Canterbury-Bells
Campanula medium. CAMPANULACEAE.
Planting and Growing Canterbury-Bells
You’ll find everything you need to know to plant and grow Canterbury-bells in the accompanying table’s tabs:
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- Flowers, foliage, and root structure of Canterbury-bells
- Plant hardiness and growing conditions for Canterbury-bells
- Season of bloom and planting time for Canterbury-bells
- When, how deep, and where to plant Canterbury-bells
- How to plant Canterbury-bells
- Watering, fertilizing, care, and pests or diseases of Canterbury-bells
- Landscape and container uses of Canterbury-bells
- Comments about Canterbury-bells and its features
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Growing Canterbury-Bells
Many cultivars of erect, upright biennial herbs, 2–3 ft. (60–90 cm) tall. Alternate, rough-textured, deep green, oval, pointed leaves, to 10 in (25 cm) long, on hairy stalks.
Dwarf cultivars available.
See also Bellflower, Campanula species, with many closely related biennial and perennial plants, and Willow Bellflower, Campanula persicifolia, a closely related, evergreen perennial. Chilean Bellflower, Nolana paradoxa, has similar appearing flowers, but is classified within another genus, NOLANACEAE.
Planting and Care Guide
Blooms
Many violet blue, pink, white, bell-shaped, sometimes double-petaled flowers, to 2 in. (50 mm) long and 1 in. (25 mm) wide, with reflexed petals, in tiers vertically along the stalk, in spring–early summer.
Best Climates
Ground hardy, zones 6–8.
Soil Type and Fertility
Moist, well-drained soil. Fertility: Rich. 7.0–7.5 pH.
Where and How to Plant
Early spring in partial shade, 1 ft. (30 cm) apart, after frost hazard has passed. Start seed indoors 6–8 weeks before final frost for early blooms; transplant when soil warms. Sow seed for flowers the following season or plant nursery containers.
Proper Care
Moderate. Keep moist. Fertilize monthly. Deadhead spent flowers to prolong bloom. Stake tall varieties. Propagate by seed.
About This Plant
Good choice for accents, backgrounds, borders in cottage, meadow, shade, woodland gardens. Good for cutting. Disease resistant. Spider mite and slug, snail susceptible.