Introducing...
Campanula
Common name: Bellflower
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.
Looks
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
Likes
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.
Campanulas we recommend
Campanula glomerata 'Superba'
clustered bellflower 'Superba'
- 0.1–0.5 metres
- 0.5–1 metres
Campanula carpatica
tussock bellflower
- 0.1–0.5 metres
- 0.1–0.5 metres
Campanula portenschlagiana
wall bellflower
- 0.1–0.5 metres
- 0.1–0.5 metres
Campanula glomerata 'Superba'
clustered bellflower 'Superba'
- 0.1–0.5 metres
- 0.5–1 metres
Campanula carpatica
tussock bellflower
- 0.1–0.5 metres
- 0.1–0.5 metres
Campanula portenschlagiana
wall bellflower
- 0.1–0.5 metres
- 0.1–0.5 metres
Useful advice
Creating wildflower meadows
Cut flowers: growing and selection
Ground cover plants
Perennial borders: choosing plants
Plants for under trees
Rock gardens: plants
Sink and trough gardening: plants for
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