Campanula, the common Bellflower, the name is Latin for little bell. Despite the cute name and dainty bell-shaped blossoms, this is a very tough and adaptable genus of plants. They can be grown as biennials, perennials, or annuals, depending on the species and the climate. They are native to regions spanning from the Mediteranean coast to the arctic tundra. There are hundreds of cultivated varieties famous for their distinctive blooms and trusted for their hardiness. They are popular in gardens all over Europe, especially in the United Kingdom.
Pink Octopus is a sun-loving perennial originally cultivated in Korea. The uniquely splayed blooms defy the bell-shape characteristic of the genus - the petals reach out to become the tentacles of the pink octopuses. The blooms are popular with hummingbirds and other pollinators, but deer are not attracted to them. If promptly dead-headed, this Campanula will provide an impressive mid-summer bloom period.





Every time I flip through the Wayside Gardens Fall catalog (and I flip through it a lot, as I'm sure you can imagine), I'm stopped by the photo on page 13 of the 
