11 Campanula (Bellflower) Varieties to Grow This Season

Bellflowers grace meadows, prairies, and gardens! Known botanically as Campanula species, bellflowers are lovely wildflowers with many varieties that grow throughout the Northern Hemisphere. Find native bellflowers growing in North America, Europe, and Asia. Though native types exist in the U.S., most of our garden favorites are non-native ornamentals from other continents.

We include two native species on this list for gardeners who want more local bees, bugs, and birds in their yards. Native plants offer valuable floral nectar and pollen to native pollinators like bumblebees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.

The other nine varieties are exceptional garden specimens that thrive when they grow with rich soil, plenty of sunlight, and consistent moisture. They’ll tuck in nicely next to your snapdragons, zinnias, and sunflowers. 

So, let’s dive in! Here are 11 bellflower varieties you should try growing this season. 

Storybook Blend Canterbury Bells

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Storybook Blend Canterbury Bells Seeds

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Made in the Shade Flower Mix

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Fairy Meadow Flower Mix

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Tussock Bellflower

	botanical name Campanula carpatica
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 6-12″
	hardiness zones 3-8

Tussock bellflowers grow low to the ground. Their compact nature makes them perfect for sunny rock gardens, borders, and beds. They sprout oval leaves with teeth on their edges and cup-shaped blossoms in bright blue, lavender, and white. 

Two exceptional varieties of the tussock bellflower grow well in gardens. Try ‘Blue Chip’ for a dwarf variety with light blue blooms, or ‘White Chip,’ a similar type with white blooms. Start them from seed indoors in late winter for transplanting in spring; indoor starts have a high chance of blooming their first year.

Fairy Thimbles

	botanical name Campanula cochlearifolia
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 2-12″
	hardiness zones 5-9

Fairy thimbles are like tussock bellflowers in that they stay low to the ground. They generally stay less than four inches tall, but may reach up to a foot. The plants can spread up to a foot and a half wide over time, as they sprout perennially each spring. Watch for their round, toothed leaves and purple bell-shaped blossoms. 

This European native plant prefers growing with lots of sunlight and well-drained soil. Use it in exposed sites where it can spread and roam. The purple blooms attract pollinators; they create a rich habitat wherever they sprout. 

Blue Dwarf Bellflower

	botanical name Campanula collina
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 9-15″
	hardiness zones 5-9

This cute little plant, the blue dwarf bellflower, sprouts low-growing stems with heart-shaped leaves. It reaches a bit higher than the previous two species, sprouting 15-inch-tall flowering stems. The violet-blue bell-shaped flowers grow on one side of the stems, creating a lush effect in the garden. 

Grant blue dwarf bellflowers partial shade in warm, southern climates and full sun in cool, northern ones. Divide the clumps every three or four years and plant them in new locations to further multiply your stock. The plants will also self-sow as they mature and thrive in your garden. 

‘Dickson’s Gold’ Bellflower

	botanical name Campanula garganica ‘Dickson’s Gold’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 3-6″
	hardiness zones 4-7

If you prefer chartreuse, golden, or yellow foliage, you’ll want a cultivar that’s as bright as sunlight! ‘Dickson’s Gold’ is one such variety that grows yellow when it has access to plenty of sunlight. From late spring through fall, flat star-like blooms emerge from the clumps on short stems.

‘Baby Blue’ is another variety with spoon-shaped leaves and purple blossoms, though its leaves are green instead of gold. The flowers on ‘Baby Blue’ are smaller than other varieties, and they have light blue petals. 

Star of Bethlehem

	botanical name Campanula isophyllla
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 1-2′
	hardiness zones 7-10

Unlike the clump-forming Campanula species, the Star of Bethlehem plant is a vining spreader or trailer. It works well as a groundcover, in hanging baskets, or on trellises in warm, mild climates. It features round leaves, star-like blossoms, and fleshy stems. As they mature, the green stems grow woody at their bases.

Unlike other perennial bellflowers, the Star of Bethlehem is frost-tender and requires winter protection in cold regions. Overwinter it indoors in a hanging basket near a window with bright light, or take cuttings in the fall for planting in spring. 

Many varieties of the Star of Bethlehem plant exist, offering you the ultimate roster to choose from. Select ‘Alba’ for white blooms, or try the Stella Series. ‘Stella Blue’ sprouts light blue blooms, while ‘Stella White’ has lighter, creamy petals. All three of these cultivars feature larger blooms than the species. 

Mountain Harebell

	botanical name Campanula lasiocarpa
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 3-8″
	hardiness zones 4-8

The mountain harebell is one of the two North American native species on this list. It sprouts throughout mountainous regions in Washington, British Columbia, and Alaska. You’ll appreciate its different-shaped leaves; spoon-like leaves adorn the lower portions while long, narrow ones sprout above. 

After a brief stint under spring sunshine, the mountain harebell sprouts purple-blue blossoms on its squat, short stems. Each flowering stem has a single blossom, creating a dainty and cheery effect in the garden. Ensure your plant has good drainage and plenty of sunlight for the best growing results. 

Canterbury Bell

	botanical name Campanula medium
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 1-4′
	hardiness zones 3-9

Canterbury bells are some of the most famous bellflowers in the world! Dozens of varieties exist, with a wide range of flower petals, heights, and leaf shapes. They grow larger than most other Campanula species, reaching between one and four feet tall. 

Canterbury bells sprout cup or bell-shaped blooms in all sorts of colors. They also go by the name “cup-and-saucers.” Find types with purple, lavender, blue, rose, pink, and white blossoms. Biennial in nature, they must overwinter to bloom; they may flower in their first year if you start them from seeds early indoors. 

If you can’t decide on a specific variety, try a blend with multiple cultivars! The ‘Storybook Blend’ features pink, white, and violet blooms on erect stems. 

Peach-Leafed Bluebell

	botanical name Campanula persicifolia
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 1-3′
	hardiness zones 3-7

Peach-leafed bluebells, like Canterbury bells, are tall plants with erect stems. Their upper leaves are peach-shaped, while the lower ones are longer and more linear. Blooms appear at the tops of the stems in summer; they’re open, cup-shaped, and different colored depending on the variety. 

You’ll find peach-leaved bluebell varieties with white, blue, or pink blossoms. Select your favorite color, or grow a mix of all three in the pollinator garden. If you like white blooms, ‘Powder Puff’ is a special variety with giant, double-petaled white flowers. 

Dalmatian Bellflower

	botanical name Campanula portenschlagiana
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 4-12″
	hardiness zones 3-9

Often, the best garden plants are the most understated ones. Dalmatian bellflower is a prime example. It’s perfect in mass plantings or as a filler in edges, borders, and tree wells. Grow it for its round, dark green, and toothy leaves, and for its star-like blooms. 

The flowers range from purple, blue, or gray-white hues, depending on the cultivar. Dalmatian bellflowers form dense, compact mats over time. Divide them and replant the divisions to fill your yard with Campanula blossoms from spring through fall.

Chimney Bellflower

	botanical name Campanula pyramidalis
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 4-6′
	hardiness zones 7-10

Chimney bellflower (Campanula pyramidalis) is the tallest variety on this list! Their stems may reach over six feet high; on their tips, dozens of small blooms emerge during the summer months. They attract pollinators with their flashy nature, and they’re gorgeous enough to use as focal points or backdrops in your garden. 

These giant Campanula plants are marginally cold-hardy. Protect their roots with plenty of mulch, like compost or leaf mold. Apply a layer two to three inches thick in the fall, leaving some space around the plants’ crowns. 

Bluebell of Scotland

	botanical name Campanula rotundifolia
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 12-18″
	hardiness zones 3-6

Like mountain harebell bellflowers, bluebells of Scotland (Campanula rotundifolia) are native varieties to parts of North America! You can find them growing wild throughout most of the U.S. They stay low to the ground, sprouting compact clumps with round green-gray leaves. The flowers are cute and dainty, sprouting in clusters on short stems.

You can find a few different bluebells of Scotland. Some have blue or violet flowers, while others are bright white. When happy, the plants will reseed themselves throughout the area. You’ll see seedlings sprout beneath trees, in rocky crevices, and next to other garden perennials.