Campanula portenschlagiana (Dalmation bellflower, "Otomegikyo")

Japanese name: オトメギキョウ （乙女桔梗）
Scientific name: Campanula portenschlagiana

[Overview]
A perennial about 10–15 cm tall.
It has underground stems.
The stems branch freely from the base and spread in a dense mat.
The leaves are simple and alternate, densely arranged, triangular-heart-shaped to kidney-shaped, about 2.5–5 cm long, with serrated margins.
One to several flowers are borne at the stem tips, blooming so profusely that they cover the whole plant.
The corolla is about 2 cm across, bell-shaped opening into a star shape, and blue-purple.
There are also white-flowered forms.
The fruit is a capsule.

[Cultivation]
Propagate from seed or by division.
It dislikes heat and humidity.
It prefers a well-drained, airy site in sun to partial shade, out of the afternoon sun and cold winter winds.
In the hot summer months, keep it in partial shade out of the rain so that it stays cool.
Take care not to overwater; for potted plants, water when the soil surface dries, and during the flowering season water thoroughly from the edge of the pot so that the flowers do not get wet.
For plants in the ground, rainfall is sufficient unless sunny weather continues and the soil becomes severely dry.
From spring to autumn, apply diluted liquid fertilizer.
Remove spent flowers regularly.
Cutting the plant back hard after flowering lets you enjoy a second bloom.
Pests and diseases include soft rot, powdery mildew, slugs, armyworms, spider mites and aphids.

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