Description I’m always cautious of plants that have “spreading” in their name, but when seeds of spreading bellflower (Campanula patula) came to me as a gift from a trusted source, I had to give them a try, and I’m so glad I did. The plants produced low mounds of bright green leaves, then sent up slender, branching, 1- to 2-foot stems that carried single, blue-purple flowers. They began blooming in early summer and were still producing blooms in early November! Because the stems are very thin, they tend to sprawl, so spreading bellflower is not the tidiest-looking plant, but if you don’t mind it leaning on and mingling with nearby companions, I think you’ll like it too. Full sun to partial shade. Various references describe this species as annual, biennial, or perennial, and that’s appropriate, in my experience. About half of my initial plants flowered the first year from an early indoor sowing, so I can confirm it has annual potential. The rest of those flowered the next year, and some of those have gone on to flower several years in a row, so biennial and perennial can fit too. I’m not sure about the hardiness range but am guessing 3 to 8, based on its natural range in Europe and Asia. Collected in late June 2024. At least 30 seeds. Shipping to U.S. addresses only. Please read the germination information as well before ordering.
