Bellflower, Emerald

Emerald Bellflower earns its keep in the summer border with a reliable display of classic bell-shaped blue flowers that open along tall, upright stems and catch the eye from across the garden. Growing 24 to 36 inches tall with a tidy, narrow footprint of 12 to 18 inches, it slips easily into mixed borders where its strong vertical form creates pleasing contrast with mounding or spreading companions. Blue flowers are perennially in demand in the summer garden, and few perennials deliver them as freely or as gracefully as a well-grown campanula. It performs well in full sun or partial shade, giving it real versatility in gardens with varied light conditions throughout the day. Deer, rabbits, and most pests leave it alone, and the flowers attract butterflies throughout its bloom season. Deadhead regularly to encourage fresh buds and extend the display well into summer.