Belonging to a numerous family of species, about 300 species, the Bellflower is the proud representative of the Campanula genus belonging to the Campanulaceae family. The name of Bellflower is rarely used by botanists and the majority of common people only know this term. The scientific name of the Bellflower is Campanula, a name rooted in the Latin language, having the meaning of “little bell”, a word that justifies the nature of the Campanula flowers which bloom in the shape of bell.
The Bellflowers often occur in temperate climates of the Northern hemispheres, and their variation depends on the temperatures and host soils, being acknowledged the fact that in alpine climates we can meet Bellflowers reaching up to 5 cm height, in temperate climates reaching up to 2 meters, while in Mediterranean regions a great variety of hybrids of the Bellflower.
The Bellflowers are annual, biennial and perennial plants which produce beautiful flowers that comprise of 5 lobes usually. The color diversity is not very unusual as it varies between blue to purple, although there are occasions when the flowers occur on white and pink. An ingredient contained by both its leaves and stem is latex, a highly demanded substance in our modern times.
Not only beautiful in appearance, the Bellflower is known to produce fruit as well, even if they’re not edible. The fruit can be described as a small container which is full of seeds.
Amongst the famous species included in this numerous family we can mention the Harebell in Britain, the Bluebell in Scotland or the Canterbury Bells, famous for their cultivation in gardens all over the UK. If planted in the garden, the Bellflower needs a well drained soil and as much sun as they can get. They can also grow in partial shade, being quite resistant to unpleasant weather conditions.
The plant reaches its maturity and it blooms in the middle of the summer, starting with the month of July and extending the period up until September. You have to be very careful when planting this delicate flower however, so you should invest in some quality garden tools such as a hand rake and shovel, but in quality soil and nutrients as well. You shouldn’t even need to invest that much money in quality garden tools, and there are plenty stores with good deals that you can shop from.
Appropriate to plant in rock gardens or small places, you can be sure that Bellflowers can really add a touch of serenity and colorfulness to your home and garden. Amongst the most popular cultivated species of the Bellflower we can mention: the Campanula punctata or the Little Punky, the Campanula rutudifolia, also known as Thumbell Blue, the Campanula glomerata Superb (Clustered Bellflower) and the list could go on.
Bellflowers make for very diverse flowers in indoor or outdoor settings. Stemming from their biological makeup, they can also survive in many different climates and surroundings.
Amazingly beautiful and easy to nurture, the Bellflowers can adapt easily to any garden conditions, lest they don’t suffer from cold or high sun exposure.
Bellflower Pictures Gallery
