Campanula is one of several genera in the family Campanulaceae with the common name bellflower. It takes both its common and its scientific name from its bell-shaped flowers. Campanula is Latin for “little bell”. The genus includes over 500 species and several subspecies, distributed across the temperate and subtropical regions of the Northern Hemisphere, with the highest diversity in the Mediterranean region east to the Caucasus. The range also extends into mountains in tropical regions of Asia and Africa. The species include annual, biennial and perennial plants, and vary in habit from dwarf arctic and alpine species under 5 cm high, to large temperate grassland and woodland species growing to 2 metres tall.

Campanula medium commonly known as Canterbury Bells or Bells of Holland is an annual or biennial flowering plant with attractive bell shaped flowers with a flat base. They produce huge spikes of extremely long lasting blooms in blue, purple, mauve or white. They grow to attain 90-120 cm in height. In gardens, they are best in massed plantings in borders or among shrubs. In floriography, they represent gratitude.