Peachleaf BellFlower: An Easy Perennial

By Jos Van Hage

If you are new to gardening or are looking for a hardy, easy to grow perennial then the Peachleaf Bellflower (Campanula persicifolia) may be what you are looking for...

It is a member of the popular Campanulaceae family and gets its name from the bell shaped flowers that can be seen blooming throughout the summer.

The large, showy, blue or white, outfacing flowers grow on tall, sturdy stems that rise above the foliage and depending on conditions can grow 2-3 feet tall. They make excellent cut flowers and will last 7-10 days in a vase if cut just as the buds are ready to open. They are one of the longer blooming perennials and will continue to bloom if you remove the old finished flowers and then the stems.

When deadheading you will notice that they have a sticky white sap. The plant grows in clumps, and has dark green, narrow, pointed leaves similar to those of a peach. The foliage remains green throughout the entire season and well into the fall.

The Peachleaf Bell flower, grows best in full sun to partial shade in a well-drained evenly moist soil but it does seem to tolerate many growing conditions.

We have several in our landscape at home in different areas and they all do well. It is resistant to pest and disease and does not require a lot of effort. They are tolerant to dry soil but perform much better if they receive water during dry spells.

The bellflower is known for its ability to self-sow but by deadheading the old flowers this can be prevented. If, however, they re-seed themselves the new little plants are easily transplanted or can be pulled out and tossed away. It does not spread aggressively.

They can be started from seed or be bought as a plant and after 2-3 years are easily divided in either the spring or fall. It is a very easy plant to grow and look after and is very pretty. It has been grown for centuries in cottage gardens and is still as popular and rewarding, today in the landscape as it was many years ago.

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