Campanula persicifolia ‘Telham Beauty’, commonly called peach-leaved bellflower, is a tall, upright perennial that produces dozens of porcelain blue bell shaped flowers.

The leaves are narrow, toothed, leathery and a wonderfully bright green.

The flowers are large, outward facing, broad bell-shaped with a light porcelain blue color. They appear on a slender stem that stretches in May over 50cm, creating a spectacular show that towers above the low growing garden plants.

👨‍🌾GARDENING TIPS👨‍🌾: Campanula persicifolia ‘Telham Beauty’

• • • 🕶️ They appreciate some part afternoon shade in hot summer climates and do very well in shady areas of the garden.
    • 🌱 These plants require constant moisture – ensure that the sun doesn’t scorch their roots by mulching or planting a creeping plant at the base – the color pairing with Calendula looks spectacular
    • ✂️ Cut back flowering stems to basal rosettes when stem leaves begin to fade – this will prevent self-seeding which can be quite aggressive!
    • ☀️ Campanula will not stand a scorching sun or dry winds – keep her protected on a north/east facing slope, hiding and creeping between stones.

The Tales & The Botany: Campanula persicifolia ‘Telham Beauty’

Campanula persicifolia, commonly called peach-leaved bellflower, is a tall, elegant perennial in the Campanulaceae family.

The cultivar ‘Telham Beauty’ is prized for its upright stems and large, nodding, violet-blue flowers, which bloom from late spring to early summer, bringing a graceful vertical element to borders and cottage gardens.

Campana means ‘bell’ in Latin, a reference to the bell-shaped flowers.

Persicifolia is a reference to the shape of the leaves, which are similar to those of the peach, Prunus persica.

This species is native to Europe and western Asia, naturally occurring in meadows, forest edges, and mountain slopes.

🌸 Floral Morphology

• • Flowers are solitary or in loose racemes at the tops of stems.

  • They are actinomorphic (radially symmetrical), bell-shaped, and typically violet-blue, 3–5 cm long.

  • Petals (5 fused) form the characteristic campanulate (bell) shape.

  • Stamens are 5, enclosed within the corolla tube, with a single style ending in a 3-lobed stigma.

  • Sepals are small, green, and persistent, providing protection to developing buds.

Leaves are alternate, simple, entire, lanceolate to linear, and slightly hairy on the upper surface, giving a textured appearance. The basal leaves are broader, forming a small rosette at the base, while stem leaves are narrower and sessile.

🌍 Écologie & Adaptations

Campanula persicifolia ‘Telham Beauty’ is adapted to temperate garden environments, particularly in:

• • Meadows and borders: Prefers fertile, moderately moist soils and full sun to partial shade.

  • Pollinator-friendly gardens: Early to mid-summer blooms provide nectar for insects.

  • Vertical structure: Tall, erect stems (60–90 cm) offer contrast among shorter perennials.

Key adaptations include:

• • • • Moderate drought tolerance once established, especially in well-drained soils.

      • Long-lasting flowering period, ensuring visual impact over several weeks.

      • Self-supporting stems, with strong vascular tissue to maintain upright growth even in windy sites.