Versatile Bellflowers for Any Garden

Bellflower is the common name for flowers in the genera campanula, campanulastrum, codonopsis, and platycodon, encompassing nearly 300 species of annual, biennial and perennials plants found growing naturally throughout the Northern Hemisphere.

Bellflower flowers

Bellflowers range in size from the eight-inch high ‚”Clips” varieties to the 36-inch lactiflora types to some woodland varieties that grow up to six feet. They are primarily blue in colour, but red pigmentation in some varieties expands the colour choice to amethyst, purple, lilac, violet, and wine. Breeding mutations has led to several white varieties, as well.

Varieties of bellflowers can be used in rock gardens, perennial borders or woodland gardens. The low growing varieties also make lovely container plants.

Sometimes referred to as Balloon Flowers, this group of flowering plants get their name from the bell-shaped flowers that begin to blossom in early summer and can last well into late summer.

Cultivating bellflowers

Most bellflowers are hardy to USDA zone 4. They are a hardy and tough plant that will grow under a variety of conditions from full sun to part shade. To have them bloom at their best, most bellflowers prefer fertile, well-drained soil that receives frequent watering. Some of the very tall varieties will benefit from staking to keep them from being blown over by wind or heavy rain.

Deadheading spent flowers will prolong the bloom in both perennial and annual varieties. As the flush of flowers fade, cut the plants back to new growth with sharp pruning scissors. Leave the flower stalks of perennial varieties standing through the winter, but cut the dead stalk back to the base in early spring before new growth appears.

Propagating bellflowers

Perennial bellflowers should be divided every few years in the fall or spring. Dig up the entire plant and discard the older center parts. Replant the vigorous younger sections around the outer edge.

Annual bellflowers are easily grown from seed sown directly into the garden in early spring. Scatter the bellflower seeds on light humousy soil, cover with a thin layer of peat or sand and keep very moist until seedlings appear and have formed their first true leaves.

Popular bellflower varieties

Some bellflower varieties have become very popular with gardeners for their ornamental qualities or for their easy care.

Campanula medium or Canterbury Bells is a showy plant that comes in pink, blue or white, with single or double flowers. They are biennials, so an annual sowing of seeds will ensure flowers every year. This variety flowers later in the summer and makes a delightful cut flower.

Campanula persicifolia or Peach-leaved Campanula has been garden favorite for many years. It has large showy bowl-shaped flowers that come in varieties of single and double blue, single and double white, maxima or large peach-leaved, and grandis or large flowering. This perennial bellflower grows to three feet high and flowers in mid-summer.

Campanula carpatica or Carpathian Bellflower comes in two varieties, ‚”Blue Clips” and ‚”‘White Clips”. This low growing bellflower is suitable for rock gardens or as a container plant. As the variety name indicates, the upturned flowers are either blue or white and hover delicately above a mound of light green foliage that grows to just eight inches tall. These bellflowers bloom profusely for several weeks in late spring and early summer, with some re-blooming throughout the summer into early fall.

For gardeners looking for an easy-care plant that will give colour and variety to a sunny border or partly shaded rock garden, the showy bellflower is a solid choice.