Canterbury Bells: Blue (Campanula medium)
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$1.00 - $5.60
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An old-fashioned biennial. Canterbury Bells form a low rosette of green leaves and upright stems that bear loads of large blue dangling bells. Stems are superb for cutting. Allow some plants to self seed, which will produce another generation for future years.
Scientific Name: Campanula Medium
Also Known As: Bell flower and Widow bell
Ease of Growing: Easy
Grown as: Biennial
Maturity (Blooms): Spring and summer
Light: Full Sun to Part Shade
Water: Medium
Soil Moisture: Medium
Beneficial Insects?: Yes. Attracts Bees & Butterflies and Hummingbirds, as well as resisting deer and rabbits.
Containers?: Yes.
Height: 32”
Spacing: 10”
Sow Depth: On soil surface
USDA Zone: 3a-9b
Produces: long, loose clusters of bell-shaped blue flowers.
Garden Uses: flower beds, borders, and containers.
Also Known As: Bell flower and Widow bell
Ease of Growing: Easy
Grown as: Biennial
Maturity (Blooms): Spring and summer
Light: Full Sun to Part Shade
Water: Medium
Soil Moisture: Medium
Beneficial Insects?: Yes. Attracts Bees & Butterflies and Hummingbirds, as well as resisting deer and rabbits.
Containers?: Yes.
Height: 32”
Spacing: 10”
Sow Depth: On soil surface
USDA Zone: 3a-9b
Produces: long, loose clusters of bell-shaped blue flowers.
Garden Uses: flower beds, borders, and containers.
Direct sow in late fall, planting the seeds on the surface of the soil and compacting it lightly. Do not cover the seeds, since they need light to germinate; they are best kept moist until germination, which should occur within several weeks. For spring planting, mix the seed with moist sand and store it in the refrigerator for 30 days before direct sowing. To start the plants indoors, sow the seed on the surface of the soil of a flat; keep the temperature at 65-70 degrees F and the soil lightly moist until germination. As soon as the seedlings develop leaves, thin or transplant them.
Transplant the seedlings outdoors in rich, well-drained soil that has plenty of compost or sphagnum peat moss worked in. Canterbury Bells need a site in full sun to light shade. Canterbury Bells care includes fertilizing every other month during the growing season for best height and heaviest bloom. These taller Campanula plants may need support to keep flowers upright. Cut Canterbury Bells back after flowering.
For fresh flowers, cut the stems just when they have begun to bloom. Place them in water immediately. Expect a vase life of 7 to 14 days at room temperature.
Since the tiny seed pods on the stalk will ripen at different times, the seed will need to be harvested over period of time. Shake the entire plant over a container to remove the seed that has ripened, repeating the process every few days until all the seed on the stalk has ripened. Store the cleaned seed in a cool, dry place.
Edible Parts: Leaves & Root.
Edible Uses:
Young shoots: raw or cooked.
Root: cooked.
Edible Uses:
Young shoots: raw or cooked.
Root: cooked.
Coral Bells, Lamb's Ears, and Daylily.
Green and pale blue dyes are obtained from the flowers.
Suggested Varieites
Lamb's Ear (Stachys Byzantina Lanata)
$1.00 - $5.60
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Lamb's Ear (Stachys Byzantina) is a stunning perennial drought tolerant flower that is native to Turkey, Armenia and Iran thatmakes for an excellent ground cover. It has masses of lovely silvery, velvet-textured leaves that remains crisp throughout summer while other plants lose their shape due to the heat. Their beautiful lilac flowers bloom on tall 12-16" spikes.