Bavaria White

Class

Dicotyledons

Division

Angiospermae

Family

Campanulaceae

Order

Asterales

Genus

Campanula

Species

cochleariifolia

Description

Deciduous ornamental perennial herbaceous plant, suitable for rock gardens and flowerbeds where the tidy, compact habit and the height attained allow for dense covers of shiny foliage from which graceful raceme-like inflorescences emerge bearing bell-shaped flowers of different colour shades depending on the variety. Rustic, tolerates the winter cold; requires cool, moist soil but free from waterlogging.

Variety description

Perennial plant that disappears almost completely in winter to vegetate again in spring and flower abundantly in late spring, suitable for underwood beds or rock gardens.

Curiosities and special features

The generic term Campanula is a diminutive of campàna in reference to the bell-shaped corolla of the flowers, while the specific epithet derives from the Latin cochlea or spoon due to the morphology of the basal leaves with their oval lamina.

Origin and distribution

Botanical species native to the geographical area extending from the Pyrenees to the Carpathians and the northern Balkan Peninsula; in Italy the wild form grows wild on limestone soils rich in skeleton along the Alpine and Apennine belts. The current cultivated varieties differ mainly in the colour shades of their flowers.

Flower size

The flower individually is small, united in the larger inflorescence.

Leaf

The basal leaves have an oval lamina that becomes more linear in the upper leaves.

Flowering period

The luxuriant flowering lasts from mid-spring to summer and lasts between 90 and 120 days.

Inflorescence

Inflorescence raceme or cluster.

Leaf colour

Solid colours.

Plant height

The height of the plant varies from 0.15 to 0.2 m. It is ideal as a first-rate plant in mixed compositions with other ornamentals in flowerbeds or to create dense cover in rock gardens or along slopes.

Lifespan

A herbaceous perennial plant, it sheds its aerial part during the winter season to revegetate during the following spring.

Where to plant

The achieved size and developed habit as well as the elegance of the inflorescences make this variety of Campanula cochleariifolia suitable for adding ornamental value to flower beds, rock gardens, planters

Stem

The stem is herbaceous and the variety has no thorns.

Flower

The flower is simple in form, small in size, with single-coloured petals. It is arranged in small raceme or cluster inflorescences. It flowers from mid-spring to summer, with a flowering period of between 90 and 120 days. It is not particularly attractive to pollinating insects.

Growth

Compact-growing variety, suitable for creating dense, shiny canopies studded with numerous elegant inflorescences.

Plant habit

The globular habitus visually accentuates the inflorescences that rise above the basal leaves.

Branching

Variety with abundant branching.

PH

It prefers a soil pH between 5.0 and 5.8.

Soil preparation

Before transplanting into the bed, carry out light digging, removing any weeds and bulky stones. It is suggested to add professional quality substrate on the surface to an average height of 5/10 cm.

Read more on the Joyflo blog

Sun exposure

It adapts to different types of exposure such as half-shade, shade, full sun. However, it is not recommended to transplant in sunny and very hot areas as it prefers shady and humid areas.

Ideal climate and temperature

The ideal temperature is between 10 and 20 °C. The vital temperature is between -15 and 30 °C

Use

Appreciated for its refined bearing and elegant flowering in:

Outdoor ornamental

Hardiness

A variety with ahigh degree of hardiness, it is suitable for cold winter climates, even withstanding temporarily frozen soils.

Soil

For proper vegetative growth of Campanula cochleariifolia, the ideal soil is medium-textured, light and well-drained as well as moderately fertile; for possible use in pots and planters, choose a high-quality substrate for spring plants based on peat and perlite.

Difficulty

Following proper rooting in the new planting site, the cultivation of Campanula cochleariifolia is easy, requiring an average level of management effort.

Growing tips

For proper vegetative growth followed by conspicuous flowering, it is advisable to

Avoid over-watering

Excessive watering can lead to stagnation and root rot, resulting in plant death.

Combinations with other plants

Suitable for creating dense, homogeneous covers illuminated by fine inflorescences, as well as in compositions with other ornamental perennial grasses such as Aquilegia, Gypsophila repens, Heuchera. In the transplanting phase, adopt a suitable planting pattern aimed at ensuring the correct vegetative growth of each specimen in relation also to the bearing and height attained.

Planting

An average density of 20 plants per square metre is recommended. Position the seedling with the collar above the soil surface, taking care not to injure the roots and not to sink the lump completely, then water immediately after planting, preferably during the morning hours, but without causing water stagnation.

Propagation

Multiplication is by apical cuttings.

Watering

It is a plant that does not prefer soils with waterlogging. Use rainwater, alternatively aqueduct water with an optimal sub-acidic pH. Keep the soil moist but free from saturated conditions that lead to root rot. Check the soil moisture level before watering, also do not water the plant from above to prevent the development of phytopathologies on leaves and flowers.

Fertilising

Localised at the foot of the plant with organic mineral fertiliser in autumn-winter. During the spring-summer period use a balanced liquid fertiliser specifically for flowering ornamental plants, to be added to the soil or substrate diluted in the irrigation water in appropriate doses and frequencies as indicated on the relevant information label.

Edibility for humans

Non-edible.

Tip

Avoid planting this species in sunny and very hot areas, it prefers shady and humid areas. Ideal plant for beds shaded by trees or bushes.