How to Grow Canterbury Bells (Campanula Medium)

Although this flower is available in a variety of forms, it's the charming cup-and-saucer flower shape that's captured gardeners' hearts. Technically a biennial (produces only foliage the first year, flowers the second, then dies), in warmer parts of the country it often will bloom in just one year. It's sometimes called bellflower, and is available in white, pink and blue, growing 2 to 4 feet tall.

Difficulty:

Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Compost Makers
• Fertilizers
• Garden Spades
• Garden Trowels
• Plants
• Seeds
• Sphagnum Peat Moss
• Watering Cans

1. Look for Canterbury bell seedlings at your local nursery in spring. Although seedlings are sometimes available, this flower is still somewhat unusual and is usually grown from seed.

2. Start seeds indoors 6 to 10 weeks before your region's last frost date.

3. Transplant outdoors in rich, well-drained soil that has plenty of compost or sphagnum peat moss worked in. Canterbury bells need a site in full sun to light shade.

4. Keep soil moist. Canterbury bells demand little care other than adequate moisture.

5. Consider fertilizing every two to three months during the growing season for best height and heaviest bloom.

6. Pull plants up after the first frost.

Tips & Warnings

• In Zones 7 and above of the U.S.D.A. Plant Hardiness Map, plant Canterbury bells where you'd like them to bloom. In cooler parts of the country, plant seeds or seedlings in a vegetable or nursery bed the first year. Transplant into their final spot in spring of the second year, when they'll bloom in early summer.

• In Zones 5 and colder of the U.S.D.A. Plant Hardiness Map, mulch your Canterbury bells over the winter with straw or evergreen bough to make sure the plants survive the cold.