Canterbury Bells, Cup and Saucer, Canterbury Bells
Campanula medium
Family: Campanulaceae
What it is like
Bloom Color: Blue. Main Bloom Time: Early summer, Late summer, Mid summer. Form: Upright or erect.
Campanula medium is an evergreen Biennial growing to 1.2 m (4ft) by 0.3 m (1ft in) at a medium rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 8. It is in leaf all year, in flower in July, and the seeds ripen from August to September. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Bees, flies, beetles, Lepidoptera (Moths & Butterflies). The plant is self-fertile. Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils and can grow in very alkaline soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.
Height (m): 1.2
Where it is found
Railway banks in the S.E. and E. Midlands of Britain. Stony banks amongst calcareous rocks in Europe.
S. Europe. Naturalized in Britain.
Conservation Status:
Countries/locations it is found in
How it is used
Food
Rating: 2
Young shoots - raw or cooked. Root - cooked.
Root: includes bulbs, corms, tubers, rhizomes etc.
Medicine
Rating: 0
Other
Rating: 1
Green and pale blue dyes are obtained from the flowers.
Dye: Plants that provide dyes.
How it is grown
Landscape Uses: Border, Container, Ground cover. Succeeds in most fertile well-drained soils, though it prefers a moist but well-drained rich sandy loam and a neutral or alkaline soil in sun or partial shade. A very ornamental plant, it is often grown in the flower garden and there are many named varieties. The species in this genus do not often hybridize and so seed can generally be relied upon to come true. The plants are self-fertile. Plants usually self-sow in British gardens. Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer. Special Features: Not North American native, Suitable for cut flowers.
Propagating it: Seed - best sown in an outdoor seedbed in May, the seedlings are transplanted when large enough and then placed in their final positions in the autumn. The seed usually germinates in 2 - 4 weeks at 18°c.
Best place to grow: Cultivated Beds;
Habit: Biennial
Hardiness: 6-8
Growth: Medium
Soil: Light (sandy), medium
Shade: Semi-shade, no shade
Moisture: Moist