SYMPHYANDRA ZANGEZURA and ARTHUR BELL ROSE

I've left it a little late to take a photograph of this beautiful perennial, Symphyandra, with its bell-shaped blue flowers, dark stems, and dainty little light-green leaves.  Many of the flowers have faded now but it still looks great next to the yellow Arthur Bell floribunda rose, and I love the way the blue turns to cream before they fade away entirely.  As you can see by the little bee, it is attractive to pollinators. 



Symphyandra Zangezura and Arthur Bell rose

The label says that Symphyandra has lilac-blue flowers above geranium-like foliage.  It is suitable for borders and containers in full sun or partial shade on well-drained fertile soil.  It flowers early summer to autumn and achieves a heigh of 25cm and spread of 40cm (10" x 16"). 

Personally, I wouldn't grow it in a container but plant it in a border, as I have.  It looks good among roses and other perennials but has a straggly type of growth and needs a little space so that the leaves, and dark stems can be admired along with the flowers.  Mine seems to be much larger than stated above.  It would be understandable to mistake it for a campanula, and I highly recommend it.