How to plant, grow, and care for Campanula flowers

Are you looking for the perfect perennial to add a gorgeous splash of color to your flower garden this year? What if we told you there was a beautiful bloom that’s hardy enough to survive the sleet and cold of winter; but bounces back in spring, bursting with color and adding visual interest to your garden? You’d want to know about that flower, right? I’d like to tell you how to grow Campanula flowers!

If you’re looking for an easy-to-grow, ground-covering plant that’s winter hardy, cast your eyes towards the Campanula, which comes in colors such as blue-purple, pink, and white. They are one of Rozanne®’s most popular friends!

Campanulas are also known as Bellflowers because of their distinct, upturned bell-shaped flowers, and they’ve even been featured in the gorgeous Wimbledon gardens.

These low-maintenance, alpine natives are perfect for both beginners or more advanced gardeners and make a lovely addition to any garden situation you can think of! They are very tolerant of extreme weather and difficult conditions, making them ideal for your borders, rock gardens, and hanging containers.

This sprawling variety also touts star-shaped leaves that inspire plenty of intrigue. Sounds pretty great, right? So, you may be wondering what types of Campanula to add to your landscape. Below are some of the most popular Campanula varieties:

‘Pink Octopus’
‘Blue Waterfall’
Canterbury Bells
Dalmation Bellflower
Fairies’ Thimbles

How to Grow Campanula Flowers

If you’re ready to bring these beautiful blooms to your own yard, it’s important you know everything there is to planting, growing, and caring for Campanula flowers.

Plant Campanula in well-draining soil and in an area where they can receive partial to full sun. The more direct sunlight Campanula receives, the more blooms it will produce!
Campanulas’ long blooming period shows their best colors from late spring until the first frost occurs in early fall. Little maintenance is required to keep these flowers happy. Just water during dry periods and fertilize with an all-purpose (5-10-10 or 10-10-10) garden food once in the spring and once during the mid-summer.
Add 2-3 inches of organic mulch around your Campanula after planting, being careful not to mulch directly against the plant (to prevent possible rot). This mulch will help retain moisture, deter weeds from popping up in your garden and help fertilize your beds as it breaks down!
Trim dead heads to promote more blooms and prolong the flowering period. Always use small scissors or gardening shears when trimming Campanula to prevent tearing your flower stems.
Space Campanula 15-18 inches apart when planting. Because these flowers are a sprawling variety, you should divide congested flowers in spring or fall. Once winter comes, you can cut back your Campanula or let it remain as an over-winter habitat for birds. See this blog post for more information about creating a bird-friendly garden!
Be sure to check for pests such as snails, slugs, and aphids who love to nibble on Campanula’s pretty leaves. Moist plant surfaces tend to attract these types of critters, so try irrigating the soil around your flowers when watering.
Also check for sickness or disease, which may show up as a fuzzy white coating of powdery mildew on leaves and stems. Prune affected areas from the plant or apply fungicide or horticultural oil in severe cases.

Companion Plants for Campanula

Once you’re ready to plant these stunning ground covers, consider pairing them with some of their favorite friends. The below flowers are fabulous companion plants for Campanula, and how you arrange them is totally up to you!

Lamb’s Ear (Stachys)
Lady’s Mantle (Alchemilla)
Columbine
Roses

Campanula ‘Blue Waterfall’ is a perky purple perennial that’s a popular favorite for many reasons. Whether you’re looking for a fun sprawling variety or simply a colorful flower that’s low-maintenance and winter-hardy, Campanulas are a wonderful addition. I hope this article has helped you learn how to grow Campanula flowers. To learn more about what kinds of varieties would work well in your garden, join Rozanne’s Inner Circle, where you’ll get all kinds of helpful gardening tips and ideas.

If you’re not able to go garden shopping locally, there are also options for buying online. Click here to see a list of online suppliers of Geranium Rozanne and Friends® varieties!