Appalachian Bellflower Campanula divaricata
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- kam-PAN-yoo-luh dih-var-ih-KAY-tuh
- Description
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Campanula divaricata, or Appalachian bellflower, is a flowering, perennial wildflower native to the eastern United States. It is most often found in the Appalachian Mountains in areas of dry to average, well-drained rocky acidic soils in filtered shade to full sun, such as rock outcrops, cliffs, or summits. This wildflower produces small blue flowers in late summer. Southern harebell is drought-tolerant once established. It prefers sloping, open woodland situations and rocky outcrops.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Campanula
- Species:
- divaricata
- Family:
- Campanulaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- West Virginia to Southeastern United States, NC
- Distribution:
- found primarily in the Appalachian mountains
- Wildlife Value:
- This species, and other members of the genus Campanula, support the Plasterer Bee (Colletes brevicornis).
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Native Plant
- Wildflower
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Arching
- Erect
- Multi-stemmed
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Cream/Tan
- Green
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Length:
- 1-3 inches
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Blue
- Pink
- Purple/Lavender
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Panicle
- Raceme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Bell
- Cup
- Star
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Large, loose cluster of small, pale, blue-violet flowers with a long, protruding style. Droops from horizontal branches. Blooms mid-summer into fall.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Rough
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Linear
- Oblanceolate
- Oblong
- Leaf Margin:
- Dentate
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Leaves lanceolate, ovate or oblanceolate, the uppermost linear, sharply serrate, narrowed to the base, 2 to 3 inches long, 1/4 to 1 inch wide or the lowest commonly shorter and broader.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Slender, multi-branched weak-stemmed plant with many attractive, dangling, small, bell-shaped blue flowers.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Rock Wall
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Mass Planting
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Pollinators
- Songbirds
- Specialized Bees
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Dry Soil
