New at Our Little Acre - Campanula 'Pink Octopus'

Last spring, I looked all over for this in every garden center and nursery I visited. I asked about it but the closest I ever got was when we were in Columbus. "It was on the order list, but it never got sent to us."

It seemed I wasn't going to find it locally, so I ordered it from one of my favorite mail-order nurseries, Big Dipper Farm. The order arrived and while the plant itself wasn't all that big, it had a healthy root system. It wasn't in the ground too long before I realized it was going to be a strong grower. It spread a bit before fall and frost, but it didn't get large enough to bloom yet that year.

When spring arrived this year, 'Pink Octopus' was one of the first perennials in our garden to wake up and I could see that I was going to be very pleased with this plant. It has very lush foliage that has an interesting enough shape that I like it even when it's not in bloom.



In the last week or so, it has begun to bloom, and what fascinating blooms it has! I can see how it got its cultivar name.




















I'm quickly becoming a big fan of Campanulas. They're proving to be vigorous, tough plants in our gardens and there are so many different leaf shapes and blooms in the genus. You could have a small garden comprised of nothing but Campanulas and there would be enough variation in form and color that it would be interesting to even the most veteran gardeners.

Example? Compare 'Pink Octopus' to 'Dickson's Gold':


Besides the obvious difference in foliage and bloom shape and color, the growth habit and size of the plants is quite different as well. 'Pink Octopus' grows to a height of about 12 inches, while 'Dickson's Gold' is a small-leaved ground hugger.