Last updated on May 20th, 2023 at 07:06 pm
Campanula, also known as Bellflower, belongs to the Campanulaceae family. The flower gets its name from its shape—a little bell. A campanula flower has five petals shaped like lobes and is about 1 inch long. Campanula flowers can be purple, pink, blue, or white.
The flowers grow in clusters on slender stems. Over 500 species of this plant are annuals, biennials, and perennials. Most varieties are ground huggers, while others grow up to 5 feet.
Campanula is native to the Mediterranean region but can also be found in North America and Asia.
What does the Campanula flower symbolize?
Campanula means bell-like, and it symbolizes maturity and attraction. It also represents gratitude, everlasting love, and humility. In some countries, it is associated with death, where people plant bellflowers near or on gravesites.
One campanula or bellflower species is associated with Venus’ beauty and vanity. She was known to possess a mystical mirror that revealed the most beautiful things in the world. When she misplaced it, a shepherd found it and kept it. Venus requested that her son Cupid find the mirror for her. When he found it with the shepherd, he had to shoot it from the man’s hand, breaking the mirror into many tiny pieces. Because of its gleaming seeds, the Venus’ Looking Glass Bellflower gets its name from this tale.
White or cream-colored campanula was very popular for bouquets and symbolic arrangements among Victorians. During this time, this lovely blossom was thought to represent gratitude.
It was usually given as a gift to express gratitude to someone who had done you a favor. It could also communicate a romantic sense if chosen in a magenta or pink color.
Instead, pyramid-shaped bellflower flowers were thought to symbolize steadfastness. It frequently expressed a desire to stick by someone despite challenges.
The campanula (bellflower) is typically associated with gratitude, and this connotation derives directly from Christian myth.
Harebells (Campanula rotundifolia) were said to be devoted to St. Dominic, a Christian ascetic who formed the Dominican order of the church. The scant leaves and nodding flower blooms symbolize his remorse and dedication.
William Shakespeare also made numerous references to harebells in his sonnets and poems.
All in all, the campanula flower symbolic meanings are:
- gratitude
- faith
- constancy
- affection
- success
- wealth
Meaning of the Campanula flower colors
White color
The white campanula flower means gratitude.
Cream color
The cream campanula flower symbolizes thoughtfulness, grace, elegance, hope, and peace.
Blue color
The blue campanula flower represents tranquility, healing, calmness, openness, and friendship.
Purple color
The purple campanula flower signifies royalty, elegance, wealth, success, and tradition.
Magenta color
The magenta campanula flower conveys universal love, excitement, romantic love, and hope for success.
Pink color
The pink campanula flower implies joy, youthfulness, platonic or familial love, gratitude, admiration, and happiness.
Interesting facts about the Campanula flowers
- In Latin, campanula means bell. It describes the shape of the flower and hence the name.
- The flower has five petals and a lovely shape.
- It is called Bellflower in Scotland. It is the national flower of Sweden.
- Campanula leaves can be eaten as a substitute for spinach or parsnip.
- Campanula or bellflowers have featured in fairy tales like Rapunzel and poems.
- Chinese bellflowers are used in traditional medicine to treat coughs, sore throats, and chest congestion and as a cough suppressant.
- Campanula contains a compound that is used to treat heart failure.
- Though the bellflower is not toxic to pets or people, if too much of it is eaten, dogs do get tummy upsets.
How to grow Campanula flowers
The campanula is a low-maintenance plant and an ideal choice for those just starting with gardening.
- Plant only in the spring when there is no chance of a frost.
- Bellflowers like slightly sandy soil, which is rich in compost.
- A good layer of mulch in spring and autumn, along with cured manure, will help the plant thrive.
- Divide the plant clumps regularly to propagate and ensure good growth.
How to care for of Campanula flowers
- Promote flowering by deadheading and removing seed pods.
- Cut the plant down in the late winter or early spring to make the plant grow better.
- If you don’t want this plant to take over your garden, remove the seed pods before they can disperse their contents.
Best time to gift Campanula flowers
Now that you know the campanula flower’s meaning, you can give it to anyone based on the occasion.
A white campanula is a perfect choice if you are thankful for the help you received for a project or something else. Want to express your attraction to someone? You can give them a bouquet of campanula flowers as a gift. Purple campanula is a good choice if you want to express affection and remembrance for a person who has passed away.
Since campanulas can be grown in pots, too, a potted plant of any color campanula is an option for a housewarming gift.
Conclusion
Campanula is a beautiful flower rich with history and meaning. Multiple cultures have linked meaning to this genus of flowers.
Campanula is a good plant to have in a garden. Though the flowers may not have a fragrance, they look beautiful. Combining it with other plants will help you have a spectacular garden and flower bed. Campanula is also easy to grow in borders. This hardy plant is a great choice for gardeners of all levels.
Campanula is also used in wedding bouquets to convey affection, love, and constancy. To pick the right flower as a gift or for use in a bouquet, knowing the campanula flower’s meaning based on color is essential.
Add a few to your landscape if you live in a temperate or cooler area, or consider using campanula or bellflowers in your flower arrangements. Choose different meanings for these flowers to give your bouquets a new layer of symbolism.
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