Plant of the Week
Canterbury Bells
Latin: Campanula medium
 Bellflowers are an intriguing group of garden flowers that
mostly bloom following the spring bulbs but before the summer perennials
such as daylilies. Of the 300 or so species scattered across the northern
hemisphere, the showiest is Canterbury Bells,
Campanula medium.
Canterbury Bells is a biennial. During its first
year of life, it grows as a dinner plate size rosette of leaves with little
to distinguish it from a common weed. The leaves are evergreen in Arkansas'
climate.
But in the spring of its second year, the rosette begins to
elongate and masses of bell-shaped flowers are produced in an open panicle.
Plants usually branch from the base of the rosette with the central stem
reaching 3 feet high while surrounded with side branches only 1-2 feet tall.
The blooms are in shades of blue, purple, pink or white with
the 2-inch long flower tube the diameter of a fat hot dog. In the typical
form, the calyx is not showy, but in the selection known as the
Cup-and-Saucer Bellflower, it is considerably enlarged and colored the same
shade of the flower. This form has the general appearance of a long-trumpet
daffodil but in blue.
Canterbury Bells are native to the mountains of southern
Europe and have been grown in gardens since at least the beginning of the
19th century. The Victorians especially seemed to appreciate their gaudy
beauty and were willing to put up with their demanding ways to grow
them successfully.
They are more popular in northern climes but can be grown in
our southern gardens if planting schedules are adjusted to our conditions.
The current crop of Canterbury Bells in bloom in my garden
is from seed planted in the fall of 2000. My plan was to grow the plants in
the greenhouse in pots until the coldest part of winter was past and then
move them outside to the cold frame where they would have a couple months of
chilling before being moved to the garden. My theory was that this
vernalization period would satisfy their needs and reduce the length of time
needed to get the plants to bloom.
It didn't work. When the plants were planted in the garden
in May 2001, they simply set there and thumbed their nose at my futile
effort to trick them into early bloom. When the plants bloomed this year,
they were worth the wait, but I decided a new production strategy was called
for if these are to be grown again.
I've never seen bedding plants of this species available, so
you'll have to grow your own plants. The easiest way is to plant seeds out
of doors in May or June and grow the plants vegetatively that first year in
some out-of-the-way corner of the garden. The plants could be grown in the
soil in a sunny, well-drained corner of the vegetable garden or they could
be produced in gallon nursery containers.
Foxgloves can be grown the same way and having several
different species to tend will increase the odds of having something be
successful.
In the fall at pansy planting time, the Canterbury Bells plants should be
moved to the flower bed where they will bloom the following spring. Plants
can be grown in full sun or light shade. They do best in a moderately
fertile soil with a near-neutral pH. Staking may be required when the plants
begin producing their bloom display.
By: Gerald Klingaman, retired
Extension Horticulturist
- Ornamentals
Extension News -
May 31, 2002
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