Campanula is one of several genera in the family Campanulaceae with the common name bellflower. It takes both its common and its scientific name from its bell-shaped flowers. Campanula is Latin for “little bell”. The genus includes over 500 species and several subspecies, distributed across the temperate and subtropical regions of the Northern Hemisphere, with the highest diversity in the Mediterranean region east to the Caucasus. The range also extends into mountains in tropical regions of Asia and Africa. The species include annual, biennial and perennial plants, and vary in habit from dwarf arctic and alpine species under 5 cm high, to large temperate grassland and woodland species growing to 2 metres tall.

Campanula persicifolia or Willow Bellflower as it is commonly known is a rosette-forming, upright perennial which grows on stiff stems to 60-120cm tall. The plant features large, outward facing, bell-to-cup-shaped flowers 4cm across which are porcelain lavender blue. Campanula persicifolia is one of the most popular campanulas. The flowers on Campanula persicifolia are held above the mound of leaves on tall, straight stems, making them ideal for cut flowers. Bellflowers are often considered early season bloomers, but you should get repeat blooms in a cutting garden, if you are diligent about cutting.