Campanula cochleariifolia Alba

Campanula cochleariifolia 'Alba' is a lovely white-flowered form of the ear-leaved bellflower. It is a small perennial species of alpine origin, excellent in cool rockeries. This creeping plant spreads in large patches through fine trailing and branching rhizomes and produces a spectacular multitude of simple, pure white flowers, carried in bunches on slender and flexible stems which gracefully lean towards the ground in summer.

Campanula cochleariifolia belongs to the family Campanulaceae. It originates from the Alps where it grows in limestone scree. It is a low-growing plant, reaching about 5 to 12 cm (2 to 5in) in height, with a spread of 20 cm (8in). It is stoloniferous and eventually forms large colonies. The flowering takes place from June to August in the form of delicate, simple, white, pendulous bell-shaped flowers, through which light passes, measuring 12 to 20 mm (1in) in length, gathered in dense cymes. The deciduous foliage is dark green, with heart-shaped basal leaves, visible during flowering, and cauline leaves (on the stems) that are longer and lanceolate. The plant is very resistant to cold.

Campanula cochleariifolia 'Alba' is above all an alpine plant, at home in cool rockeries, in rocky and limestone soil that remains slightly moist in summer. It quickly fills cracks in paving, old walls, and low walls and also fits perfectly in a wild garden. It adapts very well to cultivation in troughs or pots, in a light and well-drained substrate. This mountain plant does not like climates that are too hot or nights where the temperature remains high. Associate it with pasqueflowers, gentians, edelweiss, creeping baby's breath, or the wild form with blue flowers.

There is definitely a bellflower that will thrive in your garden, whether it is in the north or south, in shade or sun, dry or wet. This genus is so diverse that description by species is necessary.