Campanula persicifolia Alba
Campanula persicifolia 'Alba' holds slender spikes of outward-facing white bells above a low rosette of narrow, glossy evergreen leaves. The peach-leaved bellflower opens from November into January, and the stems rise cleanly from the foliage so the bells sit clear of everything around them. Each flower is broad and shallow rather than tubular, which is what separates this campanula from the smaller-belled species.
White campanula earns its place in a border that needs lifting without another colour going in. It threads between roses, hardy geraniums and catmint, works in a white or green scheme, and holds its own in cottage planting. The stems cut well for a vase. A deep container on a shaded courtyard suits it, provided it never dries right out.
Plant in full sun to part shade in free-draining soil with organic matter worked through. Suited to most NZ gardens, and content in the light shade cast by a fence or a deciduous tree. On thin new-build soils, dig compost in before planting. Space about 30 cm apart. Slugs and snails find the young rosettes in spring, so watch new growth.
Flower stems reach 0.6 to 0.9 m over a foliage clump around 0.3 m across, and the rosette stays green through winter.
Trimming: Cut flowering stems back to the basal rosette once the last bells have gone over, leaving the evergreen leaves untouched. A second, lighter flush of stems often follows in late summer where the plant is growing well. Lift and divide congested clumps every three or four years in early autumn.
Deadheading: Take individual spikes off at the base as they finish rather than shearing the whole plant, because the stems finish at different times. Regular removal keeps flowering going for several weeks longer and stops the plant putting energy into seed.
Fertilising: A balanced slow-release fertiliser applied in early spring is enough for the season. Avoid heavy nitrogen feeding, which produces soft stems that flop under the weight of the flowers. Top up with a compost mulch in spring to hold moisture around the rosette.
Watering: Water regularly through the first season and during dry spells while the flower stems are extending, as this is when moisture stress shows most. Established plants cope with short dry periods but flower better with steady moisture. Mulch keeps the shallow root system cool.
Pest Control: Slugs and snails are the main pest, working on the evergreen rosette over winter and on new shoots in spring. Bait or trap around the crown from August. Aphids occasionally cluster on flower stems and wash off easily.
Disease Management: Rust can appear as orange pustules on the underside of the leaves in humid weather. Remove affected foliage, avoid overhead watering, and space plants so air moves between them. Crown rot occurs where soil stays wet over winter, which good drainage prevents.
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