There are over 500 varieties of campanula, from tiny to tall, but they all have one thing in common: gorgeous purple flowers. They look a bit like bluebells with the colour turned up. The name campanula actually means ‘little bell’ in Latin. 

Campanulas may look delicate but they’re tough little things, able to grow in pretty harsh conditions and the oddest of places. You may well have spotted them growing in cracks in brick walls or on the side of the road, their sweet blooms cheering up even the bleakest spots. They can cope with extreme cold, dry spells and wind.

Their hardy nature means they’re really easy plants to grow. They don’t like shade (it will stop them producing flowers), but otherwise they’re very unfussy. They should flower throughout summer and sometimes into autumn. A feed every couple of weeks will give them a nutrient boost.

This variety has a habit of spreading as far as you’ll let it. It’s easy to contain in a pot, but if you plant it in the ground be prepared for it to travel around the garden. This is of course not necessarily a bad thing. Who wouldn’t want more of those flowers?