Everything You Need to Know About Campanula Plants (2024)

This pretty plant is easy to grow and will return year after year.

By

Nancy Mattia

Nancy is a freelance writer for MarthaStewart.com.

Published on April 17, 2020

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Everything You Need to Know About Campanula Plants (1)

Known for its distinctive bell-shaped blossoms, campanula—better known as bellflower—is an herbaceous perennial that's native to locations that include Europe, northern Africa, and western Asia. The showy flower comes in many varieties, sizes, and colors—purple and blue are the hues you're most likely to find it in, but white and pink shades are also available. Most campanula grows from late spring to late summer or early fall.

Its bell-shaped blooms are the aptly named flower's claim to fame. The stems of some species are smooth and slightly hairy; others are rough and serrated. Its flowers are about one inch long, and it has dark green foliage. Depending on the variety you plant, they can grow from a few inches to four feet in both height and width. Campanulas symbolize gratitude, humility, and everlasting love and are associated with Venus, the Roman goddess of love—which may be why so many are fond of the gorgeous bloom.

Where Campanula Grows

If you live in zones three to nine, per the United States' Plant Hardiness Zone map, then you should have no problem growing campanula at home. The plant does best when situated in full sunlight to part shade.

The Best Way to Use It

These gorgeous blooms are used as ornamental flowers. Since campanula is invasive, it works best as a border, in a rock garden, or hanging in a container.

Maintaining Your Campanula Plant

Just like most living things, it needs to stay hydrated so water the plant when the soil feels dry. And be sure to trim dead heads regularly to promote growth.

The Most Popular Varieties

Campanula persicifolia, or "peach-leaved bellflower," is a graceful plant with white to blue flowers and foliage that's narrow and glossy with a bright green color. It prefers medium moisture, well-drained soil, and grows in zones three to seven. According to the Missouri Botanical Garden, it's a low-maintenance plant that blooms from June to July.

Campanula Americana, often called "tall bellflower," blooms from June to August. It's native to moist open woods, moist meadows, streambanks, and ditches in shady areas of North America. It grows in zones four to seven to as high as six feet.

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Everything You Need to Know About Campanula Plants (2024)

FAQs

Everything You Need to Know About Campanula Plants? ›

Most campanula grows from late spring to late summer or early fall. Its bell-shaped blooms are the aptly named flower's claim to fame. The stems of some species are smooth and slightly hairy; others are rough and serrated. Its flowers are about one inch long, and it has dark green foliage.

How do you take care of a campanula plant? ›

Campanulas prefer evenly moist soils with good drainage and are at their best in climates with cool nights. Fertilizer/Soil and pH: Bellflowers thrive in average, well-drained soils with a pH range of 6 to 8 and will benefit from one light application of a balanced 10-10-10 fertilizer in early spring.

Where is the best place to plant campanula? ›

You can grow all specialist campanula in well-drained gritty soil, in full sun or light shade.

Will campanula come back every year? ›

Most Campanula are hardy perennials, coming back from year to year. Some species are biennials or annuals.

Do Campanulas spread? ›

There are many tough, spreading campanula species and cultivars that thrive in crevices, on banks and walls or provide carpeting groundcover in sun or shade.

How long does campanula last? ›

Campanula poscharskyana

It's a fabulous low-maintenance plant that will provide masses of colourful flowers from summer right through to the end of autumn – even longer in sheltered, urban locations. Grow in full sun or partial shade.

Should you cut back campanula? ›

Cut back spent stems to encourage more bloom. Wall and trailing bellflowers can be trimmed with scissors to smarten and reduce them, when required. Many campanulas can be lifted and divided every few years to make new plants, although several (including C. lactiflora and C.

Does campanula bloom all summer? ›

Campanula Americana, often called "tall bellflower," blooms from June to August. It's native to moist open woods, moist meadows, streambanks, and ditches in shady areas of North America.

Why is my campanula dying? ›

They do not like to have wet feet and so prefer well-drained soil. A plant with wet feet will rot at the crown and that leads to the demise of the rest of the plant. All of the summer rain that we received this year may have weakened your plants and they were not able to rebound when the weather turned dry.

How tall does campanula plant get? ›

The blooms are usually bell-shaped but may be star or cup-shaped. Campanula plants can be as diminutive as 3 inches (8cm), perfect for groundcover, or as gargantuan as 6 feet (1.8 m). The bellflower can be propagated from seed, and some can be grown by division, cuttings or even self-sowing.

How often should I water my campanula? ›

Campanula can be placed in full sun or partial shade indoors. Avoid direct sunlight in a south-facing window. Water the plant regularly; twice a week is sufficient. Preferably water from below so that the foliage and flowers do not get wet.

Can you overwater a campanula? ›

During the growing season from May to September, water your campanula regularly to keep the compost moist. Don't overwater houseplants so much that the roots are sitting in soggy compost, as this is likely to result in root rot or death.

What does campanula symbolize? ›

Campanula is typically used to express feelings of gratitude, humility and everlasting love. In some cultures, it is associated with death and therefore used in graveside arrangements and potted displays.

Is campanula toxic to dogs? ›

Serbian Bellflower (Campanula poscharskyana) is a non-toxic champ in the plant world. Unlike some of its floral cousins, it doesn't pack any toxic punches for your pooch. This groundcover gem is safe for dogs, thanks to its lack of harmful secondary metabolites.

Is campanula aggressive? ›

Initially introduced as an ornamental, this plant has spread aggressively into lawns and gardens where it is difficult to control.

What plants go well with campanula? ›

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Are campanula indoor or outdoor plants? ›

As a houseplant Campanula can cope with an indoor climate, and it can also go outdoors in spring and summer.

How do you care for purple campanula? ›

To keep bellflowers blooming profusely, provide plenty of sun and keep the soil moist, but not soggy. Divide garden bellflower clumps every two to five years to give the plants room to spread and produce new growth that encourages blooms. Amend the soil with organic matter or use a well-balanced fertilizer.

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