Campanula persicifolia ‘Nitida Alba’

Now, about the Campanula persicifolia ‘Nitida Alba’

When we grow plants from seeds, we want to know the correct name of the plants we are growing. Otherwise, what is the purpose of the labels we stick in the ground and around the rockery?

There is a lot of confusion about the name of this dwarf form of the peach- leaved bellflower.
I checked various databases and reliable sources to be sure what we are talking about. Plus, I grew it from seeds just to be able to see it ‘in the real’ and get a better idea of what it may be.

It is a very peculiar plant, with very rigid (stiff) stems and dark green leaves, typical shape wise of C. persicifolia. The flowers differ from those of the typical C. persicifolia by being larger and upward facing, and not all seem to have functional anthers. As a result, only a couple of flowers have formed capsules with seeds.

This little Campanula is offered under different names – all wrong! – by various companies selling seeds /or plants, some very well known. You may buy seeds or plants as: Campanula nitida alba, C. persicifolia f. nitida and ssp. nitida, Campanula persicifolia var. planiflora (with syn. C. persicifolia var. nitida) and C. nitida for a blue flower form.

All synonyms’ names, including var. and subspecies published at all times for C. persicifolia are listed here: https://wfoplantlist.org/taxon/wfo-0000828132-2024-06?page=1
We cannot found any form, variety or ssp. nitida published under C. persicifolia, at any time. The same goes for var. planiflora. They simply don’t exist!

Even worse, Campanula nitida is a synonym name for Campanulastrum americanum!!! You know – our native, biennial, tall plant, with particular long styled- flowers!

Lack of knowledge of botanical nomenclature, lack of attention, wrong spelling of the species name versus cultivar names…all these have contributed in time to the propagation of wrong names for this little Campanula.

It is impossible to track back cultivar names, but my opinion is that that this dwarf plant showed up as a mutation from C. persicifolia ssp. sessiliflora ‘Alba’.  The subspecies sessiliflora has the same upward, sessile flowers: https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/120442/campanula-persicifolia-subsp-sessiliflora-alba/details

It doesn’t matter where it comes from, most important is to use a proper name for it.
I’ve found a single specialty nursery from Austria, where the name it is written properly: https://www.sarastro-stauden.com/shop/winterharte-stauden/campanula-glockenblume/campanula-persicifolia-nitida-alba/

Campanula persicifolia ‘Nitida Alba’ is an interesting dwarf bellflower that will make a good piece of conversation for your rockery. Plus, it is easily grown from seeds (warm germinator) and starts to flower in the second year. Go for it!
And don’t forget to write the proper name on your label, especially if you are sharing seeds later!