Dalmatian bellflower vs Serbian bellflower

Dalmatian bellflower and Serbian 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.

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

Serbian bellflower

Campanula poscharskyana 15 cm × 60 cm after 10 years

A vigorous bellflower with trailing stems that are smothered in star-shaped lavender-blue flowers from late spring into summer, often blooming again…

Ground cover

Full sun

Part shade

from about PLN 7.90

Key differences

Serbian bellflower spreads wider: 15 cm × 60 cm after ten years, against 15 cm × 50 cm for Dalmatian bellflower.
Serbian bellflower also takes heavy clay, Dalmatian bellflower needs a loose, free-draining soil.
Serbian bellflower is cheaper: about PLN 8.80 at the size usually planted, against about PLN 15 for Dalmatian bellflower.

Which one to choose?

Serbian bellflower is the better choice if the soil is heavy clay or price matters.

Watch out for

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.

Serbian bellflower

Slugs and snails readily eat it, especially the fresh shoots in spring. It spreads strongly: it smothers weaker neighbours, roots into the joints of walls and paving and also self-seeds, so cut back its edges every year. Powdery mildew can appear in stuffy, dry spots. In Central Europe the foliage may scorch in full sun on hot summer afternoons, so give it part shade in such places.

The data side by side

Feature	Dalmatian bellflower	Serbian bellflower
Group	Ground cover	Ground cover
Size after 10 years	15 cm × 50 cm	15 cm × 60 cm
Ultimate size	8–20 cm × 30–60 cm	10–30 cm × 30–60 cm (uncertain)
Growth rate	Medium (uncertain)	Fast
Light	Full sun, Part shade	Full sun, Part shade
Soil	Average garden soil, Sandy, Calcareous	Average garden soil, Clay, Sandy, Calcareous
Hardiness	down to -34 °C (USDA 4, RHS H7)	down to -40 °C (USDA 3, RHS H7)
Heat tolerance	Medium (uncertain)	Medium (uncertain)
Foliage	Semi-evergreen (uncertain)	Semi-evergreen
Flowering	May–August, purple, blue	May–September, purple, blue, white
Water need	Medium	Medium
Drought tolerance	Medium	Medium
Maintenance	Low	Low
Planting distance	30 cm	30 cm
For dogs	Non-toxic (uncertain)	Non-toxic (uncertain)
For cats	Non-toxic (uncertain)	Non-toxic (uncertain)
For children	Non-toxic (uncertain)	Non-toxic (uncertain)
Typical price	approx. PLN 15	approx. PLN 8.80

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

Want a more precise suggestion?

Describe the spot and what you are after in a few words, and the plant finder picks for your garden.

Open the plant finder

More comparisons

Dalmatian bellflower vs Carpathian bellflower Dalmatian bellflower vs Caucasian stonecrop Serbian bellflower vs Carpathian bellflower Serbian bellflower vs Caucasian stonecrop