Milky bellflower

Description

Campanula lactiflora, the milky bellflower, is a species of flowering plant in the genus Campanula of the family Campanulaceae, native to Turkey and the Caucasus. It is a medium-sized herbaceous perennial growing to 1.2 m (3 ft 11 in), with narrow, toothed leaves 5–12 cm (2–5 in) long. Large conical clusters of open, star-shaped flowers are produced on branching stems in summer. In favourable conditions it will self-seed with variable results. The flowers are usually white or pale blue, but numerous cultivars have been developed for garden use, in a range of colours. The Latin specific epithet lactiflora means "milk-white flowers". The following cultivars have gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit:- 'Alba' (white) 'Favourite' (lilac) 'Loddon Anna' (pale pink) 'Prichard's Variety'(violet blue)