Campanula pink octopus

[maggiepie]

I bought one of these about 6 weeks ago and planted it in the garden, am noticing new bits popping up some 6 inches away from the mother plant.
Does anyone know if this campanula is invasive?
It certainly looks like it could be to me.

[Lori S.]

As it's a selection of C. punctata/takesimana, it would not be unexpected.

[Paul T]

Lori,

Sounds like it was a good name.  I had one of the variants (I think it was 'Elizabeth'?) spread 1m in radius from it's origin in a single year.  At that point I started removing it.  About 3 years later I finally got rid of it... fingers crossed.  Amazing flowers, but in some conditions it can do VERY well.

[maggiepie]

Hi Lori, was hoping someone ( besides me) might have bought it and have some first had experience with how invasive it might be.
I don't want to pull it out if it isn't too hard to manage.( especially  as it starting to bud)

[Lori S.]

Well, it is certainly popular enough... if no one here pipes up, I'm sure it would be possible to find personal experience with it on a different forum.
Campanula punctata/takesimana send out runners that are quite shallow, so they are relatively easy to control, by just stripping them back (although in a densely planted border, this isn't so straight forward).   My C. punctata have begun to take up too much space (though that took many years), so I plan to use lawn edging to contain them... should work considering the shallow runners.

[David Shaw]

Helen, we have C. punctata 'Pink Chimes' in the garden. After about five years it reached a position about six feet from the original location. This spring we tackled it and in less than half an hour had reduced it to a small patch at its original planting site.
I think that this was well worth the effort considering the pleasure that it has given us over the years.
You should also read about how I fell about enthusiastic alpines in the 'Can you help me identify gift plants, please?'

[maggiepie]

David, I don't have 6 feet for it to roam where I planted it so maybe I better move it to where it has more room.
I think I will have enough of a problem with the creeping anemone I have that is moving ever outward, I think it is sylvestris but not certain, have lost the packet the seed came in.

Lori, I will keep my eye out for one of those old washtubs, could cut the bottom out , sink it and contain it in that.