Garden Care Guide

Dalmatian Bellflower Care

Campanula portenschlagiana

A spreading, evergreen perennial that is ideal for rock gardens and walls. It likes well-drained soils and afternoon shade; it blooms abundantly in spring and early summer.

Hardy · -30 °C / -22 °F

Monthly care calendar

Timings are for a temperate Northern Hemisphere climate. In warmer areas tasks start earlier, in colder areas later; in the Southern Hemisphere shift them by six months.

January
  • Watering: Winter precipitation is sufficient. If it is in a pot or a very sheltered spot, water once a month during dry periods.
  • Pruning: Remove only leaves that look bad or have dried out.
  • Plant protection: Snails and slugs can hide among the leaves in mild winters.
  • General care: A suitable time for propagation by root division and relocation.
  • Pests & diseases: Check for snails and slugs.
February
  • Watering: If there is no rainfall, water once a month.
  • Plant protection: Keep checking for snails and slugs.
  • General care: Still a good time for root division (propagation).
March
  • Watering: Keep the soil moist; if there is no rain, water every 10-15 days (15 L/m²).
  • Fertilizing: At the start of the month, mix a very small amount of compost or slow-release balanced NPK fertilizer into the soil (do not overapply).
  • Plant protection: Controlling snails and slugs is very important this month; they eat fresh sprouts.
  • General care: Clear weeds.
  • Pests & diseases: Snails and slugs are its biggest enemies. Check for aphids.
April
  • Watering: If there is no rainfall, water every 15 days.
  • Pruning: Not needed. Flowering begins.
  • Plant protection: Continue controlling snails and aphids.
  • General care: The plant is covered in flowers.
  • Pests & diseases: Usually trouble-free; the main pest is the snail.
May
  • Watering: If there is no rainfall, water once a week.
  • Pruning: Regularly remove spent flowers at the base; this encourages new flowering.
  • Plant protection: Continue pest control.
  • General care: Spread a 5-7 cm layer of mulch over the root zone; it retains soil moisture and suppresses weeds. Do not pile mulch against the trunk.
  • Pests & diseases: Roots sitting constantly in water cause root rot; good drainage is essential.
June
  • Watering: Water deeply twice a week; prefer infrequent and generous watering over small and frequent. Water so that the soil is wetted 10-15 cm down from the surface.
  • Pruning: Regularly remove spent flowers at the base; this encourages new flowering.
  • General care: After pruning, the plant will quickly produce new leaves.
  • Pests & diseases: In hot weather, a risk of spider mites may arise.
July
  • Watering: Water deeply twice a week; prefer infrequent and generous watering over small and frequent. Water so that the soil is wetted 10-15 cm down from the surface.
  • Pruning: Regularly remove spent flowers at the base; this encourages new flowering.
  • Plant protection: Check the undersides of the leaves for spider mites.
  • General care: Keep it in a position sheltered from midday sun; scorching at the leaf edges is a sign of burn.
  • Pests & diseases: During extreme heat, dryness may appear in the center of the plant; in this case, increase watering.
August
  • Watering: Water deeply twice a week; prefer infrequent and generous watering over small and frequent. Water so that the soil is wetted 10-15 cm down from the surface.
  • Pruning: Regularly remove spent flowers at the base; this encourages new flowering.
  • General care: After summer pruning the plant recovers and may begin flowering again.
September
  • Watering: If there is no rainfall, water once a week.
  • Pruning: Regularly remove spent flowers at the base; this encourages new flowering.
  • Plant protection: Snails and slugs become active again with the autumn rains; check for them.
  • General care: The best time of year to plant new seedlings or to propagate an existing plant by division.
  • Pests & diseases: Protect the newly emerging buds and flowers from snails.
October
  • Watering: If there is no rainfall, water every 15 days.
  • Plant protection: Continue snail control.
  • General care: The plant keeps its green leaf cover for winter.
  • Pests & diseases: Continue slug control.
November
  • Watering: Not required; autumn precipitation is sufficient.
  • Pruning: Remove the last flower stalks.
  • Plant protection: Continue snail control.
  • General care: The plant prepares for winter dormancy.
December
  • Plant protection: Check for snails.
  • General care: Dormancy period. Being evergreen, it provides green cover in winter too.
  • Pests & diseases: Snails can eat the leaves even in mild winters.

The care advice on this page is general and for information only; it is not professional advice. Plant age, soil and your garden’s microclimate can change the outcome. Plant protection products are mentioned only as general information; they are regulated, and the choice, dose and timing must be decided by a qualified professional under local rules. Consult a landscape architect or agronomist before applying.

Want reminders for every plant in your garden? Our garden-care app with monthly task lists and frost alerts is currently available in Turkish; the English version is on the way.

Browse all plant guides