Harebell: Pictures, Flowers, Leaves & Identification (2024)

FAQs

How to identify a harebell? ›

How to identify. A creeping perennial, the harebell has long, trailing stems with small, club-shaped leaves at the base. Its stem leaves are much more elongated, and its blue, bell-shaped flowers hang in clusters at the tips of the stems.

The flowers usually have five (occasionally 4, 6 or 7) pale to mid violet-blue petals fused together into a bell-shaped flower. A perennial plant, Harebell is available as seed, plug, or potted plant, flowering mid to late summer. Harebell Campanula rotundifolia has basal leaves with purple or blue flowers.

In Scotland, the name Scottish Bluebell is used for a summer-flowering species in the bellflower family which is Campanula rotundifolia. Further south the latter species is called Harebell and that is its 'official' name which is used in most plant identification books.

Campanula rotundifolia (Harebell): Minnesota Wildflowers.

Unveiling the Harebell's Symbolism

These blossoms carry tales of transformation and enchantment, with a reputation for leading wanderers astray with their spells. The plant's Latin name, Endymion, references a lover of the moon goddess, immortalized by Keats.

Companion Plants

Tall, summer-blooming perennials such as Yarrow, Coralbells, Shasta Daisy, and Phlox complement each other and contrast nicely with the shorter, soft Blue Harebell. The blue-purple color of its blooms stands out against the white bark of birch trees or aspens.

Many are blue or violet, although some are white or in the pink spectrum. The blooms are usually bell-shaped but may be star or cup-shaped. Campanula plants can be as diminutive as 3 inches (8cm), perfect for groundcover, or as gargantuan as 6 feet (1.8 m).

Harebell, often called “bluebell”, is a flower found around the world in the Northern Hemisphere but most often, associated with Scotland. Harebell has many common names including bellflower, lady's thimble, witch's thimble, heathbells, fairies' thimbles, and dead men's bells.

Bees like the flowers, and reportedly hummingbirds do as well, though I have never seen this. This is a plant that is content in dry, thin soils.

Spanish Bluebell Hyacinthoides hispanica

Greatly confused with forms of the Hybrid Bluebell and only reliably recorded from a handful of places in the East Anglia region.

What is the folklore of the harebell flower? ›

Fairy folk and witches are strongly associated with these flowers in folklore. A patch of harebells is a favourite home for fairies and if one is to walk through such a clump, the fairies cast spells on the perpetrator, giving this flower the names of Dead Man's Bells and Fairies' thimbles.

Flowers: usually deep violet-blue in colour, bluebells are bell-shaped with six petals and up-turned tips. These sweet-smelling flowers nod or droop to one side of the flowering stem (known as an inflorescence) and have creamy white-coloured pollen inside. Some bluebell flowers can be white or pink.

All parts of the common harebell are edible – the flowers can be added to salads and the leaves can be eaten raw or steamed as 'greens'. Grow Campanula rotundifolia in moist but well-drained soil in sun or partial shade.

🐶 Harebell is non-toxic to dogs, but not a dietary addition. Minor digestive issues possible if dogs nibble on Harebell. Distinguish Harebell from toxic plants to keep your dog safe.

Medicinal Uses

The root has been chewed in the treatment of heart and lung problems[257]. An infusion of the roots has been used as ear drops for a sore ear[257]. A decoction of the plant has been drunk or used as a wash in the treatment of sore eyes[257].

Identification and Biology

Creeping bellflower is a perennial plant with unbranched stems that are usually 1 to 3 feet tall. The stems bear five-lobed, blue to purple, bell-shaped flowers that are 0.75 to 1.5 inches long.

Low to short, hairy plant, often tufted. Basal leaves heart shaped, green with distinctive white blotches, stalked. Stem leaves oval, unstalked half clasping the stem. Flowers reddish or pink to blue-violet, 13 to 18 mm, long calyx cylindrical, the teeth triangular.

Ranging from robust summer border plants to more diminutive types for rockeries and containers, these easy-to-grow plants have mainly clear blue or white, pink or purple flowers. Mostly bell-shaped, sometimes they open to be like flat stars. Some campanula have double flowers.

Ageratum is one of the few annuals with a truly blue flower. The soft fuzzy flowers are dainty and feathery, often delightfully fragrant, and usually completely cover the plants. Each flower cluster consists of five to 15 tubular florets.