Campanula persicifolia [kam-PAN-yoo-luh, per-sik-ih-FOH-lee-uh] is a slender perennial with cup-shaped flowers.
It’s primarily found in the Alps and other parts of Europe but also appears natively in northern Africa and parts of western Asia.
Campanula persicifolia has quite a few common names:
- Peachleaf bellflower
- Peach bells
- Fairy bellflower
- Fairy bells
- Willow bell
- Petticoat bellflower
It belongs to the bellflower plant (Campanulaceae) family and prefers cool summer climates.
With the right conditions, it provides fresh bloom every summer for years to come.
Several of the most common varieties of Campanula-Persicifolia include:
- Campanula Persicifolia Blue a traditional old cottage garden flower
- Campanula Persicifolia alba – white flowers
Bellflower Campanula Persicifolia Care
Size and Growth
Campanula persicifolia has glossy foliage, bright green leaves and produces clumps of growth with unbranched stems standing between 12″ – 40″ inches.
The stems appear from a rosette with narrow basal leaves on short stalks that start to wither just before they bloom.
Flowering, Bloom Time and Fragrance
The flowers typically start to appear in the late spring or early summer.
As with many species in the bellflower family, the peach-leaved bellflower produces bell-shaped flowers.
The broad flowers come in shades of blue and white and produce a light fragrance.
Light and Temperature
The growing conditions are best when planted in full sun or partial shade, depending on the region.
The peach-leaved bellflower grows well in USDA hardiness zones 3 to 7, preferring the cooler summer climates of the Midwest and the northern United States.
In these regions, it enjoys the full sun throughout the warmer months.
In hotter climates, grow peachleaf bellflower in an area with partial shade in the afternoon.
Dry, hot summers tend to limit blooms the following year.
If grown indoors at room temperature, the plant should receive sunlight throughout the day but not direct afternoon sunlight from a south or east-facing window.
Watering and Feeding
Campanula persicifolia requires moisture and regular watering throughout the warmer months until the flowers and leaves wilt.
Keep the soil moist but not overly saturated.
Cut back on watering throughout the winter, adding water only when the soil dries out.
Use liquid fertilizer with every other watering throughout the summer.
Don’t fertilize at all after the bloom.
Soil and Transplanting
Grow campanula persicifolia in regular well-drained potting soil.
The peach-leaved bellflower is a relatively low-maintenance plant and thrives in most types of soil when given the right temperature, sunlight, and moisture.
Repot plants every few years to refresh the soil.
Transplant in the early spring when new growth starts to appear.
Grooming
Deadhead the spent flowers helps encourage a longer bloom and prevents self-seeding.
Cut back the flowering stems to the basal rosettes after the leaves start to wilt.
Peachleaf Bellflower Propagation
Propagate by division, cuttings, seed, or offsets in the spring before the blooms appear.
The peach-leaved bellflower is self-seeding and produces offsets appearing around the mother rosette.
To propagate the offsets, dig the soil around the younger plants and trim the root connected to the mother plant.
Plant the offsets in well-drained soil.
To Propagate With Cuttings
- Remove a long stem from the mother rosette using a pair of gardening shears.
- Plant the stem in standard potting soil in small 6″ inch pots.
- Keep the young plants indoors until new growth appears.
- NOTE: Dipping the cuttings in rooting hormone may help the new plants take root.
To Propagate By Division
- Dig up the soil around the plant, creating a diameter of at least 8″ inches.
- Carefully lift the clump of dirt and set on a porch or the pavement.
- Gently pull apart the plant, separating the roots to create two or more new sections.
- Replant the divided plants in the same soil at the same depth.
To Propagate With Seed
- Purchase new seeds or collect fresh seeds from the dried seed pods after the bloom.
- Sow the seeds about two months before spring.
- Sprinkle them over moistened potting mix in a seed-starter tray.
- Cover the seeds with a light dusting of soil and place the tray in a warm location. Keep the tray moist.
- In a few weeks, the sprouts should appear.
- After the plants reach at least 4″ inches tall, transplant them to their permanent homes in the garden or larger pots.
Peachleaf Bellflower Pest or Diseases
Slugs, snails, and aphids are the biggest threats to the peach-leaved bellflower.
Use diatomaceous earth or slug or snail bait to deal with these slimy slug pests.
Aphid infestations may go unnoticed longer.
These pests appear as small yellow or white growth on the leaves.
Try removing the aphids with sprays of cold water.
For large infestations, apply a light application of Neem oil or insecticidal soap.
If natural methods don’t work, consider propagating the plant and tossing the mother plants.
Other than pests, there isn’t much to worry about.
The plant isn’t prone to diseases and isn’t invasive.
It also doesn’t contain any known toxic compounds.
Other Popular Bellflowers include:
- Campanula lactiflora – blue, pink and lavender flowers.
- Campanula Portenschlagiana (Dalmation)
- Campanula Poscharskyana (Siberian)
Suggested Uses For Campanula Persicifolia
Campanula persicifolia is commonly used for garden border edging.
The tall stems also help add depth when planted behind shorter plants or ground cover.
It looks best when grown in large groups, allowing for a bigger display of flowers.