Common Name: peach-leaved bellflower
Type: Herbaceous perennial
Family: Campanulaceae
Zone: 3 to 7
Height: 1.50 to 3.00 feet
Spread: 1.00 to 1.50 feet
Bloom Time: June to August
Bloom Description: Creamy white edged with lavender
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Water: Medium
Maintenance: Low
Suggested Use: Naturalize
Flower: Showy
Tolerate: Deer
Culture
Easily grown in average, medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. Plants prefer cool summer climates. They are generally intolerant of the extreme heat of the deep South, and do not perform well south of USDA Zone 7. They appreciate some part afternoon shade in hot summer climates. Plants need regular and even moisture. Deadhead spent flowers to encourage additional bloom and curb any unwanted self-seeding. Cut back flowering stems to basal rosettes when stem leaves begin to fade. In optimum growing conditions, plants will spread both by self-seeding and offsets. Divide clumps every 3-4 years. Propagate by seed, cuttings or division. Seed may be planted in the garden in late spring for bloom the following year.
Noteworthy Characteristics
Campanula persicifolia, commonly called peach-leaved bellflower, is a rosette-forming, upright, glabrous perennial that typically grows on stiff sturdy stems to 1 1/2 - 3' tall. It is native to open woods, shrubby slopes and mountain meadows in Europe and Asia. Plants in this species have escaped gardens and naturalized over time in a number of areas in North America including the northeastern U.S. and eastern Canada. Large, outward facing, broad bell-shaped flowers (to 1.5”) in shades of white to blue bloom in open, slender, terminal racemes atop erect, unbranched, nearly leafless stems in late spring to early summer. Stems rise from basal rosettes of narrow, toothed, leathery, bright green leaves (4-8” long). Rosettes are semi-evergreen to evergreen in warm winter climates. Stem leaves are much shorter (to 4” long).
'Chettle Charm' is a rosette-forming, upright perennial which grows on stiff stems to 1.5-3' tall. Features large, outward-facing, bell-to-cup-shaped flowers (to 1.5" long) which are creamy white edged with lavender blue. Flowers appear in slender terminal and axillary racemes atop erect, unbranched, leafy stems in late spring, with a respectable rebloom to the end of summer. Stems rise from basal rosettes of narrow, toothed, glossy, bright green leaves (4-8" long). Stem leaves are much shorter (to 4" long). 'Chettle Charm' is synonymous with and sometimes sold as 'George Chiswell'.
Problems
No serious insect or disease problems. Slugs and snails are occasional visitors.
Uses
This cultivar provides color and contrast to the perennial border or rock garden. Also effective in a lightly shaded woodland settings where if can be left alone to naturalize. Mass or plant in large groups for best effect.