Campanula cretica, aka Symphyandra cretica ?

[ValerieM]

Does anyone have experience or info on the cultivation of Campanula cretica?  I believe it is aka Symphyandra cretica.  I started some from AGS seed in February - fortunately we had a few days that month that hit zero and did the trick for germination.  The seedlings have many leaves now and I have planted the first one in a crevice on the edge of my rockery (south side of building, sloping north) where it gets morning to midday sun, then some shade from a big power pole during the heat of the day. 
Again a question of should it have a glass or hat for the winter?
Any advice or pictures would be appreciated. 
Best regards to the forum.
ValerieM

[Gene Mirro]

I grew them in SW Washington state.  They germinate easily at 60-70F.  I did not give them any protection over the winter, and they had 100% survival.  In the second summer, they made bushy plants two feet tall, with hundreds of blue bells for several weeks.  But the plants died after blooming.  I believe they are biennial.  Another very strange thing:  they did not set any seed.  There are plenty of pollinating insects in my area, so this surprised me.

[fleurbleue]

I have grown it for three years in my garden, in a well drained sunny place. Last summer it has had a lot of flowers but this spring it has disappeared. I collected its seeds and  I have sown them at the begining of March ; they have pushed up in 10 days indoors

[tonyg]

Great!  I have some young plants from AGS seed 2010.  Those I planted out have come through the winter OK after 'disappearing' for a while.  Those in pots waiting to be planted out also OK - it must be VERY hardy after the last winter.  Looking forward to that display of flowers. 

[fleurbleue]

Several arching stems near 25 cm long with many cute light blue flowers Tony  I'm glad having been able to grow its "children", l love it 

[ValerieM]

Thank you, everyone, for the further intel on Campanula / Symphyandra cretica.  My plant has come back this spring too.  It didn't flower last year, having just been started from seed - and having been pruned repeatedly by deer.  I propped a cloche over it with a couple of inches between cloche and ground for air circulation, for the winter and have now replaced with a wire cage - again to keep the island deer off.  It is growing well.

The picture you posted, Gene (thank you for doing that), shows a plant very like Symphyandra zanzegura, which bloomed its head off for me all last summer.  That plant shows no signs of life so far this spring, so I am glad I collected and started seed, as maybe it has reached the end of its life.   Do you find that the bud of S. cretica inflates like a little balloon before it opens and the petals curl back?  That is how S. zanzegura behaves.  I will look on my old computer and see if I have a photo that I can post for comparison sake.

Best wishes to your all and happy rock gardening !!
Valerie Melanson

[ValerieM]

Hello all,
Well I found three photos on my old computer of Symphyandra zanzegura.  I have adjusted them to be minimal kg, so hope they show enough detail and that all three are attached okay.
Valerie

[ValerieM]

Nope, only the one photo showed up, so am trying again.