Tussock bellflower 'Weisse Clips' Campanula carpatica f. alba 'Weisse Clips'
ABOUT
A low, mound-forming perennial to 25cm tall with bright green, rounded, toothed leaves and upturned, white, bowl-shaped flowers, borne on slender stems just above the foliage in summer and early autumn
About this plant
NamesFamily
Campanulaceae
Synonyms
White Clips Carpathian Bellflower, White Carpathian Harebell, Weisse Clips Bellflower
Common names
Campanula carpatica var. alba, Campanula carpatica 'White Clips', Campanula carpatica 'Alba', Campanula carpatica 'Weisse Clips'.
CharacteristicsLife cycle
Perennials
Foliage type
Deciduous
Color of leaves
Green
Flower color
White
Height
1 foot (30 cm)
Spread
2 feet (60 cm)
Plant type
Herb
Hardiness zones
3
Native area
Eastern Europe
Benefits
General Benefits- Easy to Grow: Adapts well to a variety of soil types and growing conditions.
- Attractive Flowers: Produces abundant and cheerful white flowers that can enhance the visual appeal of any garden.
- Drought Tolerant: Once established, it can tolerate periods of dryness, reducing the need for frequent watering.
- Ground Cover: Its mat-forming habit makes it an excellent ground cover, suppressing weeds and minimizing soil erosion.
- Long Blooming: Offers a long flowering season from late spring to early fall, providing sustained beauty in the landscape.
- Wildlife Friendly: Attracts pollinators such as bees and butterflies, supporting biodiversity.
- Compact Size: Its small and compact growth habit makes it suitable for rock gardens, borders, and small garden spaces.
- Low Maintenance: Requires minimal care once established, making it ideal for gardeners of all skill levels.
- Cold Hardy: Resistant to cold temperatures and can survive in colder climates without requiring special winter protection.
- Edging Plant: Perfect for edging paths and walkways, providing a neat and tidy appearance to garden designs.
Medical PropertiesThis plant is not used for medical purposes.
Air-purifying QualitiesThis plant is not specifically known for air purifying qualities.
Other Uses- Carpathian Bellflower is sometimes used in small floral arrangements or corsages due to its delicate white blooms, adding a touch of elegance to personal adornments.
- Because of its attractive, mounding habit and long blooming period, Carpathian Bellflower can be utilized as a living decoration for outdoor events, such as weddings or garden parties.
- Carpathian Bellflower can occasionally serve as a natural dye for fabrics, providing a light greenish-yellow hue when used with proper mordants.
- In art, the pressed flowers of the Carpathian Bellflower are used in herbarium collections or for creating botanical prints, capturing the plant's beauty in a lasting form.
- The blooms are edible, and Carpathian Bellflower can be used to garnish salads or desserts, adding a subtle floral hint and decorative touch to dishes.
- Some hobbyists use Carpathian Bellflower in miniature fairy gardens or model landscapes, appreciating their dwarf-like size and charming aesthetic.
- During education, this plant can be used to teach children about botanical anatomy and the life cycle of flowering plants in garden clubs or school projects.
- As a photography subject, the pristine white flowers of Carpathian Bellflower can provide an excellent opportunity for macro photography enthusiasts to practice their skills.
- The plant can also be used in pet-friendly gardens, as it is not known to be toxic to animals, offering pet owners a safe and beautiful addition to their garden spaces.
- Lastly, Carpathian Bellflower seeds are sometimes used in seed art, where seeds of various species are arranged to create patterns and pictures.
Interesting Facts
Feng ShuiThe Carpathian bellflower is not used in Feng Shui practice.
Zodiac Sign CompitabilityThe Carpathian bellflower is not used in astrology practice.
Plant Symbolism- Perseverance: The Campanula carpatica, commonly known as Carpathian Bellflower, often symbolizes perseverance due to its ability to grow in tough conditions, often seen clinging to rocky terrains and thriving in less-than-ideal soil.
- Constancy and eternal love: The bell-shaped flowers have been associated with constancy and eternal love, possibly due to their long blooming period and the way they cover the landscape consistently.
- Gratitude: In the language of flowers, Campanula can express gratitude, perhaps due to its gracious and abundant blossoms, creating a sense of fullness and generosity.
- Humility: Its bell shape bowing down as if in humility can symbolize modesty and a down-to-earth nature.
- Vulnerability: The delicate nature of its blooms may also denote vulnerability, reminding us of the delicateness of human emotions.
WaterWhite Clips Bellflower should be watered thoroughly, allowing the top inch of soil to dry out between waterings. During active growth in spring and summer, water approximately once a week, but reduce watering frequency in fall and winter when the plant is not actively growing. Providing about one gallon of water per plant every week during the summer months is usually sufficient, depending on the size of the plant and the local climate. Avoid overhead watering to prevent foliage diseases, and ensure that water reaches the root zone by watering at the base of the plant.
LightWhite Clips Bellflower thrives best in full sun to partial shade. The ideal spot for this plant is an area where it can receive at least 6 hours of sunlight daily, with some afternoon shade in hot climates. Avoid deep shade, as insufficient light can reduce flowering and overall vigor of the plant.
TemperatureWhite Clips Bellflower prefers moderate temperatures and can generally tolerate minimum temperatures down to about 20 degrees Fahrenheit. The ideal temperature range for optimum growth is between 60 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Extreme heat above 85 degrees Fahrenheit can stress the plant, so providing some afternoon shade in hotter climates is beneficial.
PruningPrune White Clips Bellflower by deadheading spent flowers regularly to encourage further blooming. Perform a more substantial trim back after the main flowering period has ended, cutting back the stems by about half to maintain a compact shape and promote new growth. The best time for a major pruning is in late winter or early spring, before new growth begins.
CleaningAs needed
SoilWhite Clips Bellflower thrives in well-draining, loose soil that is rich in organic matter. A mixture of garden soil, peat, and perlite or sand would be ideal to ensure proper drainage and aeration. The soil pH should be slightly alkaline to neutral, ranging between 7.0 and 7.5 for optimal growth.
RepottingWhite Clips Bellflower should be repotted every two to three years to refresh the soil and provide space for growth. It's best to repot in the spring just before the growing season begins.
Humidity & MistingWhite Clips Bellflower prefers moderate humidity levels but is quite adaptable. Ensure good air circulation around the plant to prevent any issues related to high humidity.
Suitable locationsIndoor
Provide bright light, well-drained soil, and regular watering.
Outdoor
Plant in full sun to partial shade, in well-draining soil.
Hardiness zone
3-9 USDA.
Life cycleCampanula carpatica f. alba 'Weisse Clips', commonly known as White Clips Carpathian Bellflower, begins its life cycle as a seed that germinates in early spring under appropriate conditions of moisture and temperature. The seedlings emerge and develop into a rosette of basal leaves, from which a root system establishes to support the plant's growth. By late spring to early summer, the plant starts to produce upright stems that bear white, bell-shaped flowers, blooming profusely and attracting pollinators. After pollination, the flowers produce seed capsules that release seeds when mature, allowing for dispersal and the potential for new plants to grow the following season. During the autumn, the plant often dies back to the ground in colder climates, becoming dormant over the winter period. With the arrival of spring, the perennial nature of 'Weisse Clips' prompts it to regrow from overwintering rootstock or basal leaf clumps, thus repeating its life cycle.
PropogationPropogation time
Spring-Early Summer
The Carpathian Bellflower 'White Clips' is commonly propagated by seed or by division. The most popular method of propagation for this perennial plant is division, which is best carried out in either early spring or early fall. To propagate by division, carefully dig up the clump of Carpathian Bellflower and gently separate it into smaller sections, each with a good amount of roots, using your hands or a sharp knife. These sections can then be immediately replanted in well-prepared soil, allowing for good root-to-soil contact. Water the newly planted divisions well to help establish them. This method of propagation is quick, maintains clonal fidelity, and is often used to rejuvenate older clumps that have become woody and less floriferous over time.
