Campanula pyramidalis Alba

Campanula pyramidalis 'Alba', also known as the pyramid bellflower, is a tall perennial that combines charm and vigour in a very natural way. It has tall flower spikes abundantly filled with long-lasting white, slightly fragrant flowers in the shape of a star from late spring. It quickly forms beautiful clumps with shiny, bright green foliage. It is sometimes considered a biennial, as the flowering decreases in the second year, but it easily self-seeds in the garden, ensuring its longevity. This variety dislikes intense sunlight and thrives in well-drained, soft, humus-bearing soils.

Campanula pyramidalis is a short-lived and not very hardy perennial of the bellflower family, native to southern Europe, particularly Italy and the western Balkans. It was brought back from Slovenia in 1594 and has since had a long career as an excellent perennial in our gardens. 'Alba' is the white form of this plant, whose leaf and flower silhouette resembles an elongated pyramid, 1m (3ft) tall and 50cm (20in) wide. The foliage consists of large, ovate, heart-shaped, bright green and glossy leaves. It forms a 'skirt' up to a height of 40 to 50cm (16 to 20in), partially covering the tall flower spikes that appear in spring and extends from June to August-September. Hundreds of fragrant, open white bell-shaped flowers, 3 to 4cm (1 to 2in) in diameter, live for several days before fading. The flower spikes will benefit from staking, as the wind often bends the clumps.

Campanula pyramidalis 'Alba' appreciates moist, light, even chalky soils, but dislikes direct sunlight and wind. It is a splendid wild plant that shines in partial shade and contributes to the biodiversity of our gardens. It has a rightful place in a natural bed, alongside other lovely wildflowers: cornflower, bear's breeches, bugbane, daylilies, purple coneflower, fennel, field scabious, meadowsweet, hemp-nettle, perennial sweet pea, or lady's mantle. Its simplicity works well alongside the roundness of old roses and softens the heavy corollas of deep red peonies. It also grows very well in pots.

About bellflowers:

The crowns of bellflowers grow white stolons that spread underground in all directions ensuring the longevity of the plant. The numerous upright stems that arise from this crown or stolons are either fertile or sterile. Thus, when one sees a large population of bellflowers, they are often only the clones of a single individual. On the other hand, different species of bellflowers hybridize very easily with each other and are often accompanied by a whole range of intermediate forms, which makes them very interesting for horticulturists.