Read on to learn how to grow and care for bellflowers in your garden.
Bellflower Care
Light
Bellflowers should be planted where they receivefull to partial sunlight.
Water
Bellflowers prefer moist soil, but it should not be soggy.
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Fertilizer
Apply abalanced fertilizerin the spring as new growth forms.
Many stay green throughout temperate winters.
Propagating
Bellflowers can be propagated by cuttings or by dividing plants.
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The seeds can also be directly sown into garden soil once the risk of frost has passed.
Evenly distribute the seeds in loose, loamy soil and water regularly to keep the soil moist.
Use good potting soil and a container that drains well.
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Keep the container in a sunny location.
Most container-grown bellflowers are treated as annuals.
However, if you are growing a taller cultivar, it can be transplanted into the garden.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
Overwintering
Garden-grown bellflowers require no special care for overwintering.
In most temperate areas, the foliage will remain green throughout the winter.
If an exceptionally hard freeze is expected, mulch the plants with organic material.
Common Pests and Plant Diseases
Bellflowers are hardy plants that resist most diseases and pests.
In damp, humid areas, rust may as leaf spots on the underside of leaves.
Remove infested leaves and water bellflowers at the base to reduce the risk of this disease.
To preventpowdery mildew, space bellflowers for good air circulation.
Usually pest-free, the exception isgarden slugs, which can riddle the foliage.
Amend the soil with organic matter or use a well-balanced fertilizer.
Common Problems with Bellflowers
Certain species of bellflowers can be invasive and overtake the garden.
Another issue is overwatering or poor drainage which leads to leaves turning yellowish-brown or developing soft spots.
Once established in the garden, bellflowers can live for decades.
They are easily divided and transplanted in the garden.
Creeping bellflower,Campanula rapunculoides,is listed as aninvasive plantin many states.
It spreads rapidly through an extensive root system and produces thousands of seeds.
