Caucasian stonecrop vs Dalmatian bellflower

Caucasian stonecrop and Dalmatian bellflower are often considered for the same spot in the garden (ground cover, flowers, pollinator friendly, container). The data below shows where they differ: size, hardiness, care, toxicity and price.

Caucasian stonecrop

Sedum spurium 15 cm × 90 cm after 10 years

A low, succulent ground cover that quickly knits a dense mat with its rooting stems and is covered in pink, red or white starry flowers in summer,…

Ground cover

Full sun

Part shade

from about PLN 13

Dalmatian bellflower

Campanula portenschlagiana 15 cm × 50 cm after 10 years

A low bellflower that forms a tight cushion; from late spring to midsummer its small, ivy-like leaves almost disappear under violet-blue bells. It…

Ground cover

Full sun

Part shade

from about PLN 15

Key differences

Caucasian stonecrop spreads wider: 15 cm × 90 cm after ten years, against 15 cm × 50 cm for Dalmatian bellflower.
Caucasian stonecrop tolerates drought better than Dalmatian bellflower.
Caucasian stonecrop needs less water than Dalmatian bellflower.

Which one to choose?

Caucasian stonecrop is the better choice if you cannot water regularly.

Watch out for

Caucasian stonecrop

In Central Europe it escapes from gardens easily and can crowd out native plants in dry grassland and rocky habitats; Switzerland has banned its sale and the German nature conservation agency has assessed it as invasive. Do not plant it near natural or rocky grassland or protected areas, and do not dump broken stem pieces on the compost or at the garden edge, because they root. In wet, heavy soil the crown rots, and slugs and snails may chew the young shoots.

Dalmatian bellflower

Slugs and snails like it and mainly chew the fresh spring shoots and the flowers. In heavy, waterlogged soil it rots off in winter, and in scorching sun without watering it can burn and die back by late summer. Where it is happy it seeds itself into wall and paving cracks; shearing it after flowering keeps it dense and reduces self-seeding.

The data side by side

Feature	Caucasian stonecrop	Dalmatian bellflower
Group	Ground cover	Ground cover
Size after 10 years	15 cm × 90 cm	15 cm × 50 cm
Ultimate size	5–15 cm × 45–90 cm	8–20 cm × 30–60 cm
Growth rate	Fast (uncertain)	Medium (uncertain)
Light	Full sun, Part shade	Full sun, Part shade
Soil	Average garden soil, Sandy, Calcareous	Average garden soil, Sandy, Calcareous
Hardiness	down to -34 °C (USDA 4, RHS H7)	down to -34 °C (USDA 4, RHS H7)
Heat tolerance	High	Medium (uncertain)
Foliage	Semi-evergreen	Semi-evergreen (uncertain)
Flowering	June–August, pink, red, white	May–August, purple, blue
Water need	Low	Medium
Drought tolerance	High	Medium
Maintenance	Low	Low
Planting distance	30 cm	30 cm
For dogs	no data	Non-toxic (uncertain)
For cats	no data	Non-toxic (uncertain)
For children	Mildly toxic (uncertain)	Non-toxic (uncertain)
Typical price	approx. PLN 13	approx. PLN 15

Prices are rounded, indicative values. Toxicity data is for information only. If your pet or child has eaten a plant, contact a vet or a doctor. Data updated: October 17, 2026

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