Campanula rotundifolia
A slender, rhizomatous perennial in the Campanulaceae family forming a basal rosette with tall, wiry flowering stalks bearing pale blue to violet, bell-shaped blooms that nod through summer and attract bees and butterflies, thriving in dry, rocky, sunny sites across cool-temperate regions of Europe and Asia.
Common Names
Common Harebell, Harebell, Blawort, Bluebell, Cuckoo Shoe, English Harebell, Heath Bells, Lady's Thimble, Old Man's Bell, Olympia Bellflower, Scotch Bluebell, Scottish Bluebell, St George's Cup, Thimbles, Wind Bells, Witches' Bells, Witches' Thimbles, Clychlys Deilgrwn
Summary
Campanula rotundifolia, harebell or bluebell, is a slender, rhizomatous perennial native to temperate northern regions. It forms a clump with basal rounded leaves and wiry flowering stems bearing blue-violet, bell-shaped flowers that nod from the stem tips and bloom through summer into fall. Typically 6–20 inches tall and 6–12 inches wide, the plant has a delicate, airy habit and self-seeds in favorable conditions, thriving in rocky, dry to moist habitats.
Culture is easy: needs full sun to partial shade and well-drained soil, tolerating a range of soils from dry to moderately moist; suitable for rock gardens, cottage or informal gardens, walls or banks, wildflower meadows, and wildlife-friendly plantings. Propagation by seed, division, or basal cuttings is possible, and self-seeding can occur in good conditions. Hardy in USDA zones 3–8; flowers attract bees and butterflies; deadheading can extend bloom; some pests and diseases may occur, including slugs, snails, aphids, rust, and powdery mildew.
Lifecycle
Perennial
Height
12-18 inches
Spread
4-19.5 inches
Hardiness Zones
Zones 3-6
Sunlight Requirements
Ideally Full Sun to Partial Shade. Tolerates Full Shade.
Soil Type
Moist but well-drained soil
Soil Drainage
Well-drained soil
Soil pH
No single ideal pH; tolerates acid, alkaline, and neutral soils.
Bloom Color
Blue
Bloom Time
Summer to Fall
Foliage Color
Green
Fall Foliage Color
Green
Leaf Lifecycle
Deciduous
Growth Rate
Slow growth; reaches its ultimate height in 2–5 years.
Seasons of Interest
Summer and Fall
Propagation Methods
Seeds, Cuttings, Division
Attracts Wildlife
Attracts bees, butterflies, and other pollinators
Taxonomy
- Taxonomic Rank
- Species
- Author
- L.
- Publication
- Sp. Pl. : 163 (1753)
Superior Taxa
- Kingdom
- Plantae
- Subkingdom
- Pteridobiotina
- Phylum
- Angiosperms
- Order
- Asterales
- Family
- Campanulaceae
- Genus
- Campanula
Synonyms
Rapunculus esculentus Campanula rotundifolia var. montana Campanula allophylla Campanula angustifolia Campanula antirrhina Campanula arcuata var. subrhomboidalis Campanula asturica Campanula balcanica f. racemosa Campanula bocconei Campanula caballeroi Campanula carnica var. racemosa Campanula cespitosa var. bocconei Campanula chinganensis Campanula cinerea Campanula confertifolia Campanula decloetiana Campanula delicatula Campanula diversifolia Campanula filiformis Campanula grammosepala Campanula heterodoxa Campanula heterodoxa Campanula heterophylla Campanula hostii Campanula inconcessa Campanula juncea Campanula lanceolata Campanula lancifolia Campanula langsdorffiana Campanula legionensis Campanula linifolia Campanula linifolia var. heterodoxa Campanula linifolia var. langsdorffiana Campanula linifolia f. langsdorffiana Campanula linifolia var. tenuifolia Campanula lobata Campanula lostritti Campanula marchesettii var. calisii Campanula minor Campanula minuta Campanula paenina Campanula pennina Campanula pinifolia Campanula pseudovaldensis Campanula pubescens Campanula pusilla f. lobata Campanula rhomboidalis var. lanceolata Campanula rotunda Campanula rotundifolia var. albiflora Campanula rotundifolia var. angustifolia Campanula rotundifolia var. angustissima Campanula rotundifolia var. bielziana Campanula rotundifolia var. bocconei Campanula rotundifolia f. borhidiana Campanula rotundifolia var. bulgarica Campanula rotundifolia var. calisii Campanula rotundifolia f. calvescens Campanula rotundifolia var. confertifolia Campanula rotundifolia subsp. confertifolia Campanula rotundifolia var. delitschiana Campanula rotundifolia var. euxina Campanula rotundifolia subsp. euxina Campanula rotundifolia var. flexuosa Campanula rotundifolia f. frondosa Campanula rotundifolia var. glabra Campanula rotundifolia f. glabrescens Campanula rotundifolia f. graminifolia Campanula rotundifolia var. heterodoxa Campanula rotundifolia subsp. heterodoxa Campanula rotundifolia var. hirta Campanula rotundifolia f. hirta Campanula rotundifolia f. hrubyana Campanula rotundifolia f. laevis Campanula rotundifolia var. langsdorffiana Campanula rotundifolia var. legionensis Campanula rotundifolia subsp. legionensis Campanula rotundifolia var. lineariifolia Campanula rotundifolia f. luxurians Campanula rotundifolia f. micranthoides Campanula rotundifolia var. minor Campanula rotundifolia f. nejceffii Campanula rotundifolia f. normalis Campanula rotundifolia var. ovata Campanula rotundifolia f. ovata Campanula rotundifolia var. papillifera Campanula rotundifolia var. papillosa Campanula rotundifolia var. parviflora Campanula rotundifolia subsp. pedemontana Campanula rotundifolia var. pennina Campanula rotundifolia var. pubescens Campanula rotundifolia subsp. racemosa Campanula rotundifolia var. reflexa Campanula rotundifolia var. saxatilis Campanula rotundifolia var. scabriuscula Campanula rotundifolia f. scabriuscula Campanula rotundifolia var. scopulicola Campanula rotundifolia f. serpentini Campanula rotundifolia f. silvicola Campanula rotundifolia f. soldanelliflora Campanula rotundifolia var. solstitialis Campanula rotundifolia subsp. solstitialis Campanula rotundifolia var. stricta Campanula rotundifolia f. subcongesta Campanula rotundifolia f. subracemosa Campanula rotundifolia f. subverruculosa Campanula rotundifolia f. tenerrima Campanula rotundifolia var. tenuifolia Campanula rotundifolia var. velutina Campanula rotundifolia var. verlotii Campanula sarmentosa Campanula scheuchzeri var. heterodoxa Campanula solstitialis Campanula tenuifolia Campanula tracheliifolia Campanula urbionensis Campanula variifolia Campanula wiedmannii Depierrea campanuloides Campanula grammosepala var. cardiophylla Campanula grammosepala var. spathiphylla Campanula hostii var. uniflora Campanula rotundifolia subsp. linifolia Campanula rotundifolia var. decloetiana Campanula rotundifolia var. hostii Campanula scheuchzeri var. inconcessa Campanula rotundifolia var. lubiciana Campanula scheuchzeri subsp. lanceolata Campanula tenuifolia Campanula rotundifolia f. rotundifolia Campanula rotundifolia var. rotundifolia Campanula rotundifolia f. albiflora Campanula rotundifolia subsp. montana Campanula rotundifolia var. altitatrica Campanula bielzii Campanula lanceolata Campanula linifolia var. major Campanula rotundifolia f. subhirta Campanula pennica Campanula racemosa Campanula reboudiana Campanula rotundifolia f. elata Campanula rotundifolia subsp. langsdorffiana Campanula rotundifolia f. latifrons Campanula rotundifolia var. laxiflora Campanula rotundifolia subsp. paenina Campanula rotundifolia subsp. pennina Campanula rotundifolia var. soldanelliflora Campanula rotundifolia f. umbrosa Campanula rotundifolia var. vulgaris Campanula langsdorffiana