Bellflowers can be planted outdoors once the spring frosts have passed. Perennial varieties can also be planted 4-6 weeks before the fall frosts to allow time for new roots to establish before the plant goes dormant. Harden off potted plants for a week prior to transplanting.

Where to Plant Bellflowers

Bellflowers enjoy full to partial sunlight and will thrive in the dappled light at the edge of the woods. In the warmer areas of their range, plant them in locations with afternoon shade to give them a break at the hottest time of the day. They aren’t picky about soil conditions, except that they need well-draining soil. Be careful not to plant in water-logged areas. A neutral pH range is fine.

Use bellflowers to provide the garden with those hard-to-find blue hues, setting off the more common yellows and oranges.

How to Plant Bellflowers

Bellflowers are easy to find at nurseries and garden centers in spring and can be ordered in small pots online. Plant potted bellflowers just as you would other small annuals or perennials, taking care to choose the appropriate location. Spacing will vary depending on the mature size of the cultivar you selected.

For established plants:

Prepare the area by removing roots, rocks, and weeds. Loosen the soil and work in a few handfuls of compost.
Dig a hole as deep as the root ball and twice as wide.
Remove the bellflower from its container and prune any circling or girdling roots.
Place the bellflower in the hole to check the depth—it should rest evenly with the ground surface.
Backfill the hole, ensuring no air pockets form around the roots.
Water thoroughly, then apply mulch around the plant to hold soil moisture and keep weeds down.

To start Bellflowers from seed indoors:

Begin 6 to 8 weeks before your last frost in spring.
Sow bellflower seeds in trays or cell packs in a standard seed starting mix.
Lightly cover seeds with a dusting of vermiculite, but don’t bury them—they need light to germinate.
Cover the tray with a humidity dome or plastic wrap to preserve moisture until germination, then remove the cover.
Harden off seedlings prior to transplanting outdoors.

Types

Tall bellflower (C. Americana) is a prairie native biennial. It grows well in partial shade and reaches 3-5 feet tall in the second year. Although a biennial, it often self-seeds, maintaining a presence in the garden or meadow.

Tall bellflower blooms with purple flowers in Indiana. Credit: CampSmoke

‘Takion Blue’ (C. persicifolia) is a peach-leaved bellflower that forms a mounded shape about 12-16 inches tall and wide. It’s hardy in Zones 4-8 and covered in upright lavender-blue flowers. It’s often called Fairy Bellflower or Fairy Bells. Can you see why?

Campanula persicifolia. Credit: A. Denisenko

Dalmatian bellflower (C. portenschlagiana) is a fantastic trailing species. It is semi-evergreen, hardy in USDA Zones 3-8, and perfect for trailing over the edge of hanging baskets or rock walls.

Campanula portenschlagiana, the wall bellflower. Credit: Crystaldream

‘Rapido Blue’ (C. carpatica) is a groundcover type of bellflower best planted in groups. It stays only 5-8 inches tall and not much wider and is super cold-hardy.

Campanula carpatica. Credit: Lidia Kovacs

The best border bellflowers are named forms of Campanula lactiflora.

Campanula lactiflora ‘Alba’ (Milky Bellflower) in a cottage garden in England. Credit: Peter Turner Photography

Flowers

About The Author

Andy Wilcox

Master Gardener and Gardening Contributor

Andy Wilcox is a freelance writer, flower farmer, and master gardener with over 25 years of experience in gardening, horticulture, and forestry. He is the co-owner of Stone’s Throw Flowers, a business...