Product Details
We must admit to a fondness for blue flowers. Adenophora confusa, or Ladybells, satisfies this craving with spectacular 3’ tall stems packed with nodding, purplish blue blossoms from summer into fall. It’s an easy keeper in full sun or partial shade and evenly moist but well-drained soil. (While more drought-tolerant than other species in the genus, it struggles in the arid heat of the desert Southwest.) Ladybells is happy to spread by runners and seed, if given the space.
For information on the growing and care of Adenophora, click Growing Guide.
Shipping
HOW PLANTS ARE SHIPPED
The size of the plants we ship has been selected to reduce the shock of transplanting. For some, this means a large, bareroot crown. Others cannot travel bareroot or transplant best if grown in containers. We ship these perennials and annuals in 1 pint pots, except as noted. We must point out that many perennials will not bloom the first year after planting, but will the following year, amply rewarding your patience. We ship bulbs as dormant, bare bulbs, sometimes with some wood shavings or moss. Shrubs, Roses, vines, and other woody plants may be shipped bareroot or in pots. The size of the pot is noted in the quick facts for each item.
WHEN WE SHIP
We ship our bulbs and plants at the right time for planting in your area, except as noted, with orders dispatched on a first-come, first-served basis by climate zone. We also ship a wide range of containers and planters, tools, supplies, fertilizers, garden wear, garden decor items, as well as indoor decorations like wreaths and dried bouquets when available. Estimated dates for shipping are indicated in the green Shipping Details box for each item. Please supply a street address for delivery. Kindly contact us with two weeks notice, if you'll be away at the expected time of delivery.
OUR GUARANTEE
We guarantee to ship plants that are in prime condition for growing. If your order is damaged or fails to meet your expectations, we will cheerfully replace or refund it. Please contact our Customer Service Department at 1-800-503-9624 or email us at [email protected]. Please include your order number or customer number when contacting us.
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Great for Chicago Clay soil
Scarlet Wildfire from Chicago, IL
Invasive
Elizabeth from Salt Lake City, UT
They pop up in planters and in areas of the garden far from the initial planting. The spread is so rampant I suspect this plant could end up on the planta non grata in susceptible states.
Very pretty but.....
Dodie from Michigan
Growing guide
Latin Name Pronunciation: ad-en-off'or-uh
Adenophora is a member of the Campanula family, with about 40 species whose blue flowers are hard to tell from Campanulas unless you are a botanist. By far the best is our old friend, A. confusa, or Ladybells, a lovely plant whose 36–40in stems bear rows of large, purplish blue flowers in July and August. This is an excellent blue with no enemies on the color wheel. It’s an easy keeper in full sun or partial shade and evenly moist but well-drained soil. Hardy in zones 3-7s/3-10w. Potgrown.
CULTURE: Provide good garden soil in well-drained location with at least 4 hours of sun. Feed lightly in early spring and cut back to ground level after first heavy frost in the fall. Space plants 12-18" apart.
PROBLEMS: Adenophora has relatively few problems with either pests or diseases. Plants can be somewhat slow to establish, and resent being disturbed after they are established. Not recommended for desert Southwest. Plants spread by seed, so deadhead to prevent unwanted seedlings, which are easily dug up in spring if you find an abundance.