Campanula Flowers
Name : Campanula Flowers
Latin Name : Genus: Campanula, (Campanula rotundifolia)
Campanula Description
Campanula is a genus of about 300 species in the Campanulaceae family with the common name Bellflower. The genus derives its name from its bell-shaped flowers. In Latin, campanula stands for "little bell". Campanulas are distributed across the temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. Their highest diversity lies in the Mediterranean region east to the Caucasus.
Campanula varieties include perennial as well as annual and biennial plants. They vary from dwarf arctic and alpine species under 5 cm tall, to large temperate grassland and woodland species growing up to 2 m tall.
Campanulas are lovely, delicate flowers with softly curling edges and a yellowish pistol protruding from their centre. They have five-pointed bracts with narrow, toothed leaves.
Bellflowers come in various shades of lavender, blue and white.
Flowers are available from late spring into early summer (from July through September). Campanula need a good moist, yet well-drained soil with sufficient amount of organic matter mixed in. In the North, Campanula plants can tolerate full sun so long as the soil is not dry, but elsewhere they prefer partial shade.
Bellflowers propagate by division in the fall or spring and also by seed. Frequently dividing and transplanting campanula helps keep up their vitality.
Bellflowers are the ideal plants for borders; they look superb in rock gardens and work fine for the shade or wild garden alike. Bellflowers can also be grown in containers in the greenhouse or in a window garden. Bellflowers are also very popular as cut flowers. This delightful flower would make a lovely addition to any wedding bouquet, flower arrangement or a table centerpiece. Bellflowers have a minimum average vase life of about 8 days.
Popular bellflower varieties include the northern European Campanula rotundifolia, commonly known as Harebell in England and Bluebell in Scotland, and the southern European Campanula medium which is commonly known as Canterbury bells. Another variety, Campanula rapunculus, commonly known as Rampion Bellflower, Rampion, or Rover Bellflower, is a biennial vegetable which was once widely cultivated in Europe for its root. The Brothers Grimm's famous tale “Rapunzel” derives its name from this plant.
Milky Bellflower is another beautiful variety that grows 30 to 36 inches high. It forms oval, narrow and green leaves along the stems and large, bunches of bell-shaped, violet-blue blossoms from early summer to fall.
Campanula Meaning
Campanula or Bellflowers represent “Gratitude”, “Indiscretion” and “Constancy”. Bellflowers symbolize the meaning: “My love for you is infinite and everlasting”.
Campanula Mythology
Bellflowers are also known as Venus's-looking-glass. Legend has it that the goddess of love lost her magic mirror which reflected nothing but beauty. A poor shepherd boy found the magic mirror and kept it. Venus sent Cupid to earth to retrieve her looking glass but the mirror fell to the ground and got shattered to pieces. It is believed that everywhere a piece landed, a beautiful Campanula blossom began to grow.
