Clustered bellflower (Campanula glomerata 'Church Bells')

Overview

The vigorous growth and dense flower clusters make Campanula glomerata ‘Church Bells’ a standout choice for adding vertical interest and deep blue color to the late spring garden. This cultivar of Clustered bellflower produces numerous upward-facing, bell-shaped flowers tightly packed into terminal heads, creating a striking visual impact. As an herbaceous perennial, it forms a tidy foliage clump from which numerous flower stems emerge, offering reliable performance with relatively low effort.

Campanula glomerata ‘Church Bells’ is valued not only for its aesthetic appeal but also for the life it brings to the landscape, attracting hummingbirds, butterflies, and other essential pollinators throughout its bloom period. Its upright habit ensures it doesn’t sprawl excessively, fitting neatly into various garden settings. Gardeners appreciate this Clustered bellflower for being easily established and generally low-maintenance once sited correctly.

Mature specimens of Campanula glomerata ‘Church Bells’ typically reach about 1.5 feet high with a spread nearing 1.75 feet, creating a dense presence ideal for filling gaps in borders or rockeries. Deadheading spent blooms can significantly extend the flowering season, pushing bloom time potentially into mid-summer under optimal care.

Fast Facts

• Plant Family: Campanulaceae
• Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
• Hardiness Zones: USDA Zones 5-8
• Size at Maturity:
  • Height: 1-1.5 ft
  • Spread: 1.5-1.75 ft
• Bloom Time: May to July
• Bloom Description: Blue
• Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
• Water Needs: Medium
• Maintenance Level: Low

How to Grow

Establish Campanula glomerata ‘Church Bells’ in average, well-drained soil. While it tolerates part shade, achieving the best performance and most vibrant blue color requires planting in full sun, especially in cooler northern climates. In hot summer regions, however, afternoon shade is beneficial where it should be provided consistent moisture.

Watering should be maintained at a medium consistency; this plant dislikes sitting in wet soil, so drainage is crucial. Since this specific selection of Clustered bellflower is vigorous and naturalizes via rhizomes, prompt removal of spent flower stems is recommended to encourage rebloom and help manage its spread.

Division is an important cultural practice for Campanula glomerata ‘Church Bells’. Plan to divide the clumps every 3 to 5 years during the fall. This process maintains the plant’s vigor and prevents it from becoming overly crowded or aggressive, particularly in damp soil conditions where it can temporarily become somewhat invasive.

Landscape Uses

The upright structure and dense clustering of flowers make this perennial highly versatile. Use the Clustered bellflower for grouping or mass planting to create solid blocks of deep blue color along established borders. Due to its moderate height (1 to 1.5 ft), it fits perfectly in the middle ground of mixed perennial beds.

Campanula glomerata ‘Church Bells’ also integrates beautifully into cottage gardens, where its traditional bell shape complements roses and other classic flowers. For a drier, architectural look, incorporate it into rock gardens where sharp drainage is naturally met. Informal, naturalized areas also suit this plant, allowing its rhizomatous spreading habit to create soft drifts over time.

Its flowers are excellent for fresh cut arrangements, bringing the rich violet-blue hue indoors. When designing, pair it with silver foliage or plants that bloom slightly later to ensure continuous color interest through summer.

Standout Features

Flower Qualities

• Showy
• Good Cut

Noteworthy Characteristics

Campanula glomerata, commonly known as clustered bellflower, is an upright perennial that is native to Europe and temperate Asia. It forms a dense foliage clump of ovate to lance-shaped, toothed, somewhat hairy, long-stalked, medium green basal leaves (to 5” long). Upward facing, bell-shaped, violet to lavender blue flowers bloom in spherical terminal clusters atop smaller-leaved stems rising above the basal clump to 12-18” tall. ‘Church Bells’ is vigorous, floriferous selection of clustered bellflower that features dense, terminal clusters of purple-blue flowers held above dark green foliage.

Tolerances

• Deer

Potential Problems

Campanula glomerata ‘Church Bells’ is generally robust, suffering from no serious insect or disease problems under proper growing conditions. Gardeners should remain vigilant regarding occasional visitors like snails and slugs, especially when emerging young growth appears tender.

Management against these mollusks can involve barrier methods, beer traps, or applying slug baits formulated for organic gardening. Ensuring excellent air circulation and avoiding overly moist late-day watering can help prevent fungal issues, though this is rare for the Clustered bellflower.

Frequently Asked Questions

What hardiness zones is Clustered bellflower suitable for?

The Clustered bellflower (Campanula glomerata ‘Church Bells’) is well-suited for USDA Hardiness Zones 5 through 8.

How large does Campanula glomerata ‘Church Bells’ grow?

This perennial reaches a mature height between 1 and 1.5 feet tall, with a corresponding spread of 1.5 to 1.75 feet.

When does Campanula glomerata ‘Church Bells’ bloom?

This plant typically blooms from May into July, producing striking blue flowers in dense clusters.

What sun exposure does Clustered bellflower need?

Campanula glomerata ‘Church Bells’ performs best in full sun to a location offering partial shade, preferring more sun in cooler areas and more shade in intense heat.

Conclusion

For gardeners seeking saturated color and dependable structure, Campanula glomerata ‘Church Bells’ remains an excellent choice due to its low maintenance needs and stunning clustered blooms. Integrating this vigorous Clustered bellflower into your perennial borders ensures reliable performance and attracts beneficial pollinators. Before planting, confirm your growing zone suitability and prepare soil with good drainage to ensure decades of enjoyment from this garden favorite.

Companion Planting

Selecting companions that appreciate similar growing conditions—average moisture, full sun to part shade, and well-drained soil—will help maintain the health of your Campanula glomerata ‘Church Bells’. Good companions include dusty millers (like Stachys byzantina) for textural contrast, or silver artemisias which buffer the intensity of the deep purple-blue flowers. Plants that bloom slightly later, such as certain daylilies (Hemerocallis) or spireas, will ensure color continuity after the initial peak of the Clustered bellflower fades.

Wildlife Benefits

The specialized bell shape of the flowers on Campanula glomerata ‘Church Bells’ is highly attractive to specific garden visitors. The dense terminal clusters offer a substantial reward for hovering pollinators. Both hummingbirds and various butterflies are frequently observed visiting these blooms when they are actively flowering in late spring and early summer. Planting this species contributes positively to local biodiversity by providing nectar sources during these transitional months.