall, stiff, sturdy stems, up to 1.5 to 3 feet tall, displaying clusters of large, broad, outward-facing, bell-shaped white to violet-blue flowers from June to July. The leaves are bright green and resemble the leaves found on a peach tree. This species is a member of the bellflower family (Campanulaceae). The genus name, Campanula, is Latin for campana, meaning bell, and refers to the plant's bell-shaped flowers. The specific epithet, persicifolia, means "having leaves like a peach"; hence, its common name.
This plant is easily grown in average, medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. They prefer cool-weather climates and require afternoon shade and additional water in plant hardiness zone 7. Deadhead the spent blooms to encourage reblooming. Bellflowers will self-seed in optimal conditions, but are not invasive. Clumps can be divided every 2-4 years as needed.
The upright and sturdy stems originate from basal rosettes of narrow, leathery, green leaves. The bell-shaped flowers are terminally arranged as racemes on top of the stems.
The racemes of the bell-shaped flowers are showy and make good cut flowers. Use this plant in the perennial border, in groupings, open woodland, or naturalized areas where it can spread. Many cultivars and varieties exist to increase the range of size and flower color available for planting.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant insect or disease problems. Monitor for slugs, snails, and aphids.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Alba'
2 to 3 feet tall, bright green leaves, pure white flowers - 'Blue Bloomers'
2 to 3 feet tall with large, violet-blue flowers - 'Blue-eyed Blonde'
8 inches to 2 feet tall, bright golden leaves in the spring, change to lime green during the summer, violet-blue flowers - 'Chettle Charm'
2 to 3 feet tall, bright green leaves, creamy white flowers with pale blue edges - 'Kelly's Gold'
1.5 to 2 feet tall, golden leaves, large, outward-facing, white flowers with blue edges - 'Pride of Exmouth'
1.5 to 3 feet tall, green leaves, large, violet--blue, bell-shaped, double flowers - ‘Takion Blue’
1 to 2 feet tall, medium size, mounded habit, bright green leaves, lavender blue, up and outward-facing flowers - ‘Takion White’
16 to 20 inches tall, bright green leaves, bell-shaped, 2.5 inches wide, bright white flowers - 'Telham Beauty'
3 to 4 feet tall, bright green leaves, large, outward-facing, pale blue flowers
- 'Alba'
- 'Alba', 'Blue Bloomers', 'Blue-eyed Blonde', 'Chettle Charm', 'Kelly's Gold', 'Pride of Exmouth', ‘Takion Blue’, ‘Takion White’, 'Telham Beauty'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Alba'
2 to 3 feet tall, bright green leaves, pure white flowers - 'Blue Bloomers'
2 to 3 feet tall with large, violet-blue flowers - 'Blue-eyed Blonde'
8 inches to 2 feet tall, bright golden leaves in the spring, change to lime green during the summer, violet-blue flowers - 'Chettle Charm'
2 to 3 feet tall, bright green leaves, creamy white flowers with pale blue edges - 'Kelly's Gold'
1.5 to 2 feet tall, golden leaves, large, outward-facing, white flowers with blue edges - 'Pride of Exmouth'
1.5 to 3 feet tall, green leaves, large, violet--blue, bell-shaped, double flowers - ‘Takion Blue’
1 to 2 feet tall, medium size, mounded habit, bright green leaves, lavender blue, up and outward-facing flowers - ‘Takion White’
16 to 20 inches tall, bright green leaves, bell-shaped, 2.5 inches wide, bright white flowers - 'Telham Beauty'
3 to 4 feet tall, bright green leaves, large, outward-facing, pale blue flowers
- 'Alba'
- 'Alba', 'Blue Bloomers', 'Blue-eyed Blonde', 'Chettle Charm', 'Kelly's Gold', 'Pride of Exmouth', ‘Takion Blue’, ‘Takion White’, 'Telham Beauty'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Campanula
- Species:
- persicifolia
- Family:
- Campanulaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Europe to West Siberia, Turkey to the North Caucasus
- Distribution:
- Native: Albania, Austria, Baltic States, Belarus, Belgium, Central European Russia, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, East European Russia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Kazakhstan, Netherlands, North Caucasus, North European Russia, Northwest European Russian, Norway, Poland, Romania, South European Russia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, and West Siberia. Introduced: British Columbia, Great Britain, Ireland, New Brunswick, Ontario, Quebec, and the United States--CT, MA, MI, MN, MT, NY, NC, OR, PA, UT, VT, VA, and WI.
- Wildlife Value:
- Attracts hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies.
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Attracts Pollinators
- Colorful
- Dimensions:
- Height: 1 ft. 6 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Deciduous
- Semi-evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Erect
- Mounding
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
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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:
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Description:
- The fruit is a strongly-veined conical capsule.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Blue
- Purple/Lavender
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Raceme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Good Cut
- Long Bloom Season
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Bell
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- fused petals
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- The flowers are large, outward-facing, bell-shaped, measuring 1.5 inches wide, and appear on terminal racemes. They occur in shades of white, purples, and blues in late spring to early summer. They are held well above the foliage on erect, slender stems.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Deciduous
- Semi-evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Leathery
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Rosulate
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Linear
- Spatulate
- Leaf Margin:
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- The leaves are arranged in basal rosettes and are bright green, narrow, toothed, leathery, measuring 4 to 8 inches long, and are slightly spatulate. They may be semi-evergreen to evergreen, depending on the winter climate. The stem leaves are lanceolate to linear with rounded teeth on the margins, measuring 4 inches in length.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Angular
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- The stems are stiff, erect, unbranched, sturdy, slightly angular, and nearly leafless.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Meadow
- Naturalized Area
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Cottage Garden
- Cutting Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Rock Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Small groups
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Hummingbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Rabbits
