Tussock bellflower 'Chewton Joy' Campanula carpatica 'Chewton Joy'
ABOUT
'Chewton Joy' is a compact, clump-forming perennial to 20cm high with bright green, toothed and rounded leaves. In summer, bell-shaped, upturned, light violet-blue flowers with white centres are borne above the foliage on slender stems
About this plant
- Names
Family
Campanulaceae
Synonyms
Carpathian Bellflower, Carpathian Harebell
Common names
Campanula carpatica 'Chewton Joy'.
- Characteristics
Life cycle
Perennials
Foliage type
Deciduous
Color of leaves
Green
Flower color
Blue
Height
1 foot (30 cm)
Spread
1 foot (30 cm)
Plant type
Herb
Hardiness zones
3
Native area
Carpathians
Benefits
- General Benefits
- Easy to Grow - Campanula carpatica 'Chewton Joy', also known as Carpathian Bellflower, is known for being easy to cultivate and care for, making it a good choice for beginners.
- Attracts Pollinators - The plant's flowers are attractive to bees and butterflies, which are vital for pollination.
- Ground Cover - It can serve as an excellent ground cover due to its dense foliage, helping to suppress weeds.
- Ornamental Value - With its bright blue flowers, the Carpathian Bellflower adds aesthetic value to gardens and landscapes.
- Edging Plant - Its compact size makes it suitable for use along borders or as edging for garden paths.
- Container Gardening - This variety is well-suited for container gardening, allowing those with limited space to enjoy its beauty.
- Drought Tolerance - Once established, Carpathian Bellflower shows a degree of drought tolerance, making it suitable for drier climates or water-wise gardens.
- Rock Gardens - Its tolerance for rocky, well-drained soil makes it an ideal choice for rock gardens or alpine settings.
- Medical Properties
This plant is not used for medical purposes.
- Air-purifying Qualities
This plant is not specifically known for air purifying qualities.
- Other Uses
- Photography Backdrop: The Carpathian Bellflower's vibrant blue flowers can serve as an enchanting backdrop for macro photography, providing a natural pop of color and texture.
- Fairy Gardens: Their delicate appearance makes them suitable for adding a whimsical touch to miniature fairy garden landscapes.
- Teaching Tool: Botany teachers can use this plant to educate students on pollination, as bees are attracted to its blooms.
- Natural Fabric Dye: The flowers of the Carpathian Bellflower can be used to create a natural blue or purple dye for fabrics.
- Eco-friendly Confetti: Dried petals of the Carpathian Bellflower can be tossed as biodegradable confetti at celebrations.
- Culinary Garnish: The blooms can be used as an edible garnish for salads and desserts, adding a splash of color to dishes.
- Craft Projects: Pressed flowers of this species can be used in scrapbooking, card making, or in creating personalized bookmarks.
- Edible Flowers: The fresh blooms can be candied and used to decorate cakes and pastries.
- Art Inspiration: Artists may draw inspiration from the distinctive bell shape and color of the flower to create paintings, textiles, or jewelry designs.
- Seed Harvesting: Collecting seeds from the plant to share with fellow gardening enthusiasts or to propagate new plants in the community.
Interesting Facts
- Feng Shui
The plant Carpathian bellflower is not used in Feng Shui practice.
- Zodiac Sign Compitability
The plant Carpathian bellflower is not used in astrology practice.
- Plant Symbolism
- Perseverance: Campanula, commonly known as bellflower, is resilient and can grow in challenging conditions, symbolizing the ability to overcome obstacles.
- Gratitude: Bellflowers are often associated with thankfulness, perhaps due to their enduring nature and the way they grace gardens with long-lasting blooms.
- Constancy and everlasting love: With their round-the-clock blooms, bellflowers represent unchanging affection and unwavering commitment in romantic relationships.
- Humility: The bell-like shape of their flowers, which appear to be bowing down, can symbolize humility and a down-to-earth nature.
- Water
The Carpathian Bellflower 'Chewton Joy' prefers consistently moist soil, so it should be watered when the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch. In general, this might mean watering once or twice a week, but frequency should be increased during hot, dry periods and reduced during cooler, rainy spells. A thorough watering should be done, providing the plant with approximately one gallon of water per square foot every week, depending on weather conditions. Ensure that the water penetrates deeply into the soil to encourage deep root growth. Avoid overhead watering to reduce the risk of leaf diseases, and instead, water directly at the base of the plant.
- Light
The Carpathian Bellflower 'Chewton Joy' thrives best in full sun to partial shade conditions. Ideal planting spots are those where the plant will receive at least 6 hours of sunlight per day, though it can tolerate some light afternoon shade, especially in hotter climates. Avoid deeply shaded areas, as insufficient light can lead to leggy plants and fewer flowers.
- Temperature
The Carpathian Bellflower 'Chewton Joy' is hardy and enjoys a temperature range between 60 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit. It can survive brief periods of colder weather, potentially down to about 30 degrees Fahrenheit. On the warmer end, it can tolerate temperatures up until about 85 degrees Fahrenheit but may need extra water during hotter spells to prevent stress.
- Pruning
The Carpathian Bellflower 'Chewton Joy' benefits from pruning to encourage bushier growth and more flowers. Deadhead spent flowers regularly to promote continuous blooming throughout the season. In early spring or after the first flush of blooms, lightly prune the plant to shape it and remove any dead or damaged stems. Optimally, the best time to give the plant a more substantial prune is after blooming has ceased.
- Cleaning
As needed
- Soil
Carpathian Bellflower prefers well-draining soil with a mix of compost, loam, and sharp sand to improve drainage. The soil pH should be slightly acidic to neutral, around 6.0 to 7.5 for optimal growth.
- Repotting
Carpathian Bellflower should be repotted every 2-3 years or when it becomes root-bound to ensure healthy growth and sufficient space for root expansion.
- Humidity & Misting
Carpathian Bellflower thrives in average humidity conditions found in most homes and does not require any special humidity adjustments.
- Suitable locations
Indoor
Ensure bright light, well-drained soil, and regular watering.
Outdoor
Choose sunny spot, enrich soil with compost, provide adequate water.
Hardiness zone
3-9 USDA
- Life cycle
Carpathian harebell 'Chewton Joy' begins its life as a seed, typically germinating in spring when soil temperatures warm. Once germinated, the seedling emerges and enters the vegetative growth phase, developing a rosette of basal leaves. As the plant matures, it develops stems and a profusion of bell-shaped flowers, usually in the early to mid-summer, depending on the climate. After pollination, often by bees, the flowers produce seeds, completing the reproductive stage. The plant may continue to bloom intermittently throughout the summer if spent flowers are removed in a process called deadheading. Carpathian harebell 'Chewton Joy' is a perennial, so after flowering, it will enter a period of dormancy in the fall or winter, depending on local conditions, before reemerging the following spring.
- Propogation
Propogation time
Spring-Early Summer
Campanula carpatica 'Chewton Joy', commonly known as the Carpathian Bellflower, can be propagated through seed sowing or by division, typically in the spring. The most popular method for propagating 'Chewton Joy' is through division, as it ensures that the new plants will be true to the parent plant, unlike seeds that may result in variable offspring. To propagate by division, wait until spring when the plants are emerging from dormancy, then gently lift the plant from the ground. Carefully separate the clumps into smaller sections, ensuring that each new division has a good amount of roots attached. Replant the divisions immediately at the same depth they were growing before and water them well. Divisions should be spaced about 12 inches (approximately 30 centimeters) apart to allow adequate room for growth. Keep the soil consistently moist until the new divisions are established.