Campanula Cochlearfolia

I've lost 3 of these plants over the last 2 years, the latest one dying on me recently when it was planted out last year and seemed to establish. There are other alpines in this planting area, but they have all survived well. The soil is on the sandy side so it is free draining and the site is west facing in full sun from midday. The soil can get quite dry in a warm/hot summer. I've no idea why the Campanula has been suffering as I thought they can grow happily in gravel. Any ideas please?

 

they hate the wet and require very well drained soil over the winter best grown in a pot or a trough.

When you have bought the plants if growing in a peaty soil wash this off as it holds too much water and replant them john ins no or 2 is ideal with added grit.

Spruce

 

Limestone grit is good for them if you can get your hands on any.

(I took a dustbin to a Limestone Quarry and filled it up with grit for a fiver.)

 

I'm pretty miffed with the above about Campanula not liking water...I have two planted around a pond into Westland Compost and covered with rough cheap gravel (for concrete mixes) and the bloomin things are going mental flower heads everywhere..they receive copious amounts of misted spray water daily...so should I desist from watering too much?....

 

You don't say how long you have had them? If they were only planted this year then because it has been such a hot dry summer so far they are probably very happy where they are atm. However, when not in growth the vast majority of Campanula dislike winter wet. I grow about 12 different varieties and there are only parts of my garden where they are happy as it is very dry and poor soil which they seem to appreciate rather than rich moist.

 

Yes quite true they are not long established and perhaps its a little too soon to know..should I protect them in some way over winter?

 

You don't say whereabouts you live ie in a wet part of the UK ?or not. it is really down to how good the drainage is where planted which is the most important. If they are on a slope or it's very free draining then they should be fine, it's if their roots are waterlogged/sitting in water for days on end which does the damage. Many plants are killed not by cold but by being sodden. I have Campanula seedlings growing between paving slabs which are laid on sand and gravel! Bone dry but very happy.

 

Its at the pond edge but not in boggy marginal water. Although its near the pond its independently planted into a compost, sand and stone pebble mix...