Bellflower Plant Guide: How to Grow and Care for Bellflowers

Campanula flowers, commonly called bellflowers, are popular garden plants that bloom showy flowers and green leaves that make a popular ground cover. This genus contains over 300 species of flowers that can grow as annual, biennial, or perennial plants, coming in a variety of colors and shapes. Bellflowers typically have flowers with an upturned, bell-like shape, and they typically bloom with purple or blue flowers, but can also bloom in pink or white flowers. They grow as wildflowers but are also popular in rock gardens, cottage gardens, or as garden border plants.

There are over 300 species of bellflower or campanula plant, many of which have strikingly different characteristics. Here are some of the most popular varieties of bellflower plants.

1. 1. Bluebells (Hyacinthoides non-scripta): Bluebells are one of the most recognizable and popular varieties of bellflower. Their pale blue flowers hang loosely from their vertical foliage, and they sway in the breeze like bells. They are common in North America.
2. 2. Serbian Bellflower (Campanula poscharskyana): This incredibly hardy variety is very easy to care for and produces vibrant blue and lavender-blue blooms shaped like a perfect star.
3. 3. Adriatic Bellflower (Campanula garganica): These flowers, also known as "Dickinson's Gold," are known for their violet-blue blooms that grow in a pointed star shape with five petals. They grow rapidly and cover a lot of ground. They can also withstand a slight bit of frost.
4. 4. Peach-Leaved Bellflowers (Campanula persicifolia): Peach-leaved bellflowers are popular among home gardeners as they bloom all year round and attract pollinating insects like bees which help pollinate the garden. In spite of their name, the flowers of this plant grow in a pale purple.
5. 5. Dalmatian Bellflower (Campanula portenschlagiana): This cultivar boasts plentiful purple flowers and the plant’s foliage remains green throughout the year. It grows best in areas with full sun.
6. 6. Canterbury Bells (Campanula medium): These plants bloom in parge, stunning pink bell-shaped flowers that attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. They prefer full sun and are very easy to maintain.

Bellflowers are best planted in early or late spring after the last frost has reliably passed. Depending on the cultivar that you are growing, its appropriate USDA hardiness zone may vary, but most thrive in zone 4. These plants thrive in full sun, though some cultivars prefer partial shade.

Bellflowers can be grown from rhizomatous root cuttings, but the simplest way to propagate these plants is from a seed. Follow these steps for growing your own bellflower plants from seed.

1. 1. Choose a location. First, decide where in your garden you're going to plant your bellflower plants. Whether you're planting in a pot or directly into the garden soil, choose a place that gets full sun.
2. 2. Prepare your soil. If planting in a pot, fill your pot with potting mix. If planting directly in your garden, use a small trowel to dig the soil to make sure it is well-draining to avoid root rot.
3. 3. Plant your seeds. Place your bellflower seed just under the soil's surface and lightly cover it with soil. Water your seed immediately after you plant it.
4. 4. Water your seed as it establishes itself. Continue to water your bellflower seed regularly as it begins to establish itself. Make sure your top layer of soil remains moist as your seeds begin to sprout and your bellflowers. If you plant your seed in late spring, it should start growing by late summer.

Bellflowers are relatively low-maintenance plants that thrive without much maintenance. However, there are a few things you can do to set your plants up for success.

1. 1. Water your plants regularly. Bellflowers are hardy growers and can survive through harsh conditions. However, you should water your plants fairly regularly as your plant establishes itself, particularly in dryer months of mid-summer.
2. 2. Deadhead your plants. Deadheading refers to the process of cutting fading or dead flowers from your plant to promote new growth. If you deadhead or prune flowers back as they start to die off, you can prolong the plant’s bloom time and you will have vibrant flowers for a longer period.
3. 3. Cut your plant back in winter. For more established plants, cutting your plant all the way down during winter can help to promote new growth the following spring.
   
4. 4. Protect its roots from frost. Most bellflowers are hardy growers and can survive cold winters. However, for additional protection in winter, consider adding mulch to the ground around your plant’s roots to protect them from frost.

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