Trachelium caeruleum 'Lake Michigan Purple'
Family: Campanulaceae
Semi-hardy short lived Perennial 
 
Light Preference: Sun to Part Shade
Moisture Preference:  Moist well drained soil
Height: 80cm
Growth Habit: lush clump forming with tall flower clusters
Flowering season: Summer - Autumn
Planting Use: Cottage Gardens, textural borders, cut flower
 
Description: Trachelium caeruleum 'Lake Michigan Purple' is an upright perennial with lush purple tinged serrated leaves, that produce tall stems of large domed flower clusters made up of tiny purple flowers.  Trachelium can over winter here in Dunedin, though in colder areas it may be an anual unless well protected. It can be hit by Sclerotinia stem rot in the wet cold, so be careful with heavy wet mulching around the base of the plant.  I have had successful patches for 2-3 years but they are shorter lived perennials, that make up for this in their productivity!
 
Notes on cutting: Trachelium make a fantastic filler flower.  They are hugely productive and my only complaint is that they do tend to have a massive harvest in a short production window of a couple of weeks.  If you pinch the tips in spring you will get many modest bouquet sized blooms, but if you leave them they will grow very large single heads.
 
Supplied in 1L recycled plastic pots