74 
House Garden 
MEMBERS 
of the 
CAMPANULA FAMILY 
The campanula family, with all its 
numerous species and varieties, may be 
roughly classed under three heads. 
There are the tiny alpines, not more than 
a few inches in height, which are the most 
precious of the summer-flowering plants for 
the rock garden, and generally have a 
preference for lime in the soil. Many of 
these are woclly-leaved, which gives an 
indication of their need for protection 
against winter damp. On the other hand, 
many campanula will rot, if covered too 
heavily during winter. These smaller types 
will flourish in cracks along tops of walls 
and in sunny pockets of the rockery. 
In this alpine group would come; 
Tufted Hare Bell, C. cacspitora, a little 
tufted plant 4"-6" high, with bright blue 
flowers in May and June. 
Blue Bells of Scotland, C. rotoimdifolia, 
grows 6 "-i 2" high, in white or violet 
drooping bell on a wirey stem. Its season 
of bloom is from June to September. 
The second group is a little taller in 
habit and is excellent for the rock garden, 
but some of its members, Carpathian Hare¬ 
bells, C. carpaiica, for example, are also 
Canterbury Bells are best seen at close range, with 
their sturdy stems almost covered with blossoms. 
In a long border they can be allowed to break the 
line of edging plants 
SOME 
O NE of these days some enthusiast is 
going to form a Bell Flower Society, and 
a genus that has been neglected, save in a 
few particular instances, will spring into 
popularity. Once you take a liking to 
Campanula you will never rest satisfied 
until you shall have grown more than are 
found in the average seedsman’s catalog. 
Of the hundreds—and there are literally 
hundreds of kinds—a good dozen will give 
satisfaction and a succession of interest and 
bloom, culminating in many of them flower¬ 
ing with the roses in June and July. Prac¬ 
tically all of them enjoy a rich loam, plenty 
of leaf mold in the soil, and a sunny spot. 
Most of them are easily raised from seed. 
If seed of some special varieties is not 
available in American seedsmen’s lists, they 
can easily be procured from English or 
Continental growers or your own seedsman 
may find it or import it for you. 
Campanulas last well in water. 
This group includes Telham Beauty, 
Moerheimi and some others of the 
persicifolia group 
delightful border plants doing well under 
average conditions. C. carpaiica grows 
i5"-i 8" high, with erect, cup-shaped violet 
or white flowers blooming from June to 
August. 
In this second group might also fall the 
Spotted Bell Flower, C. glomerata, I'-z' 
high, a purple or white funnel borne on 
stiff erect stems. 
Finally there are the tall kinds which 
have been much developed of late years 
with other old-fashioned garden flowers. 
There is still a need for discrimination in 
choosing them for the border, for many, 
although greatly improved in form and 
color, are still best suited to the wild garden 
and have only a short blooming season. 
They are hardy, doing well in most soils, 
and are especially useful for shady places 
although they do not dislike sun. C. punctata 
{Continued on page 142 ) 
The semi-double Canterbury Bell, 
or “cup and saucer" is preferred by 
some although other gardeners con¬ 
sider it clumsy 
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