I have been a little quiet of late and that’s for three reasons. The first is work, which has been abnormally busy. The second and third are garden related. In London we have been building raised beds in which we intend to cultivate vegetables. I am ridiculously excited at the prospect of growing my own, having not had the opportunity since being a teenager. I will not be revealing how long ago that was, but sufficient to forget everything but the basics. The construction part was quick and easy; the filling with soil and compost has been a labour of love and is still ongoing. In Broadstairs we are preparing for our NGS open day (more on which tomorrow), which is going well, apart from the excessive amount of watering needed to keep everything from withering.
The Latin epithet ‘lactiflora‘ means milk-white flowers, but the variety available today includes white, blue and pale pink
Neither of our gardens is capacious enough for leggy lovelies such as Campanula lactiflora, but it doesn’t stop me admiring them in other people’s gardens. Campanula lactiflora is a lax, romantic perennial designed for life on the big stage. It is happiest rampaging among roses and darting around delphiniums, a shining star in the early summer show. The profusion of flowers in blue, white or pale pink is simply beautiful swaying in a summer breeze, but may require surreptitious support. Grow in fertile, moist, neutral or alkaline soil for best results and cut back after flowering to encourage a second flush of bloom.
Varieties with the Royal Horticultural Society Award of Garden Merit (AGM)
- Campanula lactiflora ‘Alba’ – pure white flowers
- Campanula lactiflora ‘Prichard’s Variety’ – violet blue flowers
- Campanula lactiflora ‘Loddon Anna’ – soft, rose-pink flowers
Campanula lactiflora ‘Loddon Anna’ combined with a delphinium of the same shade at Old Bladbean Stud
