Campanula poscharskyana

Description

Campanula poscharskyana – Serbian bellflower

Botanical name: Campanula poscharskyana
Common names: Serbian bellflower, trailing bellflower
Family: Campanulaceae (bellflower family)
Plant type: Herbaceous perennial
Habit: Low, trailing, spreading, mat-forming
Pot size: 2–3 litre pot
Eventual size: Approx. 15cm tall × spreading widely
Foliage: Small, roundish green leaves; semi-evergreen
Flowers: Masses of starry lavender-blue flowers over a very long period from early summer (June–September)
Scent: Not notably scented
Aspect / light: Full sun to partial shade
Soil: Most soils; moist but well-drained, fertile; any pH
Hardiness: RHS H7 (very hardy, below −20°C); USDA zones 3–9
Exposure: Sheltered or open
Native range: Garden form; bellflowers are native to Europe and Asia
Toxicity / pet & child safety: Generally considered non-toxic to people and pets

Campanula poscharskyana, Serbian bellflower, is a tough, spreading perennial smothered in starry lavender-blue flowers all summer. Superb, drought-tolerant groundcover for walls, paving, banks and gravel.

GardenAdvice notes

A classic, much-loved cottage-garden perennial, the bellflower (Campanula) is grown for its charming bell- or star-shaped flowers, typically in shades of blue, violet, lilac, pink or white, carried generously over a long summer season. Easy, hardy and reliable, and loved by bees, it is a mainstay of cottage, mixed and informal borders.

Growing & planting

Plant in spring or autumn in most moist but well-drained, fertile soils in full sun to partial shade — it is easy and adaptable. It thrives in sun and is superb in walls, paving and gravel. Space appropriately for its size. Water while establishing.

Care & maintenance

Low-maintenance. Deadhead regularly to prolong flowering, and cut the whole plant back after the main flush to tidy it and often encourage a second flush. It spreads and self-seeds vigorously, so cut it back after flowering and pull out excess to keep it in bounds. Cut down old growth in late winter. Lift and divide congested clumps every few years in spring.

Propagation

• Division: Lift and divide established clumps in spring, as growth begins.
• Cuttings: Take basal cuttings in spring.

Pests & diseases

Generally trouble-free. Slugs and snails can graze the young growth, and powdery mildew or rust occasionally occur. Its main trait is vigorous spreading and self-seeding. Otherwise easy and reliable.

Uses in the garden

Superb as tough, long-flowering groundcover, cascading over walls and banks, colonising paving and gravel, and softening edges, where its starry lavender-blue flowers cover it for months; ideal for hot, dry, difficult spots.

Wildlife value

Bellflowers are excellent for pollinators: their bell-shaped flowers are very attractive to bees and other pollinating insects over a long summer season.

Toxicity & safety

Bellflower is generally regarded as non-toxic to people and pets.

GardenAdvice tip

Serbian bellflower is one of the toughest, most generous groundcovers you can grow — it smothers itself in starry lavender-blue flowers for months and will happily colonise a dry wall, paving cracks, gravel or a sunny bank. Just be aware it spreads and self-seeds enthusiastically, so plant it where you want plenty of it, and shear it back after flowering to tidy it and keep it in bounds.

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