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Tall Bellflower Campanula americana

Other Common Name(s):

Previously known as:

  • Campanulastrum americanum
Phonetic Spelling
kam-PAN-yoo-luh a-mer-ih-KAY-nah
Description

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:
Tags:
#purple#hummingbird friendly#showy flowers#rain garden#lavender#biennial#nectar plant#shade garden#riparian#fall interest#mass planting#stream banks#moist soil#NC native#well-drained soil#rich soils#summer flowers#herbaceous perennial#star shaped flowers#naturalizes#self-seeding#pollinator plant#native wildflower#food source fall#taproot#food source nectar#food source pollen#Coastal FAC#FACU Piedmont Mountains#partial shade tolerant#bee friendly#Audubon#annual#wildflower#wildlife friendly#meadow#woodland
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#purple#hummingbird friendly#showy flowers#rain garden#lavender#biennial#nectar plant#shade garden#riparian#fall interest#mass planting#stream banks#moist soil#NC native#well-drained soil#rich soils#summer flowers#herbaceous perennial#star shaped flowers#naturalizes#self-seeding#pollinator plant#native wildflower#food source fall#taproot#food source nectar#food source pollen#Coastal FAC#FACU Piedmont Mountains#partial shade tolerant#bee friendly#Audubon#annual#wildflower#wildlife friendly#meadow#woodland
  • 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