Campanula 'Barbara Valentine'

A tidy, upright plant with masses of purple bells (to 5cm) over soft green, heart shaped foliage. Best in light shade with protection from the hot afternoon sun. It is a sensational choice for low light or filtered light conditions where the flowers will provide a beautiful show.

If you have the time to remove the spent flowers, it can continue into autumn.

Plant Campanula 'Barbara Valentine' in moderately fertile to humus rich, well drained soil. It will slowly spread with rhizomes to form a nice clump. Keep an eye out for slugs and snails, especially for new plants/growth – the good news is rabbits aren’t keen on the foliage. Remove spent flowers to tidy and encourage more. Early spring remove old growth to allow the fresh foliage to shine. A light application of a general purpose fertiliser in spring is ideal.

Campanulas are commonly known as Bellflowers. Campanula is Latin for little bell.

Campanulas are a rich and valuable group of plants to draw from, especially if you love blue.