Impressive enough to hold their own at the back of a border, these medium-sized plants (up to 30 inches tall) bear abundant bell-shaped flowers up to 2 inches long.The prized color for these flowers is deep blue, but you can also find mixes in pink, lavender, and white.

The flowers are handsome when cut and brought indoors. Technically, Canterbury bells are biennials. But you can get blooms within a year by setting out nursery transplants in early spring if you live in a cold-winter climate, or in fall if your winters are mild.

Plant seedlings in soil enriched with organic matter and in part shade in hot-summer areas, or in full sun where it’s cool. Be sure to stake these plants.