Campanula
Overview:
Campanula is a bell-shaped flower, that is the perfect focal spike in arrangements for late spring here in Arizona. They come in blues, pinks, whites, and many other pastel colors. There is no other flower that is like Campanula. This is a perfect cottage garden flower, that is a great addition to mothers Day bouquets. Make sure to pick annual varieties that flower their first year here in the desert. My go-to is the Champion II series.
This year we added a dwarf variety to the lineup for our containers and I was blown away, to say the least. their charming fairy flowers are a perfect addition to any cottage garden that pairs well with foxgloves, delphiniums, and more.
Starting seeds:
Typically I do not start Campanula from seed. The seeds are expensive, and they need cold stratification to grow. It’s not impossible to start them, but I prefer to purchase plugs. If you want to start them yourself, place seeds in the fridge for 4-6 weeks before planting, and surface sow seeds. Start seeds in September. Check out my seed starting guide for more tips and tricks.
When to plant outdoors:
October-November
Spacing:
9-12” apart
Height:
Cut varieties: 30-42”
Pot varieties 8-12”
Sun:
Full sun 6+ hours
Flower Support:
Yes, use Hortnova netting for cut varieties. Be sure to apply the netting before the plants start sending out their flower spikes. February in Arizona is a great time to net things before they get tall.
Fertilize weekly with a liquid fertilizer. I like to apply granular fertilizer every month. When it’s below 60 degrees out, it’s best to use liquid fertilizers. The nutrients are broken down and the plants can absorb them quickly. Most granular fertilizers require heat to break down for the plant to absorb.
Typical bloom time:
April-May
Succession plant?
No
Flower Pairings:
Scabiosa, foxglove, delphiniums, dara, snapdragons, Craspedia, amni, statice
Seed Sourcing:
Johnny’s seeds and Geo seeds are my go-to’s.
Favorite varieties:
Champion II - cut variety
Appeal - pot variety
Campanula Champion II ‘Lilac’
Campanula Champion ‘Pink’ accompanied by Dara aka Chocolate lace flower
Campanula Champion II ‘White’
Campanula Appeal ‘Pink’. This flower is perfect to add a fairy element to any container garden or boarder. This plant only gets about 8-12” tall, which is the perfect size to tuck into planters or boarders. Here they are paired with foxgloves and delphiniums to create a beautiful cottage garden vibe.
