Campanula (Bellflower) / RHS Plant Guide

Campanula

RHS Genus Guide

Ranging from robust summer border plants to more diminutive types for rockeries and containers, these easy-to-grow plants have mainly clear blue or white, pink or purple flowers. Mostly bell-shaped, sometimes they open to be like flat stars. Some campanula have double flowers.

Common name: Bellflower

RHS/Joanna Kossak

Appearance

Campanulas vary in habit from mat-forming, dwarf perennials to tall herbaceous species on stiff or arching stems up to 2m (6ft) in height. They provide a long display of mainly blue to mauve or pale pink and white bell, star or cup-and-saucer shaped flowers

Preferences

You can grow campanula in a range of soils and situations, but they prefer moisture retentive free-draining soils (not too wet or not too dry) in sun or part shade.

Dislikes

Campanula do not enjoy winter wet and some less hardy species need the protection of a conservatory or greenhouse to overwinter.

Did you know?

A few campanula make good, long-lasting cut flowers. C. medium commonly known as Canterbury bells is often used. It is a biennial with pink, blue or white bell-shaped flowers.