Campanula americana
Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Campanulastrum americanum
- Phonetic Spelling
- kam-PAN-yoo-luh a-mer-ih-KAY-nah
- Description
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Campanula americana, or American Bellflower, is an annual or biennial wildflower native to moist open woods, moist meadows, streambanks and ditches in shady areas of eastern North America It is best grown in rich, moist, well-drained soils in part shade. They will tolerate more sun in cooler summer climates but prefer afternoon shade where summer climates are hot. This bellflower will readily reseed itself in the garden and is good for naturalizing. It is a pollinator magnet: many species of bees, wasps, butterflies, and hummingbirds will visit and search for nectar and pollen.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Campanula
- Species:
- americana
- Family:
- Campanulaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Biennial
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- E. Canada to N. Central & E. U.S.A
- Distribution:
- AL , AR , FL , GA , IA , IL , IN , KS , KY , LA , MD , MI , MN , MO , MS , NC , NE , NJ , NY , OH , OK , PA , SC , SD , TN , VA , WI , WV Canada: NB
- Wildlife Value:
- Long-tongued bees are the primary pollinators, including bumblebees and leaf-cutting bees (Megachilidae), including the specialized bees Megachile campanulae and Colletes brevicornis. Other pollinators are Halictid bees, butterflies, and skippers. These insects seek nectar, and some of the bees collect pollen from the anthers.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 2 ft. 6 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Annual
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Native Plant
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- High Organic Matter
- Soil pH:
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Capsules 5-12 mm long, 3-4 mm in diameter, obconic, 3-locular, erect or ascending, dehiscing by 3 round pores near the tip; seeds 0.8-1.2 mm long, 0.8-1.0 mm wide, flattened, often with a thin, winglike margin. Displays from August to October
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Blue
- Purple/Lavender
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Raceme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Bell
- Cup
- Star
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- The upper portion of the stem is lined with showy, lavender-blue, five-petaled flowers with a white ring at the throat. Radially symmetrical, light blue to violet flowers borne singly or in clusters in axils of upper leaves and forming an elongated, spike-like cluster. Blooms from June to September
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Rough
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Lanceolate
- Obovate
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Crenate
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Scattered, lance-shaped to narrowly egg-shaped, toothed leaves; 3-6 in. long; most leaves taper at the base to a short stalk; stem may be hairy
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Form:
- Straight
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- Erect to 6', simple or sparsely branched, sometimes ridged, with milky sap, hollow, glabrous or occasionally hairy toward tips.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Meadow
- Naturalized Area
- Riparian
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Native Garden
- Rain Garden
- Shade Garden
- Design Feature:
- Mass Planting
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Hummingbirds
- Pollinators