10 Plants That Look Like Bells

Bell-shaped flowers add graceful elegance to any garden, and they appear across a surprisingly wide range of plants—from delicate spring bulbs to tall perennials and hardy shrubs. Whether you’re looking for cottage garden charm, woodland groundcovers, or architectural focal points, there’s a bell-flowered plant to suit your needs.

This guide highlights 10 outstanding plants with distinctive bell-shaped blooms, covering their appearance, growing requirements, bloom times, and best uses in the landscape. These selections range from well-known favorites to lesser-known gems that deserve more attention in modern gardens.

1. Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea)

Read our guide to Foxglove

Foxglove is a classic biennial (sometimes short-lived perennial) known for its dramatic flower spikes covered in tubular, pendant bells. Native to western and southwestern Europe, foxglove produces tall spires—often reaching 3 to 5 feet—densely packed with downward-facing flowers in shades of purple, pink, white, yellow, or apricot. The blooms feature distinctive spotted throats that guide pollinators inside.

Bloom Time: Late spring to early summer (May–July)
Hardiness: Zones 4–8
Light: Part shade to full sun
Soil & Water: Moist, well-drained soil; moderate water needs
Toxicity: Highly toxic to humans and pets if ingested
Best Use: Cottage gardens, woodland edges, vertical accents in mixed borders

Foxgloves self-seed readily, ensuring new plants appear each year. Deadhead spent flower spikes to encourage a second, smaller flush of blooms or allow seeds to mature for future generations. Because all parts are toxic, plant foxglove away from areas where children or pets play.

2. Lily of the Valley (Convallaria majalis)

Read our guide to Lily of the Valley

Lily of the valley produces arching stems of tiny, fragrant white bells nestled among broad, glossy green leaves. Native to cool temperate regions of Europe and Asia, this low-growing perennial spreads via rhizomes to form dense groundcover. Each flowering stem bears 5 to 15 nodding, waxy white flowers with a sweet, unmistakable fragrance.

Bloom Time: Mid to late spring (April–May)
Hardiness: Zones 2–7
Height: 6–12 inches
Light: Part to full shade
Soil & Water: Moist, humus-rich soil; regular water
Toxicity: All parts are toxic to humans and pets
Best Use: Shade gardens, woodland groundcover, cut flowers, naturalizing under trees

Lily of the valley can be aggressive, spreading quickly once established. It’s ideal for areas where you need reliable, low-maintenance groundcover in shade, but avoid planting it near delicate perennials that may be overtaken.

3. Bellflower (Campanula species)

Read our guide to Peach-Leaved Bellflower

The Campanula genus includes more than 300 species of bellflowers, ranging from low alpine varieties to tall border perennials. Most produce upward- or outward-facing bell-shaped flowers in shades of blue, purple, white, or pink. The blooms typically have five fused, pointed petals that flare open at the mouth, revealing prominent stamens.

Bloom Time: Late spring through summer, depending on species
Hardiness: Zones 3–8 (varies by species)
Height: 6 inches to 6 feet
Light: Full sun to part shade
Soil & Water: Well-drained soil; moderate water
Best Use: Rock gardens, perennial borders, groundcovers, cottage gardens

Popular species include peach-leaved bellflower (Campanula persicifolia), clustered bellflower (C. glomerata), and creeping bellflower (C. rapunculoides). Note that some varieties spread aggressively by rhizomes and seed, so choose carefully based on your garden situation.

4. Canterbury Bells (Campanula medium)

Canterbury bells are a biennial bellflower prized for their large, showy blooms. Native to southern Europe, this species produces stout stems lined with cup-shaped bells in vibrant shades of blue, violet, pink, or white. The flowers are larger than most other campanulas—up to 2 inches across—and face upward or outward rather than nodding.

Bloom Time: Late spring to early summer (May–July)
Hardiness: Zones 5–8
Height: 18–30 inches
Light: Full sun to part shade
Soil & Water: Fertile, well-drained soil; regular water
Best Use: Cottage gardens, cutting gardens, mid-border flowering

Because Canterbury bells are biennial, they grow foliage the first year and bloom the second. For continuous color, sow seeds two years in a row or choose newer varieties bred for first-year flowering. Deadheading prolongs bloom and prevents excessive self-seeding.

5. Bluebells (Hyacinthoides non-scripta)

Bluebells are beloved spring bulbs known for carpeting woodland floors in sweeps of violet-blue. The English bluebell (Hyacinthoides non-scripta) is native to western Europe and produces narrow, tubular bells on one-sided, arching stems. Spanish bluebells (H. hispanica) are more upright with broader, less fragrant flowers. Both naturalize easily and create stunning drifts under deciduous trees.

Bloom Time: Mid to late spring (April–May)
Hardiness: Zones 4–9
Height: 12–20 inches
Light: Part shade to full shade
Soil & Water: Moist, humus-rich soil; consistent spring moisture
Best Use: Woodland gardens, naturalizing, under deciduous trees and shrubs

Plant bluebell bulbs in fall. Once established, they spread by seed and bulb offsets to form expansive colonies. English bluebells are protected in the UK, so always source bulbs from reputable, sustainably managed suppliers.

6. Coral Bells (Heuchera sanguinea)

Coral bells, also called alumroot, are North American perennials grown as much for their foliage as for their flowers. The plant forms low mounds of lobed, often colorful leaves in shades of green, burgundy, bronze, or coral. In late spring and summer, slender stems rise above the foliage, bearing airy clusters of tiny, tubular bells in red, pink, white, or coral.

Bloom Time: Late spring to summer (May–July)
Hardiness: Zones 4–9
Height: Foliage 8–12 inches; flower stems to 24 inches
Light: Part shade to full sun (afternoon shade in hot climates)
Soil & Water: Well-drained soil; moderate water
Best Use: Edging, containers, rock gardens, perennial borders, foliage contrast

Modern cultivars offer exceptional leaf color year-round. Coral bells prefer good drainage and may suffer in heavy, wet soils. They’re generally pest-resistant and provide nectar for hummingbirds.

7. Snowdrops (Galanthus nivalis)

Read our guide to Snowdrops

Snowdrops are among the earliest spring bloomers, often pushing through snow to announce winter’s end. Native to Europe and western Asia, these diminutive bulbs produce nodding white flowers with three outer petals and three shorter inner petals marked with green. Each bulb typically produces one flower on a slender stem, surrounded by narrow, blue-green leaves.

Bloom Time: Late winter to early spring (February–March)
Hardiness: Zones 3–8
Height: 3–6 inches
Light: Part shade to full sun
Soil & Water: Moist, well-drained soil; moderate water during growth
Best Use: Naturalizing, woodland gardens, rock gardens, early spring color

Plant snowdrop bulbs “in the green” (while still leafed out after flowering) for best establishment, or plant dry bulbs in fall. They naturalize well and are deer-resistant. Snowdrops go dormant by late spring.

8. Bells of Ireland (Moluccella laevis)

Bells of Ireland is an annual grown for its striking green flower spikes. Despite the common name, it’s native to Turkey, Syria, and the Caucasus. The “bells” are actually enlarged calyces—papery, shell-like cups that surround tiny, fragrant white flowers. The entire spike has a fresh, lime-green color that stands out in the garden and is prized for fresh and dried arrangements.

Bloom Time: Summer (June–August)
Hardiness: Annual (all zones)
Height: 24–36 inches
Light: Full sun
Soil & Water: Well-drained, moderately fertile soil; regular water
Best Use: Cutting gardens, annual borders, architectural accent, dried arrangements

Start seeds indoors 6–8 weeks before the last frost or direct sow after danger of frost has passed. Bells of Ireland prefers cool weather and may struggle in hot, humid climates. For dried flowers, harvest when fully developed and hang upside down in a cool, dry place.

9. White Mountain Heather (Cassiope mertensiana)

White mountain heather is a low-growing evergreen shrub native to subalpine and alpine zones of western North America. It produces small, nodding white bells on pinkish stems above dense, scale-like foliage. The flowers resemble lily of the valley but grow on a compact, mat-forming shrub rather than an herbaceous perennial.

Bloom Time: Late spring to summer (June–August)
Hardiness: Zones 3–7
Height: 6–12 inches
Spread: 12–18 inches
Light: Full sun to part shade
Soil & Water: Acidic, well-drained soil; consistent moisture
Best Use: Rock gardens, alpine gardens, groundcover in cool climates

White mountain heather thrives in cool, moist climates and struggles in heat and humidity. It’s an excellent choice for northern gardens, especially in naturalistic or rock garden settings that mimic its native mountain habitat.

10. Swamp Doghobble (Eubotrys racemosa)

Read our guide to Swamp Doghobble

Swamp doghobble is a deciduous shrub native to wetlands and wooded swamps of the southeastern United States. It produces graceful, horizontal racemes of small white or pinkish bell-shaped flowers that dangle in rows along arching stems. The flowers are followed by ornamental capsules, and the foliage often develops attractive fall color.

Bloom Time: Mid to late spring (April–May)
Hardiness: Zones 5–9
Height: 3–6 feet
Spread: 3–5 feet
Light: Part shade to full shade
Soil & Water: Moist to wet, acidic soil; high water needs
Best Use: Woodland gardens, rain gardens, wet sites, native plant landscapes

Swamp doghobble is ideal for challenging wet areas where few other shrubs thrive. It’s low-maintenance, pest-resistant, and provides nectar for early pollinators. The common name comes from livestock occasionally becoming entangled in dense thickets.