Campanula
CAMPANULACEAE

Herbaceous Perennials, Annuals and Biennials

Campanula are a genus of Spring & Summer flowering perennials, annuals and biennials, many of which are evergreen. These cottage garden favourites enjoy full sun or partial-shade, however, their delicate, mostly bell-shaped flowers, which come in shades of purple, blue, soft sky-blue, gentle-lilac-pink and white, retain their cool vibrancy best when grown in shaded areas.  
   

Varieties: -

Campanula. alliariifolia

 




Campanula. barbata
[The Bearded Bell Flower]

 

Form: An evergreen perennial
Fully Hardy:
Height: 8in (20cm)
Spread: 5in (12cm)
Foliage: Having a basal rosette of hairy, oval, grey-green leaves.
 
Flowers: During Summer producing bell-shaped, lavender-blue flowers along one side of an upright stem. 

 


Campanula. betulifolia

 

Form: A prostrate, slender-stemmed, perennial
Fully Hardy:
Height: 0.75in (2cm)
Spread: 12in (30cm)
Foliage: Having small, wedge-shaped, mid-green leaves. 
 
Flowers: During Summer producing long branching flower stems, carrying clusters of open, bell-shaped, single, pink blooms, with white or pink interiors.

 


Campanula.
'Birch Hybrid'

 

Form: A vigorous, evergreen perennial.
Fully Hardy:
Height: 4in (10cm)
Spread: 12in (30cm)
Foliage: Having small, ivy-shaped, bright green leaves.
Flowers: During Summer producing open, bell-shaped, deep-violet flowers.

 


Campanula. 
'Burghaltii'



Syn: Campanula. x burghaltii
Form: A mound-forming perennial.
Fully Hardy:
Height: 24in (60cm)
Spread: 12in (30cm)
Foliage: Having elongated, oval, mid-green leaves.
Flowers: During Summer producing long, funnel-shaped, pale-lavender flowers on erect stems.

 


Campanula. carpatica

 

Form: A clump-forming perennial.
Fully Hardy:
Height: 3-4in (8-10cm)
Spread: 12in (30cm)
Foliage: Having toothed, rounded to oval, fresh-green leaves. 
Flowers: During Summer producing bell-shaped blossoms, in various colour shades between purple/blue and white

 


Campanula. carpatica
'Bressingham White'

 

Form: A clump-forming perennial.
Fully Hardy:
Height: 4-6in (10-15cm)
Spread: 6in (15cm)
Foliage: Having an abundance of rounded, bright-green leaves.
Flowers: During Summer producing open, cup-shaped, white flowers.

 


Campanula. carpatica
'Jewel'

 

Form: A clump-forming perennial
Fully Hardy:
Height: 3-4in (8-10cm)
Spread: 12in (30cm)
Foliage: Having toothed, rounded to oval, fresh-green leaves. 
Flowers: During Summer producing deep-violet flowers

 


Campanula. carpatica
'Turbinata'
Syn: Campanula. carpatica var turbinata
Form: A clump-forming perennial
Fully Hardy:
Height: 3-4in (8-10cm)
Spread: 12in (30cm)
Foliage: Having toothed, rounded to oval, fresh-green leaves. 
Flowers: During Summer producing pale-lavender flowers

 


Campanula. carpatica
'Weiss Clips'
Syn: Campanula. carpatica 'White Clips'
Form: A clump-forming perennial
Fully Hardy:
Height: 8in (20cm)
Spread: 12-24in (30-60cm)
Foliage: Having toothed, rounded to oval, fresh-green leaves. 
Flowers: During Summer producing pure white flowers.

 


Campanula. cochleariifolia
[Fairy Thimbles]

 

Syn: Campanula. pusilla
Form: A spreading perennial.
Fully Hardy:
Height: 3in (8cm)
Spread: Indefinite
Foliage: Having rosettes of tiny, rounded, fresh-green leaves. 
Flowers: During Summer producing small clusters of white, lavender or pale-blue flowers on short erect stems.

Campanula. garganica

 

Form: A spreading perennial.
Fully Hardy:
Height: 2in (5cm)
Spread: 12in (30cm)
Foliage: Having small ivy-shaped leaves along the stems.
Flowers: During Summer producing clusters of single, star-shaped, pale-lavender blooms, which arise from the leaf axils.

 


Campanula. garganica
'W. H. Paine'
Form: A spreading perennial.
Fully Hardy:
Height: 2in (5cm)
Spread: 12in (30cm)
Foliage: Having small ivy-shaped leaves along the stems.
Flowers: During Summer producing clusters of single, star-shaped, bright, lavender-blue flowers, each with a white eye.

 


Campanula. 
'G. F. Wilson'

 

Form: A neat mound-forming perennial
Fully Hardy:
Height: 3-4in (8-10cm)
Spread: 5-6in (12-15cm)
Foliage: Having rounded, mid-green leaves.
Flowers: During Summer producing large upturned, chalice-shaped, violet blooms.

Campanula. glomerata
'Superba'

 

Form: A vigorous, clump-forming perennial.
Fully Hardy:
Height: 30in (75cm)
Spread: 36in (1m)
Foliage: Having elongated, shield-shaped, mid-green leaves carried both in basal rosettes and along stems.
Flowers: During Summer produces rounded heads of large bell-shaped, purple flowers.

Campanula. x haylodgensis See: Campanula. x haylodgensis 'Plena'

 


Campanula. x haylodgensis
'Plena'
Syn: Campanula. x haylodgensis
Form: A spreading perennial.
Fully Hardy:
Height: 2in (5cm)
Spread: 8in (20cm)
Foliage: Having small-heart-shaped leaves.
Flowers: During Summer producing pompom-like, double, deep lavender-blue blossoms.

 


Campanula. isophylla Form: A dwarf, evergreen, trailing perennial.
Half Hardy:
Height: 4in (10cm)
Spread: 12in (30cm)
Foliage: Having small, toothed, heart-shaped leaves. 
Flowers: During Summer produces star-shaped, blue or white flowers.

 


Campanula. isophylla
'Krystal Hybrids' Stella Blue

 

Form: A dwarf, evergreen, trailing perennial.
Frost Hardy:
Height: 6-8in (15-20cm)
Spread: 12in (30cm)
Foliage: Having small, toothed, heart-shaped, light-green leaves.
Flowers: During mid-Summer producing concave, star-shaped, pale-blue blooms.

Campanula. 
'Joe Elliot'
Form: A mound-forming perennial.
Fully Hardy:
Height: 3in (8cm)
Spread: 5in (12cm)
Foliage: Having small, heart-shaped, grey-green leaves.
Flowers: During Summer producing large funnel-shaped, lavender-blue flowers.

 


Campanula. lactiflora Form: An upright branching perennial.
Fully Hardy:
Height: 4ft (1.2m)
Spread: 2ft (60cm)
Foliage: Having elongated, lance-shaped, mid-green leaves.
Flowers: During Summer producing racemes of nodding, blue (occasionally pink or white) flowers on slender stems.

 


Campanula. lactiflora
'Loddon Anna'

 

Form: An upright, branching perennial
Fully Hardy:
Height: 4ft (1.2m)
Spread: 2ft (60cm)
Foliage: Having narrow, elongated, lance-shaped, mid-green leaves.
Flowers: During Summer producing racemes of nodding, soft dusky pink flowers on slender stems. 

Campanula. lactiflora
'Pritchard's Variety'

 

Form: An upright perennial.
Fully Hardy:
Height: 4-5ft (1.2-1.5m)
Spread: 2ft (60cm)
Foliage: Having narrow, elongated, lance-shaped, mid-green leaves.
Flowers: From early-Summer to late Autumn,  producing racemes of nodding, bell-shaped, violet-blue flowers on slender stems. 

Campanula. lactiflora
'White Pouffe'

 

Form: An upright, branching perennial
Fully Hardy:
Height: 4ft (1.2m)
Spread: 2ft (60cm)
Foliage: Having narrow, elongated, lance-shaped, mid-green leaves.
Flowers: During Summer producing racemes of nodding, white flowers on slender stems. 

Campanula. latifolia
'Brantwood'
Form: A clump-forming, spreading perennial.
Fully Hardy:
Height: 4ft (1.2m)
Spread: 2ft (60cm)
Foliage: Having rough textured, elongated, heart-shaped, mid-green leaves.
Flowers: During Summer producing bell-shaped, rich violet-purple, flowers on strong stems.

 


Campanula. latiloba Form: A rosette-forming perennial.
Fully Hardy:
Height: 3ft (1m)
Spread: 18in (45cm)
Foliage: Having narrowly oval, mid-green leaves.
Flowers: During Summer producing chalice-shaped, blue, occasionally white flowers.

 


Campanula. latiloba
'Percy Piper'
Form: A rosette-forming perennial.
Fully Hardy:
Height: 3ft (1m)
Spread: 18in (45cm)
Foliage: Having narrowly oval, mid-green leaves.
Flowers: During Summer producing chalice-shaped, lavender flowers.

 


Campanula. medium
[Canterbury Bells]
Form: A slow-growing, evergreen, clump-forming biennial. 
Fully Hardy:
Height: 2-3ft (60cm-1m)
Spread: 1ft (30cm)
Foliage: Having toothed, lance-shaped, fresh-green, leaves.
Flowers: During Spring and early Summer producing bell-shaped, single or double flowers, in shades of white, blue or pink.

 


Campanula. medium
'Bells of Holland'

 

Form: A slow-growing, evergreen, clump-forming biennial. 
Fully Hardy:
Height: 24in (60cm)
Spread: 12in (30cm)
Foliage: Having toothed, lance-shaped, fresh-green, leaves.
Flowers: During Spring and early Summer producing bell-shaped, flowers, in shades of white, blue, lilac or pink.

Campanula. morettiana Form: A tuft-forming perennial
Frost Hardy:
Height: 1in (2.5cm)
Spread: 3in (8cm)
Foliage: Having ivy-shaped leaves, with fine hairs. 
Flowers: During late-Spring and early-Summer producing bell-shaped, violet-blue flowers, on arching flower-stems.

 


Campanula. persicifolia Form: A spreading, rosette forming perennial.
Fully Hardy:
Height: 36in (1m)
Spread: 12in (30cm)
Foliage: Having narrow, lance-shaped, bright-green leaves.
Flowers: During Summer producing bell-shaped, nodding, white or blue blossoms.

 


Campanula. persicifolia
'Fleur de Neige'
Form: A spreading, rosette forming perennial.
Fully Hardy:
Height: 36in (1m)
Spread: 12in (30cm)
Foliage: Having narrow, lance-shaped, bright-green leaves.
Flowers: During Summer producing bell-shaped, nodding, double, white flowers.

 


Campanula. persicifolia
'Pride of Exmouth'
Form: A spreading, rosette forming perennial.
Fully Hardy:
Height: 36in (1m)
Spread: 12in (30cm)
Foliage: Having narrow, lance-shaped, bright-green leaves.
Flowers: During Summer producing bell-shaped, nodding, powder-blue blooms.

 


Campanula. persicifolia
'Telham Beauty'

 

Form: A spreading, rosette forming perennial.
Fully Hardy:
Height: 36in (1m)
Spread: 12in (30cm)
Foliage: Having narrow, lance-shaped, bright-green leaves.
Flowers: During Summer producing chalice-shaped, light-blue flowers.

Campanula. persicifolia
'Worthham Belle'

 

Form: A spreading, rosette forming perennial.
Fully Hardy:
Height: 36in (1m)
Spread: 12in (30cm)
Foliage: Having narrow, lance-shaped, bright-green leaves.
Flowers: During Summer producing bell-shaped, double, light-blue flowers.

Campanula. alba oronata

 

Form: TBA
Fully Hardy:
Height: TBA
Spread: TBA
Foliage: TBA
Flowers: TBA

Campanula. portenschlagiana

 

Form: A vigorous, prostrate, evergreen perennial.
Fully Hardy:
Height: 6in (15cm)
Spread: Indefinite
Foliage: Having dense mats of small, ivy-shaped, dark-green leaves.
Flowers: During Summer producing clusters of open, trumpet-shaped, violet-blue flowers

Campanula. poscharskyana

 

Form: A rampant, spreading perennial.
Fully Hardy:
Height: 4-6in (10-15cm)
Spread: Indefinite
Foliage: Having round leaves with serrated edges.
Flowers: Throughout Summer producing star-shaped, pale violet-blue flowers.

Campanula. pulla Form: An often short-lived perennial, spreading by underground runners.
Fully Hardy:
Height: 1in (2.5cm)
Spread: 4in (10cm)
Foliage: Having tiny, rounded leaves.
Flowers: From late-Spring to early-Summer producing small, bell-shaped flowers held singly on each stem. 

 


Campanula. punctata rubriflora

 

Form: TBA
Fully Hardy:
Height: TBA
Spread: TBA
Foliage: TBA
Flowers: TBA

Campanula. pusilla See: Campanula. cochleariifolia

 


Campanula. pyramidalis
[Chimney Bell-Flower]
Form: An erect branching biennial.
Half Hardy:
Height: 6ft (2m) 
Spread: 2ft (60cm)
Foliage: Having elongated heart-shaped mid-green leaves.
Flowers: During Summer producing long racemes of star-shaped, blue or white blooms.

 


Campanula. raineri Form: A perennial, which spreads by means of underground runners.
Frost Hardy:
Height: 1.5in (4cm) 
Spread: 3in (8cm)
Foliage: Having toothed, oval, grey-green leaves.
Flowers: During Summer producing pale-lavender flowers, individually on each flower stem.
Suited to: Growing in the Alpine House, protected from frost and Winter wet.

 


Campanula. trachelium
[Nettle-leaved Bell-Flower]

 

Form: An upright perennial
Fully Hardy:
Height: 2-3ft (60cm-1m)
Spread: 1ft (30cm)
Foliage: Having basal, serrated leaves resembling those of a nettle.  
Flowers: During Summer producing deep chalice-shaped, upturned, blue or purple-blue blooms.

Campanula. trachelium
'Bernice'

 

Form: An upright perennial
Fully Hardy:
Height: 30in (75cm)
Spread: 12in (30cm)
Foliage: Having serrated, basal leaves resembling those of a nettle.
Flowers: During Summer producing double, deeply chalice-shaped, upturned, blue or purple-blue blooms.

Campanula. trachelium alba flore pleno

 

Form: An upright perennial
Fully Hardy:
Height: 
Spread:
Foliage: Having serrated, basal leaves resembling those of a nettle.
Flowers: During Summer producing deeply chalice-shaped, white flowers.

Campanula. vidalii See: Azorina. vidalii

 


Campanula. zoysii Form: A tuft-forming perennial.
Frost Hardy:
Height: 2in (5cm) 
Spread: 4in (10cm)
Foliage: Having tiny, rounded, glossy green leaves.
Flowers: During Summer producing stems bearing, bottle-shaped, lavender flowers.
Dislikes: Winter wet.

 


 

Cultivation: -

Campanulas are divided into groups each of which has its specific cultivation requirements: -

Group 1: These require slightly alkaline, well-drained but moist, fertile soil, in full sun or partial shade.

Group 2: These are the rock-garden varieties, and need well-drained soil, and a position in full sun or partial shade.

Groups 3 & 4: These are specialist alpine plants not often grown in temperate climates.

 

Propagation: -

Sow seed or divide established plants during Autumn.

Take stem or basal cuttings during Spring or Summer.

 

Fully Hardy to Frost Tender

Pests & Diseases: -

Mostly during the Autumn, some campanulas are subject to rust, a fungal disease that causes brown patches to develop on stems and leaves. Remove affected material and do not dispose of by throwing on the compost heap. Treat plants with a fungicide if necessary.

Slugs can be a pest at most times during the growing season, deal with slugs according to your conscience

Red spider mite can be troublesome on some cultivars.

 

 

 

 

 

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