Sometimes when gardeners hear about a perennial being “vigorous”, warning bells go off and we think they might be invasive. Sometimes “vigorous” means just that: a hardy, easy-care plant that does well without being fussy.
So...hands up for those who think that clustered bellflower (campanula glomerata) is vigorous? And who thinks it is invasive? I’m guessing that most of us think it is a bit of both, and we’d all be right!
Years ago, campanula glomerata was just one of many perennials that Mom gave us for our new garden. As gardens often do, the perennials ebbed and flowed. One year the campanula seemed to dominate and thrive in the perennial patch, the next it seemed to fade into the background. But it never completely disappeared. It gave us a bright and cheerful show of deep purple clusters of bell-shaped flowers, great for cutting, and it filled in little corners that other plants may not have enjoyed.
This year, it has been totally delightful. The blooms were a vibrant purple that seemed almost electric. The ball-shaped clusters were there in abundance. It was lovely!
So let’s talk about the “pluses” of plant; it is very easy to grow, will do well in full sun or part shade, and is not very fussy about the soil. It probably would not like very heavy clay-like soil, but otherwise it is very agreeable. It will bloom again if we dead-head it. On our continual quest to attract bees to the garden, it is a favorite for bees and butterflies. And I read somewhere that it is deer-resistant. It is also very easy to divide in the spring or fall. Also, the campanula comes in a delicate pink, or white, as well as the dark purple.
The “negatives”? All right, it can be so vigorous that we might consider it invasive. But gardeners might think this is a problem easily solved because it is easy to dig out. Of course if we don’t keep a watchful eye on it, it can spread very quickly indeed. But if we are vigilant, it can be contained in an area where we want it to be, and it will reward us with amazing color around this time.
Seeing this year’s campanula display took me back to Mom’s beautiful garden. Imagine how thrilled she’d be to know that decades later, those plants are still putting on a stunning show.
There, I’ve presented both sides, so you have to decide for your own garden whether the campanula is invasive or vigorous! But it is a plant we enjoy and find to be very beautiful.
It’s such a treat to be outside; please be sure to take a garden tour each day and see what is new. There is always something, all you have to do is slow down and look!
Visit the Yorkton and District Horticultural Society at www.yorktonhort.ca for photos, tips and more.
Thank you to our friends at Yorkton This Week for their ongoing hard work, even in this heat! Have a good gardening week, and be sure to wear a hat!
