10 best campanulas to grow

Campanulas are a diverse group of plants, including small, creeping species and towering perennials. All have beautiful, usually blue, flowers and most are attractive to pollinators.

Campanulas are part of the Campanulaceae family, which also includes lobelias, isotomas and platycodon. Many can take a good degree of shade, so are suitable for dark corners or small gardens overlooked by walls and fences.

In gardens, you're likely to have come across small, spreading campanulas such as Campanula poscharskyana and Campanula portenschlagiana, which are often found growing in the crevices of walls and paving stones.

How to grow campanulas

Most campanulas grow naturally on chalky grasslands and woodland edges, which is great news if you're gardening on an alkaline soil. Campanulas require moist but well-drained soil – they tend to suffer in winter wet. Some thrive in sun while others tolerate shade.

Deadhead spent blooms to prolong flowering. Taller species can be cut back in autumn.

More on growing campanulas:

• How to propagate campanulas
• Begonia and campanula hanging basket
• Plants with purple flowers

Read on for our pick of the best campanulas to grow.

Campanula rotundifolia

Campanula rotundifolia is a creeping perennial species that thrives on dry, nutrient-poor soils, which in the UK includes chalky grasslands. It flowers from around midsummer to early autumn and is often visited by pollinating insects. Grow in sun or partial shade.

• Buy Campanula rotundifolia from Naturescape

Height x Spread: 30cm x 30cm

Campanula portenschlagiana

Perfect for sunny or partially shaded, free-draining spots in the garden, Campanula portenschlagiana is a mat-forming perennial campanula that requires little attention. It looks particularly attractive growing in rock gardens or cascading over garden walls.

• Buy Campanula portenschlagiana from Crocus

H x S: 15cm x 50cm

Campanula glomerata

Campanula glomerata is suited to relaxed herbaceous borders or cottage garden schemes, adding bursts of colour with its clusters of brightly coloured flowers. You can also pick from a range of beautiful cultivars with pink or white flowers. Grow in moist, free-draining soil in full sun or partial shade.

H x S: 50cm x 60cm

• Buy Campanula glomerata from Naturescape

Campanula latifolia

Commonly known as the giant bellflower, the spectacular species Campanula latifolia reaches a height of 1m, and looks perfect in partially shaded borders growing alongside ferns and other woodland perennials. Pictured is the variety 'Alba', which has white flowers, rather than the usual mid-purple flowers.

H x S: 1m x 60cm

• Buy Campanula latifolia from Beth Chatto's Plants & Gardens

Campanula persicifolia

The fairy bellflower, Campanula persicifolia, is an old-fashioned cottage garden perennial with showy, bell-shaped flowers held on dainty stems. A sheltered spot is best, in full sun or partial shade and moist, free-draining soil.

H x S: 80m x 40cm

• Buy Campanula persicifolia from Crocus

Campanula lactiflora

Campanula lactiflora is a particularly floriferous, clump-forming campanula with large heads of clustered flowers in summer. 'Prichard's Variety' (pictured) is a popular variety with pale, violet-blue flowers. Plant it in full sun or partial shade in moist, free-draining soil.

H x S: 1m x 50cm

• Buy Campanula lactiflora from Crocus

Campanula poscharskyana

Like Campanula portenschlagiana, the trailing bellflower, Campanula poscharskyana, is a mat-forming species and well-suited to growing in the small crevices between paving tiles, bricks and stones. It's a fabulous low-maintenance plant that will provide masses of colourful flowers from summer right through to the end of autumn – even longer in sheltered, urban locations. Grow in full sun or partial shade.

H x S: 15cm x 50cm

• Buy Campanula poscharskyana from Crocus

Campanula 'Sarastro'

One of several campanula hybrids, 'Sarastro' is a hybrid of Campanula punctata and Campanula trachelium, with beautiful midnight-blue flowers held on tall stems. Even more dramatic is the variety 'Pink Octopus', which has pink, split flowers. Grow Campanula 'Sarastro' in full sun or partial shade, in moist, free-draining soil.

H x S: 70cm x 50cm

• Buy Campanula 'Sarastro' from Crocus

Campanula pyramidalis

This tall, erect species is a short-lived perennial but is best treated as a biennial, grown from seed each year. Campanula pyramidalis thrives in moist, free-draining soil in a sunny or partially shaded spot. A great choice for dramatic cut flowers.

H x S: 1m x 60cm

• Buy Campanula pyramidalis from J. Parker's

Campanula carpatica

Campanula carpatica is one of the most popular and easily grown alpine campanula species, having very large, wide, open flowers. Most varieties have white or blue flowers, borne from early to late summer.

H x S: 20cm x 50cm

• Buy Campanula carpatica from Crocus