Campanula rotundifolia (Harebell): blue Minnesota wildflowers

Campanula rotundifolia (Harebell)

Plant Info
Also known as:	Bluebell Bellflower, Bluebells of Scotland
Genus:	Campanula
Family:	Campanulaceae (Bellflower)
Life cycle:	perennial
Origin:	native
Habitat:	sun to part sun; rocky slopes, open woods, meadows
Bloom season:	summer
Plant height:	6 to 20 inches
USDA PLANTS database:	Minnesota county distribution map
Spotted in Ramsey County at:	Battle Creek Regional Park Vadnais/Snail Lake Regional Park

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Detailed Information

Flower:: Flowers are about ¾ inch long, blue to blue-violet, bell shaped with 5 slightly flaring pointed lobes. A long style protrudes from the center, its tip splits into 3 parts as the plant matures. A plant may have a single flower, or a loosely arranged raceme at the top of the stem.
Leaves and stem:: There is a rosette of 1-inch round basal leaves that withers away by the time the flowers bloom. The stem leaves are vary narrow and grass-like, up to 3 inches long, alternately attached. They tend to angle up and curve down. The main stem is very slender. One plant can have multiple stems, so it looks like a clump, the leaves a tangled mass.

More photos

Photos taken at Wild River State Park, June 2008

Comments

Have you seen this plant in Minnesota, or have any other comments about it?

Posted by: Lisa R in Nevis (north central)
on: 2009-08-19 09:30:00

I just love these perfect little flowers. They are numerous along the Heartland Trail where I walk. I never get tired of looking at them!

Posted by: Carol in Duluth
on: 2010-02-09 08:47:39

This is an incredible hardy plant. I have seen them growing along the north shore in cracks between rocks and even in cracks in bluestone retaining walls along the Duluth Lakewalk. I bought some seed-grown harebell from a local grower (Boreal Natives I think) and planted it amoung chunks of bluestone on our front hill and it did great, blooming a long time each summer, though most recently it is less vigorous due to competition from pearly everlasting and large-leaved aster. Great site!

Posted by: K. Chayka
on: 2010-02-09 09:30:42

There is harebell growing in the cracks and crevices on the bluff walls at Battle Creek Park in St Paul, too. I was surprised to see it there where nothing else seemed to grow, but now it seems not such an unusual place to find it after all.

BTW, I was species steward for harebell at Wild River State Park last year. I think it would make a great garden plant just about anywhere. I saw it blooming June through September (though an individual plant doesn't necessarily bloom the entire season) and does well enough in full sun to near full shade, but seems to prefer part shade. And the flowers are beautiful, of course!