{"product_id":"campanula-latifolia-alba-plants","title":"Campanula latifolia Alba","description":"\u003cul class=\"pdp-specs\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eVariety:\u003c\/strong\u003e Alba\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLatin name:\u003c\/strong\u003e Campanula latifolia 'Alba'\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eType:\u003c\/strong\u003e Herbaceous perennial\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFlower:\u003c\/strong\u003e Pure white, large, nodding bells\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHeight:\u003c\/strong\u003e 120cm (4ft)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSpread:\u003c\/strong\u003e 45cm (18in)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFlowering:\u003c\/strong\u003e June–July\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHardiness:\u003c\/strong\u003e Fully Hardy (H7)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePruning:\u003c\/strong\u003e Cut back after flowering; deadhead to prevent self-seeding if not wanted\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eRHS AGM:\u003c\/strong\u003e No\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSold as:\u003c\/strong\u003e Pot-grown plants\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePlant outdoors:\u003c\/strong\u003e Spring or autumn\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDelivered:\u003c\/strong\u003e Spring and summer. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/collect-your-order-from-castle-cary\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eCollection from Castle Cary\u003c\/a\u003e also available.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eCampanula latifolia 'Alba' is the great bellflower — a tall, upright perennial reaching 120cm with large, pure white, nodding bell-shaped flowers in June and July. It grows well in sun or part shade, self-seeds freely, and is one of the most dramatic white perennials for the back of a traditional border.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eCampanula latifolia Alba – Big, White, and Uncompromising\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe great bellflower is not a shy plant. Campanula latifolia 'Alba' sends up straight, strong stems to 120cm — four feet — each carrying alternating large white bells that nod slightly as they open, a graceful movement that belies the plant's considerable scale. The flowers are not small. Individual bells are easily 4–5cm long, and a fully stemmed plant in June carries dozens of them. In a border against a dark hedge or fence the effect is genuinely theatrical. This is not a plant for the front of a small bed — it belongs at the back of a generous border where it can be allowed to naturalise, self-seed into gaps, and build gradually into the kind of colony that looks as if it has always been there.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eCampanula latifolia is distinct from its relative C. lactiflora, which is the milky bellflower and a more widely grown species. Latifolia is the native British species — it grows wild in hedge banks and wood margins in northern England — and it has more presence, larger individual flowers, and a more emphatic, architectural quality. The white form lacks the purple-blue of the species but more than compensates in luminosity. It self-seeds freely, which means you need to deadhead if you don't want it spreading, or let it seed and enjoy the spreading colony if you do. In exposed positions, stake it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eCompanions for Campanula latifolia Alba\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAt 120cm, Campanula latifolia Alba wants companions at the back of the border. \u003ca href=\"\/products\/delphinium-astolat-plants\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eDelphinium Astolat\u003c\/a\u003e flowers at the same time in June and July with pink-lilac spires; the contrast of form between the branching campanula and the upright delphinium spike is one of the classic combinations in the English border. \u003ca href=\"\/products\/delphinium-galahad-plants\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eDelphinium Galahad\u003c\/a\u003e, the white-flowered Pacific Giant, provides a bolder and taller white presence alongside. For a mid-border link, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/geranium-bevans-variety-plants\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eGeranium Bevan's Variety\u003c\/a\u003e provides magenta-pink at 30cm, building the classic blue-pink-white palette of the traditional herbaceous border from the front edge to the back.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhy Ashridge?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWe use peat-free compost and biological pest controls. The great bellflower is a plant with genuine presence in a border — we're delighted to be stocking it. Every plant is guaranteed. See the full \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/perennial-plants\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eperennial collection\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eHow tall does Campanula latifolia Alba grow?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAround 120cm (4ft) in a normal summer — occasionally taller in very rich soil or after several established years. It is a genuinely tall perennial and needs to be planted at the back of a border. In exposed or windy positions, stake the stems in May before they get too tall to handle easily.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eDoes Campanula latifolia Alba need staking?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn most gardens, yes. The stems are strong but at 120cm they will lean or topple in strong wind or heavy rain. Put supports in early — a ring support or a few canes with string works well. Staking after the stems are tall enough to need it is harder and usually less effective than doing it at 40cm.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eIs Campanula latifolia Alba the same as Campanula lactiflora Alba?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNo — they are related but distinct species. Campanula lactiflora (the milky bellflower) is a branching plant with many smaller, paler flowers, and its cultivar 'Alba' holds the RHS AGM. Campanula latifolia (the great bellflower) has larger, more dramatic individual bells and a more upright, architectural habit. Latifolia is native to Britain; lactiflora is from the Caucasus. Both are excellent.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWill Campanula latifolia Alba self-seed?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes, freely. Left to set seed it will gradually colonise gaps in a border, which is an asset in a naturalistic planting and a minor nuisance in a tightly controlled one. Deadhead promptly after flowering if you want to prevent spread; allow seeding if you want a self-sustaining colony.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eCan Campanula latifolia Alba grow in shade?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt tolerates part shade and performs well at woodland edges — which reflects its natural habitat in hedge banks and wood margins in northern England. Deep shade reduces flowering significantly. Part shade with moist soil is a reliable combination; full sun works too if moisture is adequate.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Ashridge Nurseries","offers":[{"title":"Potted \/ P9","offer_id":56371955040582,"sku":"PERECAMLATAL-P9","price":7.95,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0947\/0351\/8022\/files\/close-up-of-campanula-white-flowers.webp?v=1776343638","url":"https:\/\/www.ashridgetrees.co.uk\/products\/campanula-latifolia-alba-plants","provider":"Ashridge Nurseries","version":"1.0","type":"link"}