The Bellflower: The Diversity in One Plant

If you're looking for a reliable plant for the garden in summer, the bellflower is definitely the right choice. With its beautiful flowers, it enriches every garden.

However, not all bellflowers are the same. There are over 300 different species with varying requirements and natural habitats.

The bellflower family includes over 300 species, most of which are deciduous perennials, though some are evergreen. Bellflowers come from a variety of habitats in the Northern Hemisphere. Many originate from the Mediterranean, the Caucasus, or the Balkan Peninsula, while others are found in East Asia, northern America, Iran, and the Himalayas. The greatest differences between the species lie in their natural habitats. Bellflowers can be found in meadows or in the high mountains. Similarly, in the garden, whether it's a bed, open space, rock garden, or on top of walls, the bellflower fits into any garden.

The flowers of the bellflower bloom in white or all imaginable shades of blue and violet. The flowers truly live up to the name of the plant. Depending on the species, the bellflower features bell-shaped, tubular, or star-shaped blooms. The blooming period of the bellflower is from June to September, making it an invaluable plant for the garden. The bellflower also owes its botanical name, Campanula, to its flowers, which translates from Latin as "little bell." Another unique feature is that the arrangement of the flowers varies from species to species. Sometimes the flowers are arranged in panicles or clusters, but often they bloom individually.

Propagating bellflowers is not difficult. Just as diverse as the species are, so are the different ways to create a sea of blossoms in the garden with bellflowers. Some species can be propagated through leaf rosettes or basal cuttings. Many types of bellflowers are divided or sown, while some species also spread through self-seeding.