Campanula lactiflora

RHS Plant Profile
milky bellflower

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milky bellflower RHS

Other common names

milk-white bellflower

Synonyms

Campanula celtidifolia

Plants for pollinators
Herbaceous Perennial
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An upright perennial to 1.2-1.5m tall. Conical panicles of white to blue, open, bell-shaped flowers are borne on strongly branched stems from summer to early autumn

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

1-1.5 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
2–5 years
Max Spread
0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height
1-1.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Clay Loam Sand
Moisture
Moist but well–drained or Well–drained
pH
Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun Partial shade
Aspect
North–facing or West–facing or South–facing or East–facing
Exposure
Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

  • H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
  • H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
  • H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
  • H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
  • H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
  • H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
  • H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
  • H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
  • H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)
H7

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Campanulaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Columnar upright
Genus
Campanula may be annuals, herbaceous or evergreen perennials, with bell or star-shaped, often blue, flowers in late spring or summer
Name Status
Correct
Plant Range
Caucasus

How to Grow

Cultivation

Requires a fertile, moist but well-drained, neutral to alkaline soil in sun or partial shade. The delicate flower colour is best preserved in partial shade. The plants may require staking in exposed positions

Propagation

Propagate by seed in containers in a cold frame in spring. The plants will self seed, if allowed to do so and produce plants with some colour variation. Divide clumps in spring or early autumn. Take stem-tip cuttings from new growth after flowering

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • City and courtyard gardens
  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Wildlife gardens
  • Flower borders and beds

Pruning

Cut back after flowering to prevent self-seeding and to encourage a second flush of flowers

Pests

May be susceptible to slugs and snails

Diseases

May be susceptible to powdery mildews and a rust