The Canterbury Bell has been grown in British gardens for hundreds of year. Above the wavy-edged, hairy leaves numerous spikes of bell-shaped flowers appear. The blooms may be single, semi-double or double and the colours range from white and rose to mauve and blue. Protect the plants from slugs in winter – stake the stems and dead-head the faded flowers in summer.
VARISTIES: The Canterbury Bell is C. medium and the most popular variety is C. medium calycanthema. This is listed as ‘Cup and Saucer’ in the catalogues, so-called because of the shape of the semi-double flowers borne on this 2 ½ ft plant. A much more compact Canterbury Bell is the single ‘Bells of Holland’ (1 ½ ft). The giant amongst biennial Campanulas is the 4 ft C. pyramidalis.
SITE & SOIL: Any well-drained garden soil will do – thrives in a sunny spot which receives a little shade during the day.
PLANT DETAILS: Height 1 ½ – 2 ½ ft. Spacing 1ft. Flowering period May – July.
