Campanula lactiflora aka Milky Bellflower

Taxonomy

Campanula lactiflora, also known as the milky bellflower, is a medium-sized herbaceous perennial native to Turkey and the Caucasus. It grows up to 1.2 m (3 ft 11 in) tall and has narrow, toothed leaves measuring 5–12 cm (2–5 in) in length. During the summer, it produces large conical clusters of open, star-shaped flowers in white or pale blue. This plant can self-seed under favorable conditions. There are also cultivated varieties with different colors, such as 'Alba' (white), 'Favourite' (lilac), 'Loddon Anna' (pale pink), and 'Prichard's Variety' (violet blue), which have received the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit. As a clump forming herbaceous perennial, the milky bellflower sends up tall upright stems with lance-shaped foliage. It blooms with milky pale lilac bell-shaped flowers, providing a long display of flowers throughout the summer. This plant is easy to grow but dislikes wet winters. When grown indoors as a rare houseplant, it thrives with regular watering and prefers to be placed less than 1 foot from a window, receiving long-lasting, direct light. It requires well-draining soil and does not typically need additional fertilizers if repotted each time it doubles in size.

Common names

Milky Bellflower

How to care for Milky Bellflower

Difficulty

Caring for Milky Bellflower is a breeze, as it is highly adaptable and forgiving to minor neglect.

Water

Milky Bellflower should be watered regularly, allowing the soil to dry out between waterings.

Soil

Milky Bellflower loves a well-draining soil. Perlite and vermiculite help with drainage, while coco coir adds organic matter, so a good potting soil mix will have all three. You can improve store-bought soil by adding some perlite to it.

Lighting

To ensure optimal growth, the Milky Bellflower prefers bright indirect light for 6-8 hours each day. Insufficient light can result in slow growth and leaf drop, so it's important to find a well-lit location for this plant. Place it near a window, within a distance of 1 meter (3 feet), to enhance its potential for thriving.

Toxicity

There is no verified data on the toxicity of this plant in the records of Ploi. If any person, including yourself, a family member, or a pet, consume plant material with an uncertain toxicity level, it is advisable to seek the advice of a healthcare expert.

Fertilizer

Repotting the Milky Bellflower should be done either when it has doubled in size or on a yearly basis, whichever occurs sooner. Fresh potting soil with all the required nutrients, refreshed annually, will provide the plant with all the necessary sustenance, making the use of fertilizer unnecessary. Keep in mind that plants receive their energy from the sun, not fertilizer.

Region of origin

Milky Bellflower’s native range is Europe - Caucasus. Naturalized in Britain.


More info:
Wikipedia