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Bellflower

Campanula glomerata

Flower
Foliage
Bellflower

Clustered bellflower carries its violet-blue flowers in dense, upright heads at the top of stiff stems in late spring, making a bolder statement than most of its bellflower relatives. Its old common name, Danesblood, hints at a history as deep-rooted as its rhizomes.

Campanula glomerata comes from Europe and temperate western Asia, where it grows in woodlands, meadows, and along rocky slopes — a native range that spans from Britain to Siberia and explains its adaptability across a wide swath of temperate gardens. It grows 6 to 24 inches tall depending on conditions and produces its flowers in dense terminal clusters, each cluster holding up to 15 upward-facing bells in shades of violet to lavender blue. The blooming period runs from late spring into early summer and attracts bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds in numbers. The bold, clustered flowerhead gives it a presence in the border that individual bellflowers lack — this is a plant that reads well from a distance and works effectively in mass plantings.

Its one significant caveat is a tendency to spread assertively by rhizomes, particularly in moist, fertile soils. Dividing the clumps every three to five years in autumn keeps the plant vigorous and prevents it from overrunning neighbors. It will also self-seed if conditions suit it. Deadheading spent flower stems promptly encourages reblooming and helps contain the self-seeding. It grows well in average, medium-moisture, well-drained soil and tolerates a range of light conditions: full sun works well in cool summer climates, while partial shade is preferable where summers are hot. It has some resistance to deer and is free of serious pest problems, though slugs and powdery mildew merit occasional attention. In cottage gardens, naturalized areas, and mixed borders it performs with consistency and character.

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Zone3 - 8
TypeHerbaceous perennial
FoliageDeciduous
GrowthFast
Height1 - 1.5 ft
Spread1 - 3 ft
BloomSummer
MaintenanceLow
SunFull sun
SoilLoam (silt)
DrainageGood drainage
FormClumping
TextureMedium
PropagationDivision
DesignAccent
FamilyCampanulaceae
LocationsContainer
Garden themesButterfly Garden
AttractsBees
Resistant toDeer
Palettes