Campanula medium

RHS Plant Profile

Canterbury bells

Other common names

Canterbury bell, Coventry bells, Coventry rapes, cup and saucer, fair-in-sight, gingerbread bells, mariettes, Mercury's violets, St Thomas's bell, lady's nightcap

Synonyms

Campanula 'Canterbury Bells'

Annual Biennial

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A biennial of upright growth, with a basal rosette of lance-shaped leaves to 15cm long and a leafy stem bearing broadly bell-shaped, blue, pink or white, single or double flowers in summer

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

0.5-1 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 2–5 years
Max Spread: 0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height: 0.5-1 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Clay Loam Sand

Moisture: Moist but well–drained or Well–drained
pH: Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun Partial shade

Aspect: West–facing or East–facing or South–facing
Exposure: Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H4

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Campanulaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Bushy
Genus: Campanula may be annuals, herbaceous or evergreen perennials, with bell or star-shaped, often blue, flowers in late spring or summer
Name Status: Correct
Plant Range: S Europe

How to Grow

Cultivation

It prefers fertile, moist but well-drained soil. It will tolerate wide range of soil types if well-drained. Grow in sun or partial shade. Suitable for container cultivation

Propagation

Propagate by seed. Surface sow seeds from late spring to early summer. In milder areas sow directly in the autumn

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Patio and container plants
Cottage and informal garden
Wildlife gardens
Flower borders and beds
Underplanting of roses and shrubs

Pruning

Do not cut back after flowering if self-seeding is desired. However, removing of the spent flower spikes may encourage second flush of flowers

Pests

Vulnerable to slugs and snails

Diseases

Powdery mildews and rust diseases may be a problem