Campanula

Campanula: characteristics and flowers

Campanula bells are usually purple in colour, but they can also be white, pink or blue-purple. Some species have flowers with a distinct bell shape, while others have a more star-shaped flower. Campanula performs well as a creeper and border plant and, depending on the variety, shines just as brightly in pots or as cut flowers in your vase. It's an easy-to-care-for, low maintenance plant.

Campanula belongs to the large campanula family (Campanulaceae). This family includes annuals and biennials, but most species are perennial, hardy plants. This means that most species reward you with their floral splendour for years and are able to survive periods of severe frost.

Originally, Campanula is a mountain plant, so it does very well growing amongst stones or along a wall. Campanula is a true summer bloomer, usually flowering between June and September. With proper care, Campanula flowers as many as 2-3 times a year. Bees and butterflies also love Campanula's blooms, so this cheerful plant is also good for biodiversity.

Campanula varieties

With over 300 different varieties, Campanula offers a wide choice of shapes, colours, heights and flowering periods. Whether you are looking for a bellflower for your border, as ground cover or as a hanging plant: there is a variety suitable for everyone! These are the most well-known varieties of Campanula:

• Campanula Addenda: this variety is popular for its long flowering time, low-maintenance character and colourful flowers in purple or white. Campanula Addenda grows about 20 centimetres high. This makes it a low, creeping species that's perfect as a ground cover or in pots.
• Campanula Persicifolia: this species, also known as peach-leaved bellflower, is a tall variety. This Campanula has slender, tall stems and typical, bell-shaped flowers. The Campanula Persicifolia is a perfect medium-high border plant and can grow about 70-90 centimetres tall. Flower colours range from purple to pink and white.
• Campanula Lactiflora: this species, also known as milky bellflower, is a tall variety and can grow up to 1.40m tall! This species has long, upright stems and star-shaped flowers that are pink or purple in colour.
• Campanula Glomerata: this species is also called tangle bellflower. It's a medium-high border plant that grows about 60-80 centimetres tall and has purple-blue flowers.
• Campanula Portenschlagiana: this creeping species is also known as dalmation bellflower. This is a low-growing plant that doesn't grow taller than 20 centimetres. The bells of this flower are blue-purple or purple. This species does very well as ground cover and in window boxes, rock gardens and borders.
• Campanula Carpatica: this species, also called Carpathian Bellflower, is a beautiful species with wide open bells. The species grows up to 15-20 centimetres high and is not creeping. Carpathian bells do well along the edge of a border or in a pot.
• Campanula Medium: this species is very popular as a cut flower. It has an upright growth habit with striking, distinctly bell-like flowers in purple, white, blue or pink. This species grows about 70 centimetres tall and does well as a medium-high border plant.
• Campanula Poscharskyana: this creeping species is also called Serbian bellflower and grows about 20 centimetres high. It spreads quickly thanks to its long, winding stems. Hence, it's ideal as ground cover or in rock gardens, borders and window boxes. The flowers of this species are blue, purple or partly white.

Campanula planting, location and care

Are you sowing or planting Campanula in the open ground or in a pot on your balcony? Check out this step-by-step plan for planting garden plants and tips below on planting, location and caretaking of Campanula:

• Campanula thrives best in a spot in full sun or semi-shade.
• Campanula is an easy plant that grows in almost any soil type, but they prefer calcareous soil.
• Depending on the species (creeping or not), you can plant 5-10 plants per square metre of soil area.
• Whether in a pot or in your garden, Campanulas need regular watering, especially during dry, hot periods.
• Campanulas are low-maintenance, but it's important to remove spent flowers. This will ensure a longer flowering period and keep the plant healthy.
• Beware: snails love Campanulas! You can control slugs and snails in an animal and eco-friendly way by placing coffee grounds, eggshells, copper coins, stones or shells around your Campanulas. You can also plant scented herbs near Campanulas, such as sage or rosemary. These scents will deter snails.

Campanula as a cut flower

Do you have a lovely bunch of Campanula in your vase? You'll want it to last for as long as possible, of course. Check our tips below on keeping Campanula beautiful in your vase for as long as possible:

• Cut the stems of Campanula at an angle with a sharp knife.
• Remove any lower leaves so they don't hang in the water and cause bacterial growth.
• Place Campanula in a clean vase with water at room temperature.
• If necessary, add cut flower food for longer shelf life of Campanula.
• Change the vase water regularly.
• Do not put the vase in direct sunlight, next to a fruit bowl or in a draught.

Pruning campanula

For optimal, healthy growth and flowering, it's necessary to prune Campanula. But what exactly should you do with once the plant is spent in your garden? See our pruning tips below:

• Have the flowers finished blooming out? Remove spent flowers by hand or with pruning shears. This will stimulate the growth of new flowers and you can enjoy even more blooms in the future! Do not cut off the stems, as they will sprout again so that new flowers can be formed.
• Has your Campanula finished flowering (by early autumn)? Prune the spent stems back to just above the ground.
• If necessary, you can remove dead or damaged stems in spring. It's often not necessary to prune in spring, unless the plant is too big and needs a rejuvenating prune. Has your Campanula grown too wide? You can split it in spring or autumn by digging out part of the plant and dividing the root ball.

Campanula symbolism

Campanula has different symbolic meanings, but in general, the bellflower symbolises gratitude, humility and friendship. The plant owes this symbolism to its visible features. The flower's modesty (in size and shape) is associated with gratitude and humility. Also, the fact that Campanula flowers abundantly, without much maintenance, shows that it is a grateful flower. Campanula often grows in dense clusters and spreads easily, which is seen as a symbol of connection and friendship.

Did you know that the fairy tale Rapunzel by the Brothers Grimm, is named after the edible rapunzel bell (aka Campanula Rapunculus)? Various bees are also named after the Campanula. These include the bell sand bee, small bell bee and the large bell bee.

Campanula origins

Campanula has many different species with different origins, but is mainly found in the temperate regions of the northern hemisphere. The most likely original species, Campanula Carpatica, comes from the Carpathian Mountains in Eastern Europe. Other species, such as Campanula Portenschlagiana, come from Croatia. In addition, several species of Campanula occur naturally in grassy, rocky, and mountainous areas in other parts of Europe and Asia.

Is campanula poisonous?

No, Campanula is not toxic to humans and animals, including dogs and cats. However, caution is advised when people or animals have eaten large quantities of the plant as they can develop stomach complaints. In this case, consult a doctor or vet.

Is campanula edible?

A number of Campanula species, such as Campanula Rapunculus and Campanula Punctata, have edible roots or petals. There is no strong flavour to the edible species of Campanula, but they can be used as a garnish or candied, such as in salads. Campanula has a sweet, mild, radish-like flavour.