Nettle-leaved Bellflower Campanula trachelium
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- kam-pan-YOO-luh trak-EEL-ee-um
- Description
-
The Nettle-Leaved Bellflower is a showy perennial that adds height and interest to beds and borders. Its native habitat is alkaline soils in woodland, scrubby grassland and hedgebanks of Europe. It has naturalized in NE USA and parts of Canada.
Grow this plant in fertile, moist, well-drained soils in part shade to full shade for best flower color. Afternoon shade is especially important in hot climates as it is a cool climate plant. Deadhead spent flowers to encourage additional bloom. Plants will spread in the garden by self-seeding.
Use this plant in mass in the border, naturalized area or edge of the woods.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Bernice'
Purple semi-double blooms
- 'Bernice'
- 'Bernice'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Bernice'
Purple semi-double blooms
- 'Bernice'
- 'Bernice'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Campanula
- Species:
- trachelium
- Family:
- Campanulaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Once used to treat a sore throat.
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Root Cutting
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- England, Europe, northern Africa, Siberia
- Distribution:
- Canada, northeastern USA
- Dimensions:
- Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Wildflower
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Medium
- Texture:
- Coarse
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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:
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Description:
- Round, hairy, nodding, capsule opening from the base.
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-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Blue
- Purple/Lavender
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Raceme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Bell
- Tubular
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- fused petals
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- Loose racemes of 1.5-inch open bell-shaped flowers with 5 fused petals in purple, blue or lilac. The petals have fine hairs. Blooms in summer from June- September.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Prickly
- Rough
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Cordate
- Lanceolate
- Ovate
- Reniform
- Leaf Margin:
- Doubly Dentate
- Doubly Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Leaves are deeply toothed with bristly hairs. Basal leaves are ovate to reniform and stem leaves are ovate to ovate-lanceolate and are stalkless or nearly so.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Square
- Stem Form:
- Straight
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- Unbranching sharp-edged, square hairy stems are often reddish.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Naturalized Area
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Cottage Garden
- English Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Small groups
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Hummingbirds
- Pollinators
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
