American Bellflower Campanula americana

• 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.

• Whole Plant Traits:

  Plant Type:

  Annual

  Herbaceous Perennial

  Native Plant

  Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:

  Deciduous

  Habit/Form:

  Clumping

  Erect

  Growth Rate:

  Medium

  Maintenance:

  Low

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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.

• Landscape:

  Landscape Location:

  Meadow

  Naturalized Area

  Riparian

  Woodland

  Landscape Theme:

  Native Garden

  Rain Garden

  Shade Garden

  Design Feature:

  Mass Planting

  Attracts:

  Bees

  Hummingbirds

  Pollinators