Growing and Sowing Canterbury Bells

Canterbury bells (Campanula medium) is a striking, biennial flowering plant from the bellflower family. The plant is known for its large, elegant flowers shaped like cups or old-fashioned bells. The flowers bloom from May to July and are typically blue, purple, pink, or white. It is a popular garden plant for borders and planters. Additionally, thanks to its long, sturdy stems, it makes an excellent cut flower for vases.

Sowing and growing canterbury bells

Canterbury bells (Campanula medium) is a biennial plant from the bellflower family that originates from Central and Southern Europe, particularly the French and Italian Alps. In the first year after sowing, the plant only forms a green rosette of leaves, after which it grows into a sturdy, hairy stem of 60 to 90 cm tall in the second year. From May through July, the plant blooms abundantly with strikingly large, bell-shaped flowers in shades of blue, purple, pink, or white. Due to this elegant shape and the sturdy stems, the plant is not only very popular as a border plant in full sun or partial shade, but it also performs excellently as a cut flower in a vase.

Sowing canterbury bells seeds

Sow Canterbury bells preferably early in summer, ideally from June through August, directly into the open ground or in seed trays. Because the seeds require light to germinate, they can be scattered over moist soil and pressed down only very lightly. The soil should remain constantly slightly moist for the first two to three weeks until the seedlings appear. As soon as the young plants are large enough, thin them out or transplant them to their permanent location in full sun or partial shade with a spacing of approximately 30 cm. The plant will then form a sturdy rosette of leaves before winter, which, after the cold months, will grow into a richly flowering stem the following spring.

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Position and soil for canterbury bells?

Canterbury bells thrive best in a location with full sun or partial shade, with a spot that receives plenty of afternoon sun yielding the richest bloom. Regarding the soil, the plant has few requirements, provided the ground is well-draining, nutrient-rich, and slightly moist. A lime-rich to neutral soil is preferred, while overly wet soil—especially during the winter months—must be avoided to prevent root rot.

How to care for your canterbury bells plants?

Caring for Canterbury bells is simple. Keep the soil moderately moist and apply some organic fertilizer in spring. In windy spots, tall stems may sometimes need support from a plant stake. Deadheading faded flowers extends the blooming period. After flowering, this biennial plant dies off, but it often self-seeds again immediately.

Are canterbury bells bee and/or butterfly friendly?

Canterbury bells are highly bee- and butterfly-friendly. The large, cup-shaped flowers produce large amounts of nectar and pollen in early summer, making the plant very attractive to bumblebees, honeybees, and various butterflies. Furthermore, this plant species is of great importance to several species of wild bees, such as the small scissor bee and the large scissor bee, which collect pollen exclusively from flowers in the bellflower family to feed their larvae.

Should Canterbury bells in the vegetable garden?

Canterbury bells are a valuable addition to the vegetable garden because the flowers attract bees and bumblebees, which promotes the pollination of fruit crops. Additionally, the plant attracts beneficial insects for natural aphid control and serves as a sturdy cut flower. However, the young plants are susceptible to slugs, meaning they sometimes act as a trap crop to keep slugs away from vulnerable vegetables like lettuce.

Are canterbury bells edible and/or medicinal?

Canterbury bells (Campanula medium) are non-toxic, but are generally not considered edible or medicinal. Although some specific species from the bellflower family (such as rampion bellflower) are used in cooking or traditional medicine due to their edible roots and leaves, Canterbury bells are grown purely as an ornamental plant.

Please note, we at Dutch Garden Seeds do not give medical advice. Always ask a professional if and how the plant can be used medicinally.

Canterbury bells seeds in our collection

We offer Canterbury bells seeds from the brand 'Buzzy Seeds' in our product range.

Tips

Support the plants to prevent them from falling over.
Scatter organic slug pellets or create barriers of coffee grounds, as slugs love the young rosettes of leaves.
Regularly remove old flowers to stimulate the production of new buds and extend the blooming period.