Pruning serbian bellflower
Advice for October in the Netherlands
Serbian bellflower (Campanula poscharskyana) can be shortened after flowering if it outgrows its space. Retain the low healthy canopy; Dalmatian bellflower is also used for a different Campanula. The months are a guide for gardens in the Netherlands and Belgium; growth stage and weather take priority.
Serbian bellflower — October
Check this first
Retain healthy Serbian bellflower foliage and limit maintenance to dead remains or intrusive spread. A bare winter cut is not a routine maintenance step.
Pay attention to this
- Check the label for C. poscharskyana; C. portenschlagiana is a different species.
- Cut after flowering, not through a mat full of new flower buds.
- Check underground runners beside small neighbouring plants; shearing the edge alone does not contain them permanently.
Frequently asked questions
- Why is this page called Serbian bellflower?
- The intended species is Campanula poscharskyana. The former name Dalmatian bellflower can cause confusion with C. portenschlagiana, so check the botanical name.
- When can I reduce the mat?
- Preferably after the main flowering, by shortening spent trailing shoots back to healthy low foliage.
- Must I cut this bellflower bare each spring?
- No. Keep the healthy canopy and clear only damaged or dead parts.