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Campanula rotundifolia L.

Bluebell, harebell, bluebell bellflower

KingdomPlantaePlants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae
SubkingdomTracheobiontaVascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
DivisionMagnoliophytaFlowering plants, also known as angiosperms
ClassMagnoliopsidaDicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves
SubclassAsteridaeA large class that encompasses asters
OrderAsteralesFlowering plants with a central disk flower and surrounding petals, like daisies
FamilyCampanulaceaeCampanula or bellflower family; means “bell-shaped flowers”
GenusCampanulaLatin for “little bell”: the bellflower family
SpeciesrotundifoliaWith rounded leaves

About plant names...

I don’t do heights. While trying to recover a frisbee from the shallow roof of my ranch house back in my 20s, I spent a half-hour hugging the asphalt, unable to move forward or backward. So when I spied these bluebells poking out of a granite outcrop in Acadia National Park, then noticed the abyss underneath, it didn’t seem too likely that I would reach them. But I persevered, bulky camera and flash swinging pendulously as I clambered over the rock faces. I inserted myself into the deepest crack I could find and waited, avoiding the downward view, for the wind to abate. Finally, oblivious to the personal peril, I got a few good photos. (My wife, who has no fear of heights, reviewed my account with a touch of skepticism. “Drama king” was one term she used. But I'm sticking to my account.)

Bluebells a North American natives. They prefer medium soils, full or partial sun, regular moisture, and not too much heat.

Plants: 1-1½′ (30-45 cm) high.

Leaves: A basal rosette has leaves that are rounded or heart-shaped, on long petioles (stems). Flowering stems have alternate, narrow, linear leaves.

Flowers: Attractive blue, delicate-looking, nodding bell-shaped flowers. Typically they have five petals, but may have 4-7. The petals fuse together to form a beautiful blue-violet bell ⅜-1″ (1.2-3 cm) in size. Flowers may be single or in small clusters. Rarely, the flowers are pale pink or white. They appear from July to November.

Fruits: Capsulres are 1/16-⅛″ (3-4 mm) in size.

Campanula rotundifolia (bluebell, harebell, bluebell bellflower)

From Thomé, Prof. Dr. Otto Wilhelm, Flora von Deutschland Österreich und der Schweiz., 1885

Online References:

Missouriplants.com

The University of Wisconsin's Robert W. Freckmann Herbarium

The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

Wikipedia

CalPhotos

Illinois Wildflowers

Montana Plant Life

Wikimedia Commons

SEINet—the Southwest Environmental Information Network

Campanula rotundifolia (bluebell, harebell, bluebell bellflower)

Harebell leaves are very thin, at left. The larger leaves are columbine. · 9/28/2013 · Wild Gardens of Acadia, Acadia Naitonal Park, Bar Harbor, Maine · ≈ 6 × 9″ (16 × 23 cm)

Campanula rotundifolia (bluebell, harebell, bluebell bellflower)

9/20/2009 · Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor, Maine · ≈ 4½ × 3″ (11 × 7.9 cm)

Campanula rotundifolia (bluebell, harebell, bluebell bellflower)

8/31/2014 · New Mex­ico · ≈ 7 × 11″ (18 × 28 cm)

Campanula rotundifolia (bluebell, harebell, bluebell bellflower)

8/30/2014 · New Mex­ico · ≈ 6 × 8″ (14 × 20 cm)

Campanula rotundifolia (bluebell, harebell, bluebell bellflower)

9/20/2009 · Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor, Maine · ≈ 3½ × 2½″ (9.8 × 6.6 cm)

Campanula alaskana (A. Gray) W. Wight ex J.P. Anderson

Campanula dubia A. DC.

Campanula gieseckiana Vest ex Schult.

Campanula gieseckiana Vest ex Schult. var. arctica (Lange) Böcher

Campanula gieseckiana Vest ex Schult. ssp. groenlandica (Berlin) Böcher

Campanula groenlandica Berlin

Campanula heterodoxa Bong.

Campanula intercedens Witasek

Campanula petiolata A. DC.

Campanula rotundifolia L. var. alaskana A. Gray

Campanula rotundifolia L. var. alpina Tuck.

Campanula rotundifolia L. var. arctica Lange

Campanula rotundifolia L. ssp. groenlandica (Berlin) Á. Löve & D. Löve

Campanula rotundifolia L. var. intercedens (Witasek) Farw.

Campanula rotundifolia L. ssp. intercedens (Witasek) Á. Löve & D. Löve

Campanula rotundifolia L. var. lancifolia Mert. & W.D.J. Koch

Campanula rotundifolia L. var. petiolata (A. DC.) J.K. Henry

Campanula rotundifolia L. var. velutina A. DC.

Campanula sacajaweana M. Peck

 

Campanula rotundifolia description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 22 Aug 2023.

© FloraFinder.org. All rights reserved.


 

Campanula rotundifolia (bluebell, harebell, bluebell bellflower)

9/20/2009 · Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor, Maine · ≈ 3½ × 5″ (9.2 × 13 cm)

Campanula rotundifolia (bluebell, harebell, bluebell bellflower)

8/31/2014 · New Mex­ico · ≈ 8 × 6″ (20 × 14 cm)

Campanula rotundifolia (bluebell, harebell, bluebell bellflower)

The leaves in this photo are columbine. The hareball leaves, visible at the very bottom, are very thin. · 9/28/2013 · Wild Gardens of Acadia, Acadia Naitonal Park, Bar Harbor, Maine · ≈ 9 × 6″ (22 × 15 cm)

Campanula rotundifolia (bluebell, harebell, bluebell bellflower)

9/16/2016 · Sieur de Monts Botanical Gardens, Bar Harbor, Maine

Campanula rotundifolia (bluebell, harebell, bluebell bellflower)

9/29/2013 · Compass Harbor, Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor, Maine · ≈ 6 × 8″ (14 × 20 cm)

Campanula rotundifolia (bluebell, harebell, bluebell bellflower)

8/31/2014 · New Mex­ico · ≈ 12 × 8″ (31 × 21 cm)

Campanula rotundifolia (bluebell, harebell, bluebell bellflower)

9/29/2013 · Compass Harbor, Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor, Maine · ≈ 6 × 8″ (14 × 20 cm)

Campanula rotundifolia (bluebell, harebell, bluebell bellflower)

9/20/2009 · Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor, Maine · ≈ 14 × 9″ (35 × 23 cm)

Range: Zones 3-6:

About this map...