Clustered Bellflower Campanula glomerata
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Syncodon glomeratus
- Weitenwebera glomerata
- Phonetic Spelling
- kam-PAN-yoo-lah glo-mer-AY-tah
- Description
-
Clustered bellflower is a clumping, erect, herbaceous perennial that is native to most of Europe and temperate western Asia, and is found in woodlands, meadows, or along rocky slopes. It grows from 6 to 24 inches tall with basal rosettes of green, lanceolate-shaped leaves, and clustered, upward-facing, bell-shaped, violet to lavender blue flowers. It is a member of the bellflower family (Campanulaceae). The genus name, Campanula, is derived from the Latin word campana, meaning bell, and refers to its bell-shaped flowers. The specific epithet, glomerata, is derived from the Latin word glomeratus, meaning clustered, and refers to its densely clustered flowers.
This plant grows well in average, medium moisture, well-drained soil and prefers full sun to part shade. If your summer climate is cool, site the plant in full sun; however, if the summer climate is hot, you will have more success with a site in partial shade. Regardless of the site, the plant requires regular moisture. To encourage reblooming, promptly deadhead or remove spent flower stems. The clustered bellflower naturalizes by rhizomes and can be invasive, particularly in moist soils. To keep the plant growing vigorously while preventing it from spreading indiscriminately, divide the clumps in the fall every 3 to 5 years. This plant can self-seed and spread.
The clustered bellflower grows upright and is long-stalked. It has a clump of dense foliage consisting of medium-green, lance-shaped, basal leaves. The individual flowers are upward-facing, bell-shaped, and violet to lavender blue, forming a dense terminal cluster at the top of a long stem. Each cluster can contain up to 15 flowers. The stems measure 12 to 18 inches in length and have narrower, shorter leaves than the basal leaves. Blooming occurs from late spring to early summer, attracting hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees.
Plant in groups or mass plantings for the most impact and ornamental appeal. Best used in rock gardens, cottage gardens, or naturalized areas.
Diseases, Insects, and Other Plant Problems: No serious insect or disease problems. Monitor for snails, slugs, spider mites, vine weevils, and aphids. May be susceptible to powdery mildew, rust, leaf spot, and blight..
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Angel Bells' PP31465
14 to 18 inches tall, green foliage, and white flowers - 'Bells and Whistles'
up to 24 to 28 inches tall, green foliage, dense cluster of violet-blue flowers - Campanula glomerata var. acaulis
low-growing, 6 to 8 inches tall, dense clusters of deep purple flowers with dark green leaves - Campanula glomerata var. alba
1 to 2 feet tall, dense clusters of pure white flowers with dark green leaves - 'Caroline'
1 to 2 feet tall, dense clusters of shell pink to lavender flowers - 'Crown of Snow' or 'Schneekrone'
up to 18 inches tall with pure white flowers - 'Emerald'
up to 14 to 16 inches tall, green foliaged, pale blue flowers - 'Freya' PP22738
up to 18 inches tall, green foliage, and lilac purple flowers - 'Joan Elliott'
up to 18 inches tall, dark green foliage, deep-purple flowers - 'Purple Pixie'
up to 18 inches tall, lavender-blue flowers - 'Speciosa'
up to 24 inches tall, dark purple flowers - 'Superba'
2 to 3 feet tall, dense cluster of rich violet-blue flowers
- 'Angel Bells' PP31465
- 'Angel Bells' PP31465, 'Bells and Whistles', Campanula glomerata var. acaulis, Campanula glomerata var. alba, 'Caroline', 'Crown of Snow' or 'Schneekrone', 'Emerald', 'Freya' PP22738, 'Joan Elliott', 'Purple Pixie', 'Speciosa', 'Superba'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Angel Bells' PP31465
14 to 18 inches tall, green foliage, and white flowers - 'Bells and Whistles'
up to 24 to 28 inches tall, green foliage, dense cluster of violet-blue flowers - Campanula glomerata var. acaulis
low-growing, 6 to 8 inches tall, dense clusters of deep purple flowers with dark green leaves - Campanula glomerata var. alba
1 to 2 feet tall, dense clusters of pure white flowers with dark green leaves - 'Caroline'
1 to 2 feet tall, dense clusters of shell pink to lavender flowers - 'Crown of Snow' or 'Schneekrone'
up to 18 inches tall with pure white flowers - 'Emerald'
up to 14 to 16 inches tall, green foliaged, pale blue flowers - 'Freya' PP22738
up to 18 inches tall, green foliage, and lilac purple flowers - 'Joan Elliott'
up to 18 inches tall, dark green foliage, deep-purple flowers - 'Purple Pixie'
up to 18 inches tall, lavender-blue flowers - 'Speciosa'
up to 24 inches tall, dark purple flowers - 'Superba'
2 to 3 feet tall, dense cluster of rich violet-blue flowers
- 'Angel Bells' PP31465
- 'Angel Bells' PP31465, 'Bells and Whistles', Campanula glomerata var. acaulis, Campanula glomerata var. alba, 'Caroline', 'Crown of Snow' or 'Schneekrone', 'Emerald', 'Freya' PP22738, 'Joan Elliott', 'Purple Pixie', 'Speciosa', 'Superba'
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Campanula
- Species:
- glomerata
- Family:
- Campanulaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Europe and temperate Asia
- Distribution:
- Native: Albania, Austria, Baltic States, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Central European Russia, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, East European Russia, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Hungary, Inner Mongolia, Iran, Iraq, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Korea, Lebanon-Syria, Manchuria, Mongolia, Netherlands, North Caucasus, North European Russian, Northwest European Russia, Poland, Romania, South European Russia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tadzhikistan, Turkey, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, West Siberia, and Xinjiang. Introduced: Norway, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Quebec, and the United States--CO, IL, ME, MA, MI, MN, NH, NY, ND, PA, UT, and VT,
- Wildlife Value:
- Food source for the Plasterer bee (Colletes brevicornis). Attract butterflies and hummingbirds.
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Attracts Pollinators
- Colorful
- Easy to Grow
- Edibility:
- Leaves have a mild flavor with a pleasant sweetness and can be used as an ingredient in salads
- Dimensions:
- Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
- Width: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Perennial
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Erect
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Cream/Tan
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Description:
- Each flower is replaced by a globoid seed capsule that contains several small seeds.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Blue
- Purple/Lavender
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Head
- Raceme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Good Cut
- Long Bloom Season
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Bell
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- The flowers are upward facing, bell-shaped, and violet to lavender blue. Up to 15 flowers form a dense spherical terminal cluster atop a small-leaved stem that rises up to 12 to 18 inches tall above a basal clump of leaves. Smaller flower clusters simultaneously bloom in the upper leaf axils. Blooming occurs from May through July.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Dentate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- The leaves are medium green, slightly hairy, ovate to lanceolate with toothed margins, and measure up to 5 inches long. They form a basal clump of dense foliage. The stem leaves are smaller, narrower, and shorter, measuring up to 3.5 inches long.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Form:
- Straight
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- Flowers bloom in spherical terminal clusters atop smaller-leaved stems rising above the basal clump to 12 to 18 inches tall.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Naturalized Area
- Rock Wall
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Children's Garden
- Cottage Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Rock Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Hummingbirds
- Pollinators
- Songbirds
- Specialized Bees
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Heat
- Rabbits
