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Annual Biennial

Campanula medium

Canterbury bells

A biennial of upright growth, with a basal rosette of lance-shaped leaves to 15cm long and a leafy stem bearing broadly bell-shaped, blue, pink or white, single or double flowers in summer

Other common names

Canterbury bell
Coventry bells
see moreCoventry rapes
cup and saucer
fair-in-sight
gingerbread bells
mariettes
Mercury's violets
St Thomas's bell
lady's nightcap

Synonyms

Campanula 'Canterbury Bells'

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Plant nurseries
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Ultimate height

0.5–1 metres

Time to ultimate height

2–5 years

Ultimate spread

0.1–0.5 metres

Chalk

Clay

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Moist but well–drained, Well–drained

pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun
Partial shade

Aspect

West–facing or East–facing or South–facing

Exposure

Exposed or Sheltered

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Campanulaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Bushy
Genus: Campanula may be annuals, herbaceous or evergreen perennials, with bell or star-shaped, often blue, flowers in late spring or summer
Name status: Correct
Plant range: S Europe

How to grow

Cultivation

It prefers fertile, moist but well-drained soil. It will tolerate wide range of soil types if well-drained. Grow in sun or partial shade. Suitable for container cultivation

Propagation

Propagate by seed. Surface sow seeds from late spring to early summer. In milder areas sow directly in the autumn

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Patio and container plants
Cottage and informal garden
Wildlife gardens
Flower borders and beds
Underplanting of roses and shrubs

Pruning

Do not cut back after flowering if self-seeding is desired. However, removing of the spent flower spikes may encourage second flush of flowers

Pests

Vulnerable to slugs and snails

Diseases

Powdery mildews and rust diseases may be a problem

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