Caring for Your Canterbury Bells

These flowers deliver classic cottage garden vibes in the best possible way. And when they’re in bloom? Expect curious neighbors—and a lot of compliments.

One of my most favorite flowers to grace a garden, Campanula “Canterbury Bells” (Campanula medium) are biennial beauties. They bloom proFUSELY in the summer – they reward diligent deadheading with continued explosions of large, hand-sized happy bell-shaped flowers. And they grow from seed quite easily with minimal fuss and care.

Canterbury Bells bring tall, romantic color to the garden with bell-shaped blooms in blue, lavender, white, and pink. Their upright structure also makes them lovely cut flowers!

A Little History of Canterbury Bells

These charming blooms hail from southern Europe and have been cultivated since at least the 16th century. Their name—Canterbury Bells—is thought to reference their popularity in English monastery gardens, especially around Canterbury, a medieval hub for pilgrimages. Their bell-like shape has also been interpreted as a visual nod to the handbells used in religious services, further tying them to spiritual and ceremonial roots.

In the language of flowers, Campanula symbolizes gratitude and faith. And in Victorian England, they were often included in posies and garden designs meant to evoke sincerity and admiration. A flower that speaks from the heart—quite literally.

Canterbury Bells Today

Though once a mainstay in formal European gardens, Canterbury Bells are seeing a resurgence among flower lovers who appreciate their architectural form, pollinator appeal, and gentle nod to gardening traditions. Their tall, upright growth habit makes them perfect for the back or center of a border, while their wide bell flowers are irresistible to bees and hummingbirds.

Florists prize them as well—they hold up beautifully in cut arrangements, and with their long stems and unusual shape, they bring a storybook quality to any bouquet.

Today’s gardeners grow Canterbury Bells for many of the same reasons their ancestors did: they’re graceful, dependable, and somehow both nostalgic and fresh. Whether you let them self-sow into new corners or treat them as special biennials to be replanted each year, they add timeless charm wherever they grow.

Understanding the Biennial Life Cycle

Canterbury Bells are biennials, which means they live on a two-year timeline. In their first year, the plant focuses on growing a low rosette of leaves and establishing a strong root system. You won’t see flowers just yet—but that foundation is essential for what’s to come. In their second year, the magic happens: tall flowering stalks rise up, covered in those signature bell-shaped blooms.

What you might see is during the third year, a plant will show blooms… and then start to wilt. Inspect the large central stalk. They will hollow out, and it will be very easy to pull the whole plant up from the ground. This is just the natural life cycle of biennials. Simply discard that wonderful stalk, say thank you for gracing your garden, and clean out the roots and crown base. In the fall, make sure to drop some seeds in this same place. You’ll have a constant succession of Campanulas!

Once flowering is complete, the plant will typically set seed and then finish its life cycle. However, if you allow a few seed heads to mature and drop naturally—or collect and sow them yourself—you can keep the bloom show going year after year. This technique, often called “succession sowing”, ensures a rotating cast of first- and second-year plants.

💡 Care Tip: Don’t pull your Canterbury Bells out after the first season just because they haven’t bloomed yet! Leave that leafy rosette in place over winter and let it do its thing the following spring. A light mulch in colder zones can help it overwinter safely.

How To Care For your Campanula (“Canterbury Bells”)

Want more detailed instructions for growing this garden beauty? Download my 3 page Campanula Growers Cheat Sheet PDF now. Applicable for growers in Zones 5 through 10.