Campanula betulifolia

 (kam-PAN-yoo-luh  bet-yoo-lee-FOH-lee-uh)

General Information:

A lovely campanula for the rock garden, Campanula betulifolia has large flowers in white or light pink. The white form is more readily available. The flowers tend to point down so it is a good idea to locate the plant higher up so that it is easy to see inside the bells.

Campanula betulifolia:photo by Robert Pavlis

The leaves on this campanula are quite unique and look like birch leaves, hence the species name, betulifolia and the common name, the birch-leaved bellflower.

The plant in the pictures was grown from seed obtained from the annual Ontario Rock Garden & Hardy Plant Society seed exchange. This is a great way to obtain some real gems for the garden.

Campanula betulifolia:photo by Robert Pavlis

The birch-leaved bellflower grows low to the ground and looks its best if it is sited so that it can cascade over rocks, as shown in these pictures. The plant forms a tap root making it very difficult to divide. It can be propagated easily from seed or from cuttings taken before the plant flowers.

Life Cycle: perennial

Height: 12 cm (5in)

Bloom Time: early summer

Natural Range: Turkey, Caucasus

Habitat: Crevices in igneous and limestone rock, up to 2,300 m

Synonyms:  Campanula denticulata, Campanula betulifolia var.exappendiculata, Campanula finitima, Symphyandra finitima

Cultivation:

Light: part shade to full sun

Soil: well drained, scree

Water: drought tolerant once established

USDA Hardiness Zone: 5 – 8

Propagation: seed, cuttings

Seedex availability (ORG&HPS annual Seed Exchange): occasionally