2 named cultivars

perennial

Creeping Bellflower

Campanula rapunculoides

The Story

Plant Bio

Campanula rapunculoides, the rampion or creeping bellflower, is an upright perennial from Europe and western Siberia, reaching two to four feet high. One-sided spires of nodding bluish-purple bells open from June to August above heart-shaped basal leaves. It spreads by deep, brittle white rhizomes as well as by abundant seed.

It is invasive across much of North America and is genuinely difficult to remove: the rhizomes run deep and regrow from every fragment left behind, so digging often multiplies it. Plant a clump-forming bellflower such as peach-leaved or clustered bellflower instead, which gives the same bell flowers with none of the spread.

Uses & Benefits:

Tall one-sided spires of nodding purple bells over a long summer season.

Grows almost anywhere, in sun or shade and poor soil, which is both its use and its problem.

Bells are worked by bumblebees, but the species displaces native vegetation where it escapes.

Essentials

At a Glance

Plant Type

Perennial

Height

36 inches

Width

16 inches

Light

Full Sun, Partial Sun

Zones

4, 5, 6, 7, 8

Water

Medium

Humidity

Average

Lifespan

Perennial

Native To

Europe and western Siberia

Toxicity

Non-toxic

Planting

How to Grow

Check first whether it is listed as invasive in your area.
If growing it, confine it to a sunken container or hard-edged bed.
Site it in full sun to part shade in average soil.
Keep the soil moderately moist through the season.
Remove spent flower stems before seed can set.
Dig out escaping rhizomes completely, leaving no fragments.

Pro Tip

Every rhizome fragment left in the soil becomes a new plant, so partial digging spreads it; remove the whole root run or none of it.

Keep It Thriving

Care Guide

Do

Check local invasive listings before planting 📋
Confine it to a hard-edged or sunken bed 🧱
Cut flower stems before seed sets ✂️
Consider a clump-forming bellflower instead 🌱

Don't

Let it seed freely into surrounding beds ❌
Dig it half-heartedly and leave root fragments ❌
Plant it near natural or wild areas ❌

Seasonal Care Calendar

Task	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Control
Deadhead

Watch Out For

Pests & Diseases

Common Pests

Common Diseases

In the Garden

Landscape Uses & Companions

Landscape Uses

Contained cottage-garden planting where permittedCut flower for informal arrangementsRough ground where nothing else establishes

Companion Plants

Peach-Leaved Bellflower Clustered Bellflower Hardy Geranium Catmint Lady's Mantle

Multiply

Propagation Methods

Good to Know

Common Questions

Creeping Bellflower questions

What zones can Creeping Bellflower grow in?

Creeping Bellflower is hardy in USDA Zones 4–8. Inside that range it survives winter in the ground; outside it, grow it as an annual or a container plant you protect.

Is Creeping Bellflower deer resistant?

Yes — Creeping Bellflower is rated deer-resistant. Deer typically pass it over, though extreme hunger can override any plant's defenses.

When does Creeping Bellflower bloom?

Creeping Bellflower typically blooms in early to late summer through late summer. Exact timing shifts a week or two with your zone — Sow's bloom calendar maps it to your garden.

Does Creeping Bellflower need full sun?

Creeping Bellflower does best in full sun to part shade. In hot climates, afternoon shade keeps blooms fresher longer.

Is Creeping Bellflower drought tolerant?

Yes — once established (usually after the first full season), Creeping Bellflower handles dry spells with minimal watering. Water deeply its first year to build the root system that makes that possible.