Light
This plant thrives in full sun to partial shade; the hotter the climate, the more it will appreciate some shade. This species tolerates more shade than most other Campanula plants.
Soil
This plant prefers moist but well-drained soil but does fairly well in average soil types without much organic material.
Water
Dalmatian bellflowers have typical needs for water. About one inch of water per week, in the form of rainfall or irrigation, will keep them blooming. Once well established, Dalmatian bellflowers can tolerate short periods of drought.
Temperature and Humidity
These plants perform poorly in climates with hot, humid conditions where night temperatures remain above 70 degrees Fahrenheit. They do well wherever conditions are cooler than this in USDA cold hardiness zones 4 to 8.
Fertilizer
This is a hardy plant that doesn’t require much feeding. A spring application of organic fertilizer or a layer of compost will provide all necessary nutrients. For the amount of fertilizer to use, follow the product label instructions.
Types of Dalmation Bellflower
Campanula portenschlagiana ‘Aurea’: One of the most popular cultivars, commonly called golden dalmatian bellflower; attractive golden spring foliage that gradually acquires green tones as the growing season progresses.C. portenschlagiana ‘Birch’s Hybrid’: A more upright plant with true blue flowers, with tinges of purple at the margins.C. portenschlagiana ‘Resholdt’s Variety’: A slightly larger variety, growing to 12 inches high, with lilac blooms.Campanula poscharskyana: A different but similar species to C. portenschlagiana, it grows to 12 inches in height; the common name is Serbian bellflower.C. carpatica: Another similar species, a mound-forming bellflower that grows 12 inches tall and is available in white cultivars; not a creeping spreader but can be frequently divided and replanted to cover large areas of ground. Common names include Carpathian bellflower and tussock bellflower.
Pruning
Dalmation bellflowers are herbaceous plants that do not need pruning in the way that trees and woody shrubs do, but pruning or trimming the plants can help promote flowering in summer. Cutting back the dead foliage in fall gets the plant ready for the cold winter ahead. If your bellflower’s blooming tapers off as the summer progresses, shear the plants to encourage additional flowering. Regular deadheading of spent flowers during the growing season will also help prolong the bloom period.
Propagating Dalmatian Bellflowers
Dalmatian bellflowers will readily self-seed, and the offspring plants can be carefully dug up and transplanted to other locations. It is also quite easy to propagate bellflowers by dividing them:
How to Grow Dalmation Bellflower From Seed
Dalmation bellflowers are good candidates to grow from seed to get a head start on the season. Plant the seeds in flats or pots filled with seed-starting mix. Press the seeds into the soil without covering them. Provide light to promote germination, and maintain a temperature of 70 degrees Fahrenheit for two to four weeks. Transplant the seedlings into larger containers or plant them outdoors with approximately 6- to 12-inch spacing. Before planting them outdoors, be sure to harden off the seedlings.
Overwintering
To prepare the plants for winter, wait until the first frost or two has killed the foliage, then cut back the plants to the ground. Cover the soil around the plants with an inch or two of compost, then add a layer of straw or mulch material to keep out weed seeds. Remove the mulch in spring. If you’re not too concerned about winter garden tidiness, consider leaving the foliage intact to protect overwintering insects and small animals.
Common Pests
Dalmation bellflowers are sturdy plants that have few serious insect pests or diseases, but slugs and snails often enjoy feasting on the leaves. Remove them by hand when you see them or use another proven method to trap them.
