Creeping Bellflower (Campanula rapunculoides): blue Minnesota wildflowers

Creeping Bellflower

Plant Info
Also known as:	Rampion Bellflower, European Bellflower
Scientific name:	Campanula rapunculoides
Family:	Bellflower (Campanulaceae)
Life cycle:	perennial
Origin:	Eurasia
Habitat:	sun or shade; deciduous woods, fields, along roads, disturbed areas
Bloom season:	summer, fall
Plant height:	1 to 3 feet
Spotted in Ramsey County at:	Long Lake Regional Park Vadnais/Snail Lake Regional Park

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Flower:: Flowers are arranged in a raceme along one side of the main stem at the top of the plant. Individual flowers are about 1 inch long, nod slightly, and bell-shaped with 5 pointed lobes that may have sparsely hairy edges. Inside the bell are 5 curly yellow stamen and a protruding style with a divided, curled tip. Flower color is blue to blue-violet. The bract at the base of the flower has 5 narrow pointed lobes that fold back away from the flower. The raceme can grow to more than half the length of the plant.
Leaves:: Leaves have fine, coarse teeth, a rough texture, are generally heart-shaped, becoming smaller and proportionately narrower as they ascend the stem. Lower leaves are up to 4 inches long and 2 inches wide with leaf stems to 6 inches long. Leaves near the top of the plant have little or no leaf stem. The main stem is also rough from stiff hairs and is often purple, especially near the base of the plant.
Notes:: Creeping Bellflower grows in clumps, as it spreads mainly by its root system. It is potentially invasive.