Campanula Ringsabell Indigo Blue

Campanula 'Ringsabell Indigo Blue' is a new highly floriferous hybrid bellflower variety, derived from the Korean bellflower, but much less exuberant than its wild cousin. It forms a cushion of dark green leaves, close to the ground, from which short stems emerge from late spring to mid-summer, bearing long trailing bell-shaped flowers with a satin-like appearance, in deep indigo blue to violet shades. Furthermore, its foliage takes on a beautiful red hue in autumn before disappearing. This perennial slowly spreads, forming neat ground cover at the edge of a flower bed. Compact and bushy, it also decorates pots and containers on the terrace or balcony. It requires little maintenance and thrives in ordinary and moist soil, in full sun or partial shade.  

Campanula 'Ringsabell Indigo Blue' belongs to the family of bellflowers. This recent horticultural selection is derived from the species Campanula takesimana among others, but does not possess the invasive character attributed to its very trailing rhizomes. The 'Ringsabell Indigo Blue' selection slowly spreads in reasonable proportions, forming cushions of leaves that are 15 cm (6in) tall and 40 cm (16in) wide. Its wide leaves are slightly cordate, toothed, dark green and glossy, gathered in compact basal rosettes that sometimes persist if the winter is mild, and turn red in autumn. From late May to July, thin stems 40 cm (16in) tall rise from the basal tuft. Sometimes tinged with blue at the tip, they slightly bend under the weight of the flowers grouped at their ends. These tubular and bell-shaped flowers are quite long compared to the size of the plant. The satin-like exterior of the corolla has an intense violet-indigo colour, lightening to blue at the edges. 

Campanula 'Ringsabell Indigo Blue' is a very elegant plant, which is ideal at the edge of a flower bed when planted in mass. It thrives in full sun or partial shade, almost overshadowing the foamflowers, hostas, and Trilliums, which are not always at their best in summer. It is a very satisfying flowering perennial in a flower bed, whether natural or romantic, even for a novice gardener. It will be perfect alongside other beautiful and easy-to-grow perennials: geraniums, red valerian (Centranthus ruber), phlox, purple coneflower, fennel, queen of the meadow, hemp-nettle, or lady's mantle. It also grows very well in pots.