Did you know there are around 300 different species of Bellflowers (Campanula) out there? It’s a huge family! Some varieties stand tall and proud with massive blooms, while others prefer to spread out low to the ground. These low-growing types might have smaller flowers, but they are absolute rockstars if you’re looking for a lush, flowering groundcover for your yard.
Finding the Right Spot
When it comes to these “cushion-forming” Bellflowers, their sunlight cravings can vary quite a bit. Varieties that naturally grow along the edges of forests love a mix of sun and shade throughout the day. However, the cousins that hail from deeper in the woods are going to want a much shadier nook. The takeaway? Make sure you check the light levels at your chosen planting site before you pick out your specific variety.
Perfect for Rock Gardens
If you’ve got a rock garden, you know that the heat radiating off those stones can be tough on some plants. Luckily, Bellflowers handle it like champs! As long as the soil beneath those rocks is rich in organic matter and packed with nutrients, these spreading beauties will feel right at home. Plus, they’re great at self-seeding, which means over time you’ll get a gorgeous green carpet with a long blooming season stretching from early summer all the way into fall.
Top Groundcover Varieties to Try
Since we all love a big splash of color, the most vibrant, spreading varieties are usually the favorites among home gardeners. Here are a few of my top picks to get you started:
- Star of Bethlehem (Campanula isophylla) – Grows 4 to 8 inches tall with lovely white or light blue flowers.
- Serbian Bellflower (Campanula poscharskyana) – Reaches about 4 to 6 inches in height and features stunning light to dark violet blooms.
- Fairies’ Thimbles (Campanula cochleariifolia) – A tiny treasure growing only 2 to 6 inches high with delicate light blue bells.
- Adriatic Bellflower (Campanula garganica) – Stays between 4 and 8 inches tall and shows off beautiful light violet, star-shaped flowers.
