Campanula 'Sarastro'
bellflower
- Position: full sun or lightly dappled shade
- Soil: fertile, moist, well-drained soil, including alkaline
- Rate of growth: average
- Flowering period: June to September
- Hardiness: fully hardy
One of the tallest bellflowers, this is a real showstopper, with a long flowering period and the added advantage of being low-maintenance and easy to grow. From early summer to early autumn magnificent, large, deep purple, pendent, bell-shaped flowers, 5cm long, appear on tall stems above rosettes of large, hairy leaves. A clump-forming perennial, it's a real asset to a cottage-garden scheme, or a scheme based on blues and purples. Or simply use it to add height to a mixed border. - Garden care: Cut the flowered stems to ground level to encourage a new flush of flowers. On lighter soils, dig in plenty of well-rotted organic matter. Cut down to the ground in autumn. Divide congested clumps every 3-4 years.