I am intrigued by campanulas of the lower-growing varieties, and perhaps this topic belongs in groundcovers but I am not sure. I love the masses of small campanula flowers when in bloom, but I am uncertain how to best design them into a garden. I have seen them on walls and slopes to best advantage. The green center of the plant seems to make itself obvious with the blooms growing outward, I think, not all-over, so they aren't really groundcovers in the sense that dwarf phlox can be, but I would like to use them in an area of other very low plants near and under shrubbery of various types. I have just planted some campanula Carpatica "Birch Hybrid" and some "White Clips" [which I gather are taller] near the edge of a shrubbery garden [about 8-10 inches away from a concrete driveway edge] , with lower shrubs behind them. I wonder now if they should have been planted further in. They have been in the ground for only about 10 days [Victoria BC].
And addendum to above -- is "evergreen candytuft" [not sure what it is, have to look it up, remembered it from a garden design book I have] readily available in the Victoria area in season and would it blend suitably with campanulas?
If you were to use George Schenk's book "Gardening on Pavement, Tables, and Hard Surfaces" you would be amazed at how many different surfaces you can use to grow these companulas that you love. He is a retired nurseryman from the Pacific Northwest with a world of experience with plants. Using that book as a reference you would keep yourself busy ( we hope you are that interested) and at the same create a garden that would be creative and very different from those you might see around you. The people answering you today, know and love gardening books and hence you are getting information that is based on a broad base of experience.
Thank you for this information. I hate to admit that I went straight for Amazon.ca, and found this recommended title PLUS his book on Moss Gardens [thought I should locate his very comprehensive-looking book on Shade Gardening in the library, for the sake of saving money...] and ordered the two of them... the book on the "pavement gardening" is just the sort of thing I love, a playful kind of use of the unexpected, the miniature, and owing to the climate here in the Pacific NW, possible to practise and experiment with...
http://www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/plantfinder/Plant.asp?Code=L220 try this ifyou want a good ground cover Campanula. Called Campanula punctata 'Cherry Bells'.Makes a mat of growth. Planted 6 plants,18" apart.In one season had a mat 2' wide and about 7' long. nice flowers and foliage.
That looks interesting -- beautiful form. Hope I can find that type here, don't remember ever seeing it, but just may not have noticed. Thanks!
