Skip to the content
SELECT SEEDS
Canterbury Bells 'Blue'
Seed Packet

Canterbury Bells 'Blue'

Campanula medium
Canterbury Bells extravagant bloom during the long sunny days of June is a welcome balm to gardeners emerging from the grey winter. Grow with clusters of fellow biennials sweet William and foxglove, with the glowing contrast of scarlet maltese cross to set it off.
SKU #S028
$3.25
Growing Companions
Lady's Mantle 'Robustica'
Lady's Mantle 'Robustica'
Sweet William 'Newport Pink'
Sweet William 'Newport Pink'
Columbine 'Denver Gold®'
Columbine 'Denver Gold®'
Columbine 'Nora Barlow'
Columbine 'Nora Barlow'
Details
Approximate Seeds Per Packet
720
Lifecycle
Biennial
Perennial Hardiness Zone
5,
6,
7,
8
Mature Size
1.5-3' h x 1' w
Sun
Full sun to partial shade
Soil
Rich, well-drained
Season
Spring to summer
Color
Purple-blue bells
Features
Great Cut Flower
Attracts Bees
SOWING INSTRUCTIONS
Depth:
Surface sow; press into soil.
Sprout Time:
14-21 days
Starting Indoors:
Sow indoors in late winter to spring. Keep at 65-70°F.
Starting Outdoors:
Direct sow from spring to midsummer in a nursery bed in partial shade for transplanting the following spring. Thin seedlings to 6-8" apart when they have the first set of true leaves.
WHEN TO SET OUTSIDE
Set out in spring or in early fall, especially in warmer regions.
PLACEMENT & CULTIVATION
Canterbury Bells are a beautiful addition to any spring garden, with their full bell-shaped flowers on tall stems, making them a classic choice for cottage and cutting gardens. These biennial plants grow a rosette of leaves during the first year and then flower in the second spring. To ensure a yearly show, sow seeds for two consecutive years. Good winter drainage is vital to avoid crown rot diseases and overwintering losses. These plants are easy to transplant; you can even move them when growth is lush in spring. After bloom, trimming the flowering stalk to the ground can promote additional smaller flowering shoots to form. If you live in a colder climate, particularly in zones 4 and 5, protect first-year plants over the winter using mulch that does not hold water, such as pine needles. Alternatively, an inverted flower pot shields the plant from harsh winter conditions.
Final Spacing:
1'
Water Requirements:
Medium Water Use
Watering Details:
These plants prefer evenly moist soil, so be sure to water if the ground becomes dry. About an inch of water per week, but more may be necessary during particularly dry spells.
Soil pH:
Does best in a soil with a neutral to slightly alkaline pH level.
Fertilizer:
Prior to planting, mix a few inches of compost into the soil.
Diseases & Pests:
Slugs or snails may occasionally be an issue, but a preventive application of pelletized iron phosphate or diatomaceous earth when these creatures are present will keep the plants safe. Avoid wet soils in winter, a well-drained soil helps avoid crown rots.
When to Cut for Bouquets:
Harvest when 1/2 of the flowers on a stem are open.