(Campanula medium ‘Blue’)

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Blue Canterbury Bells is a biennial flower native to Italy and France commonly found growing in shady areas of moist woods and meadows and along streams and ditches in the northwestern and northeastern United States. At maturity, this plant reaches a height of 3' and features long, loose clusters of long-lasting bell-shaped blue flowers. This plant is perfect for cut flowers, attracts bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, is resistant to deer, makes dyes, and is edible! 

  • General Information
  • Germination
  • Seedlings
  • Harvesting
  • Seed Saving
  • Culinary
  • Companion Planting
  • Other Uses
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Family: Campanulaceae

Genus: Campanula

Species: medium

Variety: Blue Canterbury Bells

Also Known As: Bell flower and Widow bell

Awards: 1933 All-America Selections Winner

Native to: France, Italy.

Introduced into: Austria, British Columbia, Connecticut, Czechoslovakia, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Hungary, Krym, Michigan, Montana, New Brunswick, New York, New Zealand North, New Zealand South, Ontario, Oregon, Romania, Spain, Ukraine.

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.
Coral Bells, Lamb's Ears, and Daylily.
Green and pale blue dyes are obtained from the flowers.

Suggested Varieites

(Heuchera Sanguinea 'Firefly')

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Coral Bells Firefly is a hardy cool-weather perennial wildflower native to Arizona and New Mexico that grows on cliffs, hills, and in alpine areas. At maturity, this plant reaches a height of 12-19” and features thin stems and green heart-shaped foliage, with red nodding bell-shaped flowers. This plant can be grown in a container, attracts bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, is resistant to deer and rabbits, and are great as a cut flower.
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(Stachys Byzantina ‘Lamb's Ear’)

Lamb's Ear is a mat-forming perennial flower native to the Middle East but can be commonly found growing in disturbed meadows and prairies in scattered locations throughout the United States. At maturity, this plant reaches a height of 12-16” and features velvety silver leaves, 10-16” spikes, and small bright purple flowers. This plant can be grown in a container, attracts bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, is resistant to deer and rabbits, tolerates drought, is both edible and medicinal, self-sows, and is used as a cut flower! 
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