Campanula is an easy, richly flowering plant species that has many varieties and uses, even indoors. Are you looking for a low-growing variety of only 10 centimeters or a very high variety of almost one and a half meters in height? Then there is a variety for you. The species are generally undemanding, easy to maintain and very hardy. In addition to the blue/purple colors of the varieties we have described below, campanula is also available in white.
Bellflower
Campanula is also called bellflower, because the flowers of several species resemble small bells.
Campanula portenschlagiana
Are you looking for a relatively low-growing and hardy bellflower? Then the fast-growing portenschlagiana is the perfect species. This wide-spreading species is also found under the name campanula muralis. Portenschlagiana has blue-purple, wide-open bells about 2 centimeters in size and blooms from June to September.
Campanula portenschlagiana grows up to 15 centimeters high. You can plant it in groups, as ground cover, but also in pots, tubs or planters.
Per square meter we recommend planting 8 to 11 plants. It thrives best in a sunny spot or semi shade in normal garden soil. The plant is hardy but not evergreen.
Campanula poscharskyana
The Campanula poscharskyana is a fast, low-growing species with a height of 15 to 25 centimeters. This wide-spreading plant likes a sunny spot but can also be planted in semi-shade in normal garden soil.
This bellflower blooms profusely with small, blue star-shaped flowers from June through August. The plant is very hardy, not evergreen, but retains its green leaves for a long time during the winter. We recommend planting 8 to 11 plants per square meter. Planting this bellflower, for example, in clusters in the border or in the rock garden. Let poscharskyana hang over a garden wall, it looks spectacular!
In the spring you can split the plant and replant it.
Campanula persicifolia
The Campanula persicifolia or peach-leafed bellflower is a bellflower that reaches a height of about 80 centimeters. The upward-growing species is available in a white variety (Alba) and a blue/purple variety (coerulea). This border plant is well adapted to any garden soil and you can plant it in both sun and semi-shade. We recommend planting 8 to 11 plants per square meter.
From June to August the plant rewards you with beautiful, large bell-shaped flowers. This bellflower is also suitable as a cut flower.
The species is very hardy and dies off in winter. Just before the plant blooms again in spring, we advise you to cut off the old foliage.
Campanula addenda
This low-growing and abundantly flowering variety was created from a combination of Campanula portenschlagiana and Campanula poscharskyana.
In addition to being a ground cover and tub plant, this species is also ideal as a houseplant.
The height is 10 to 20 centimeters and the plant blooms in May, June and September. Unlike other campanula species, this species is both hardy and evergreen. When planted outside, this species likes a spot in the sun or half shade and normal, moist garden soil.
There are two varieties available, Campanula addenda Ambella and Adansa.
Ambella grows round and compact with graceful bells in purple, blue or white. The Adansa grows downward with fanned out shoots and thrives in (hanging) pots, borders and over the edge of a wall. They are available in white, blue, purple and lilac/pink.
Campanula carpatica, carpathian bellflower
The carpathian bellflower is named after the place of its origin, the European mountain region of the Carpathians. This species was awarded the Merit Award of Garden in England, an award given annually to the most valuable garden plants. And for good reason! What makes this species special compared to other varieties is the formation of beautiful cushions.
Campanula carpatica grows to a height of about 25 centimeters and requires a position in the sun or semi-shade. It thrives in any good garden soil (not too wet) and you can plant it in the border, rock garden or in a planter. Allow for 16 plants per square meter. The purple/blue bell-shaped flowers that bloom from June through August point upward and are eagerly visited by butterflies, bees, beetles and flies. The species is very hardy.
Campanula glomerata, tangle bell
Also known as Campanula glomerata superba, this tangle bell forms beautiful, dense clusters and reaches a height of 60 to 80 centimeters. The species blooms from July through September with purple/blue, star-shaped flowers with a white center.
Like most campanula species, a spot in the sun or semi-shade is desirable. In regards to soil, it is an easy species; it even thrives in gardens around the sea. Campanula glomerata superba can be planted in clusters in your border. We recommend 5 to 7 plants per square meter.
This species is easy to propagate by dividing the adult plants.
Campanula lactiflora
You’ll also come across this bellflower with the suffix superba. It is a richly flowering species with small, light purple star-shaped flowers. The flowering period is June and July. With a maximum height of about 140 centimeters, this species is best planted in groups in the middle or at the back of the border.
If there are no other support plants around it, the use of a plant support (during the flowering period) is recommended. This species requires a place in the sun or semi-shade, in good, not too wet garden soil. We recommend 5 to 7 plants per square meter.
Campanula garganica
The smallest variety is the campanula garganica. The species is wide-spreading and can grow up to 50 centimeters wide. Campanula garganica blooms profusely in June through August with a multitude of small, star-shaped blue flowers in any good garden soil. It is an ideal plant for the rock garden. Give this species a spot in the sun or semi-shade. It is recommended to plant 16 plants per square meter. The species is hardy and dies off in winter. Cut off the old foliage just before the plant blooms in spring.
Campanula care
Campanula is easy to maintain. It grows in any type of soil, but prefers calcareous soil. It is best to give the plant a spot in the sun or semi-shade, and then it will be beautiful. The bellflower blooms from June to August.
Campanula is perfectly capable to withstand dry weather, but during the blooming period we advise you to water the plant twice a week. In doing so, you will enjoy the beautiful flowers of the bellflower longer. Please remove the dead flowers, so more energy goes to the flowers that have not yet finished blooming, next to this, it also just looks prettier.
Pruning Campanula
In principle, Campanula does not need to be pruned. If you want to do so, cut off the dead stems after they have flowered. Sometimes, a second, more modest flowering will occur in the autumn. Never cut campanula all the way to the ground. The bellflower needs to be protected to go into the winter.
Winter hardy Campanula
Campanula is very hardy and therefore does not need additional protection. The bellflower has sufficient protection in winter by its own foliage. Therefore under no circumstances should it be removed before the winter.
