Bellflowers aren’t only popular because of how easy they are to grow and care for, but also because of their symbolic meanings of gratitude, their bright and vibrant colors, and because they are great for attracting pollinators who love to seek out these types of flowers during their bloom season from late spring to the early summer.
Whether you plan to plant a few bellflowers of your own in the back garden, or you’re simply curious to know what variations are out there in the wild that you may be able to spot for yourself, you’ll be glad to know that there are over 300 different types of bellflowers, ranging from the small and petite to the bright and bold.
With that being said, some bellflowers do stand out from the rest when it comes to how they look, so if you’re intrigued to know what the most beautiful bellflowers are and what features make them so unique, we’ve got all the information you need right here.
1. Peach-Leaved Bells
Despite the name, these bellflowers are not actually peach in color and instead contain a mixture of both white and purple that gives them a very soft and delicate appearance which bumblebees and honeybees love to land on during the summertime.
However, it’s not just during the summer that you will be able to see these light and colorful bellflowers making an appearance since they actually bloom throughout the entire year, which is a big reason why they have become so popular among gardeners over the last few years.
If you do have any interest in planting a few of these bellflowers in your back garden, you should definitely keep in mind that they are very invasive, so they should only be considered if you have enough space or you’re taking care of a wild garden and want to attract as many creatures as possible.
These flowers thrive when they are exposed to the full sun and can usually be found in wild meadows, forest edges, and dry soils.
2. Carpathian Bellflower
While the Carpathian bellflower does take a little longer to bloom compared to most other variations, when they are finally at their fullest in terms of color, they have a stunning aesthetic that looks incredible as part of a border edge or rock garden.
They only grow to about 7 inches tall, putting them on the smaller side when it comes to bellflowers, and will usually spread out to about 8 inches.
Their upturned violet-blue “bells” blossom throughout the summer as the flower begins to become a lot lighter and much more eye-catching, without ever looking too flashy or in your face.
One fact about the Carpathian bellflower that every gardener should know is that it actually has a fairly unique mat-forming characteristic which makes the flower very ideal as a ground cover for edging a flower border.
As the name suggests, these bellflowers are native to the Carpathian Mountains in Central Europe where they have resided for many centuries.
3. Bluebell
These small and frosty sweet-smelling flowers are incredibly popular among pollinators, and while they are relatively easy to grow and care for in a container or a garden when they are exposed to the sun, they are also incredibly fragile and very weak, especially at their stems, so they are not always considered to be one of the best bellflowers to keep as a gardener.
With that being said though, you can easily find them sprouting in woodlands, forests, and parks during the months of April and May, and because they tend to grow in small groups, as soon as you spot one peeking through a bush, you can guarantee there are a few others very close by.
If you do manage to see them for yourself, you’re in for a real treat, especially when they are in full bloom, and their petals are as colorful and bright as they can be.
4. Clustered Bellflower
Also known as the Campanula glomerata, while a clustered bellflower is certainly a marvel to look at on its own, what makes these velvet-colored bellflowers so admired by flower enthusiasts is the fact that they grow in such huge clusters which can stretch up to 36 inches wide, creating a bush of purple natural beauty that you’ll struggle to see with many other flowers.
The crimson stem compliments the brightness of the flower elegantly, allowing it to be bright without ever being too overpowering on the senses.
They tend to be most commonly found growing across grassy banks where they have enough space to spread out their clusters, and they can also sometimes be spotted on sea cliffs.
5. Chettle Charm
These creamy white bellflowers bloom throughout the summer and can often be seen peeking over the top of bushes and hedges since they are so tall, being able to grow up to 36 inches tall.
They contain lance-shaped leaves along with very thin but stern stems, which are incredibly resistant to harsh weather conditions.
Many gardeners agree that they are some of the best flowers when it comes to cottage garden borders, especially because their bright colors and tall stature attract plenty of bees and butterflies through the warmer months.
During the summertime, you have the chance to spot small pale blue dots appearing on the edge of the petals which makes them even more beautiful to look at.
6. Adriatic Bellflower
Also sometimes referred to as “Dickinson’s Gold”, the Adriatic bellflower is most well known for its dazzling clusters that can usually be seen sporting a light lavender color, but they can sometimes lean more into blue or even pink depending on their surrounding conditions and the time of the year.
It should be said however that this plant does grow at an extremely rapid rate, so if you do ever plan to plant them in a garden, you’re going to need to make sure they have plenty of space to grow and expand, otherwise, they will start overtaking any other plants of greenery that you have dotted around the area.
They make for an excellent addition to any border wall, not only because of how resistant they are to the colder weather, but also because of just how beautiful they are to look at, especially considering their leaves tend to be on the smaller side but are still bursting with color, and since they always face upright, they won’t be hiding anything from you when you come to look at them.
7. Campanula Punctata
This is a heart-shaped bellflower that many would describe as having a delicate mix between white and pink, but if you look very closely, you will also be able to see the spots that surround the flower which are usually red but can also be a few other colors.
Because of this small detail, they are sometimes referred to as the “spotted bellflower”, and because they usually grow in large clumps in the summertime, it makes them a real treat for the eyes when you see multiple of them at once in a meadow or a bush.
While a creamy white is their most common color, the Campanula punctata bellflower can actually display numerous other colors ranging from deep orange to lilac, all the way to cherry red.
They require a lot of exposure to the sun in order to develop properly, and can easily grow in either chalk, loam, or sandy soil.
8. Dalmatian Bellflower
The Dalmatian bellflower is actually incredibly unique because the flower will remain green throughout the colder seasons, and will only begin to bloom its deep purple color once the period is over, but gardeners will also trim the flower down once leaves begin to turn brown to help speed up their blooming season.
It is vigorous, low-growing, and mound-forming, and while it can technically be grown indoors, it is heavily advised to let the plant grow outside where it can spread rhizomes and thrive.
No matter where they are grown, however, the dalmatian bellflower is guaranteed to look downright beautiful when they are basking in the sunlight.
Sometimes, you can even find these lovely flowers sprouting out of the crevices of walls, adding some much-needed color to an otherwise fairly drab and bland building or structure.
Summary
While many types of bellflowers will be fairly similar in their shape, this really is where the similarities end as they can vary wildly in regards to their height, width, color, and even characteristics such as how fast they spread, and the conditions they prefer to grow in.
Because of this, whether you want to search for a few bellflowers yourself, or even grow a small cluster of them in your back garden, it can always be worth researching what options are available to you and how many beautiful bellflowers really are out there in the wild that you may not have previously been aware of.
I love sharing my experiences with individuals in this community, and I enjoy sharing some of the best tips I have learned over the years caring for my own garden at home.
In my articles, you will find the best flowers, most fragrant flowers you can plant in your garden, how to care for your favorite plants, informative guides and how-tos so you can have the best backyard in town!
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