Samantha Dwarf Hybrid Bellflower
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Flower description / bloom time
Pretty, dainty, long blooming, fragrant, upward facing, ¾ inch violet-blue flowers with a white halo inside. Samantha blooms constantly [almost ridiculously], starting in June through summer with a little maintenance.
Foliage interest—color/texture
This bellflower forms a mat-like mound of dense, deep green heart-shaped foliage and is fine textured. No disease or insect problems were noted.
Habit and growth rate observations
The slow spreading mat forms a dense mound and remains compact in ideal conditions. If exposed to excess moisture or too much shade, it can sprawl to 20 inches and open in the center.
Site preferenc—soil and light
Samantha prefers full sun to light shade and is easily grown in moist well-drained soils. Heavier shade leads to fewer flowers and a sprawling open habit.
Successes and possible drawbacks—how to overcome them
Exceptional blooming characteristics and dense foliage make Campanula ‘Samantha’ an excellent choice for the edge of the border, rock garden or mass planting. Although deadheading is time-consuming due to the amount of flowers, it will significantly improve the appearance of these bellflowers. Deadheading or shearing after the initial heavy bloom also encourages plants to push more flowers and extend the bloom period.
Notes from growers/retailers
This bellflower is a good retail seller because it grows easily, begins blooming in early summer, and has neat and tidy foliage.
Best combinations
Samantha works best as an edger in the garden and mixes well with all other colors.
Parting SHOT —the overall evaluation results were Good ***
The profuse and repeating bloom of blue, up-facing flowers makes Campanula ‘Samantha’ very desirable. But in years with heavy spring rains the stems did ‘lodge’ or fall away from the center.
Evaluated 2004-2007
