Campanula 'Superba' – Towering Spikes of Summer Blue
Campanula 'Superba' is a robust and elegant herbaceous perennial, prized for its tall spires of violet-blue, bell-shaped flowers that bloom in early to mid-summer. A member of the Campanula lactiflora group, this cottage garden classic brings height, movement, and rich colour to borders and is particularly effective when planted in drifts among other perennials.
At a Glance
-
Type: Herbaceous perennial
-
Common Name: Bellflower
-
Flower Colour: Violet-blue
-
Height: 0.75m (2.25ft)
-
Spread: 1m (3ft)
-
Flowering Time: June to August
-
Hardiness: Very hardy survives -20°C and below (RHS H7)
-
Position: Full sun or partial shade
-
Soil: Moist but well-drained; prefers fertile, humus-rich soil
Graceful Spires of Colour
Campanula 'Superba' produces upright, branching stems topped with clusters of open, bell-shaped flowers in a soft violet-blue tone. These airy spires bring an elegant, vertical accent to borders and are particularly striking when backlit by the sun or used in naturalistic planting schemes.
Long Flowering Season
Blooming from early summer into mid-August, 'Superba' offers a reliable display that lasts for several weeks. It may produce a second, lighter flush of flowers if the first is deadheaded promptly after fading.
Loved by Wildlife
The open, nectar-rich flowers are particularly attractive to bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects, making it an excellent choice for wildlife-friendly gardens.
Ideal for Mixed Borders
With its upright habit and soft colouring, Campanula 'Superba' fits seamlessly into cottage gardens, perennial borders, and informal planting schemes. It looks especially attractive planted behind lower-growing perennials or woven among grasses and airy companions.
Low Maintenance and Reliable
This campanula is a strong performer in most garden soils, as long as drainage is good. It is a low-maintenance perennial that requires only basic care and attention throughout the year.
Growing Tips
-
Watering: Keep well-watered in dry spells, particularly in the first year after planting.
-
Potted: Can grown in pots can be planted at any time of the year providing the ground is not frozen or waterlogged.
-
Feeding: Apply a balanced fertiliser in spring or mulch with well-rotted compost to boost flowering.
-
Deadheading: Remove faded flowers to encourage a second flush and prevent self-seeding.
-
Pruning: Cut back stems after flowering to maintain a tidy appearance and promote new growth.
-
Staking: Taller stems may benefit from light support in exposed or windy locations.
Fully Hardy in the UK
Campanula 'Superba' is rated RHS H7, meaning it is fully hardy throughout the UK, including exposed and northern gardens. It will die back in winter and re-emerge reliably each spring.
Perfect Companions
Pair 'Superba' with:
These plants complement its vertical structure and cool tones, extending seasonal interest in your borders.
Why Choose Campanula 'Superba'?
Campanula 'Superba' is a classic choice for adding height and colour to the summer garden. With its ease of care, reliable performance, and strong wildlife value, it’s ideal for gardeners of all experience levels.
Plant Campanula 'Superba' for striking summer spires, soft violet colour, and a touch of cottage garden charm year after year.
Buying Perennials from Jacksons Nurseries
At Jacksons Nurseries we lightly trim back our perennials after flowering and trim them back at the end of the season to ensure that the plants remain neat and tidy whilst in the pot. The more tender the plant the less we cut back to help protect exposed stems from winter frost. Depending on the plant variety we will then prune back further in spring once the risk of the more severe frosts is over.
As a result, depending on the time of year you buy perennials, they may not look like images showing their ‘prime time’ in flower and looking at their best.
From late autumn onwards and dependent on variety, there may be very little visible above the soil except for a few cut back dormant leaves or stems. It is perfectly normal for dormant plants to look like this from autumn onwards, they will however burst back into life in spring.
Availability: Stock availability figures are provided as a guide only. There is a delay between orders being placed and the plants being gathered by our pulling team. During this time it may be possible for a member of the public to purchase these plants from our Garden Centre, while this is rare it is a possibility and we will notify you of any problems as soon as possible. This figure may also include plants that have not yet be flagged as unsaleable.
Pre-order: Pre-order times are given as a guide only and may vary dependent on the growing season. Orders containing Pre-ordered products will be shipped as a single order when all items become available. Large orders may be part shipped, please contact us on 01782 502741 or email sales@jacksonsnurseries.co.uk.
Perennials are described and classified differently by different gardeners but all would agree that they are plants that come into flower every year from early spring to late summer, the exact time dependent on variety and most die back to ground level in autumn and winter.
As for all plants, soil preparation is time well spent. Dig over the area to be planted ensuring that the ground is free draining. If not then you may wish to either consider planting in a different spot or raising the level of the planting area by adding additional topsoil, well rotted garden compost and/or well rotted manure. Add ‘Fish, Blood and Bone’ fertiliser or a high potash fertiliser to encourage good root growth and development.
It’s always a good idea to plant a few of the same plant together, we recommend planting in 3’s or 5’s to provide a bold effect but allowing them plenty of room to develop.
Always check eventual plant heights when planning borders to ensure that the taller plants are at the back (or at the centre of an island bed) followed by the medium and then smaller low growing plants.
Remember to deadhead perennials after flowering, trim back lightly in autumn as required to tidy the border and if necessary trim again in spring once the risk of heavy frost has passed.
If perennials get too big, start to flower less and less or if it seems to be dying off from the centre, consider dividing the plant but always check that the particular variety is happy to be divided and that you divide at the right time of year for the plant.
By using this simple guide and a little time, perennials can make an absolutely spectacular difference to your garden.
No posts found
| Size | Availability | Price | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
In stock
|
£9.99 |