Bellflower

The Campanula clan offers incredible diversity: bell-, tubular-, or star-shaped flowers in blue, white, pink, red; habits from creeping groundcovers to tall uprights. Most are hardy perennials (Zones 4–8, Zone 3 with snow cover), peaking in early to midsummer. Deadheading encourages sporadic rebloom and a fall flush. Perfect for cottage gardens.

Types & Notable Varieties

Tall, Upright Growers (Borders & Cutting)

• Peachleaf Bellflower (C. persicifolia): 15–30 inch spikes of broad bells in blue, pink, white, purple.
• Clustered Bellflower (C. glomerata): Upward-facing purple or white heads on 18-inch stems.
• Milky Bellflower (C. lactiflora) & Great Bellflower (C. latifolia): 3–5 feet tall, upward-facing flowers.
• Nodding types: Spotted Bellflower (C. punctata) with pink speckled dangling bells; hybrid 'Sarastro' with deep-purple nodding bells on 2.5–3 ft plants.

Low, Spreading Growers (Edging, Rock Walls)

• Serbian Bellflower (C. poscharskyana): Wave of blue star-flowers.
• Adriatic (C. garganica) & Dalmatian (C. portenschlagiana): Similar low spreaders.
• Carpathian Harebell (C. carpatica): Perfect for path edging; 'Blue Clips' blooms all summer; sterile hybrid 'Samantha' covers 6-inch mounds in violet-blue.

Biennial

Canterbury Bells (C. medium): 12–30 inches, boxy bells in lilac, blue, pink, white. Sow midsummer for next-year bloom.

Site Selection

Full sun to light shade; moist, well-drained, humus-rich soil. Give spreaders room to roam. Avoid aggressive Korean Bellflower (C. rapunculoides) which can become invasive.

Planting Instructions

Container plants anytime. Space ~1 foot apart (24 inches for milky bellflower). Loosen soil 12–15 inches, add 2–4 inches compost. Plant at container depth, water well.

Care

Spring: organic fertilizer + thin compost + 2-inch mulch. Water if rainfall <1 inch/week. Deadhead to neaten and prevent self-sowing. Tall types: remove individual faded flowers, then cut stalks to base. Low growers: shear by half after first flush. Divide every 3–5 years for vigor.