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Campanula rotundifolia

Common name:	Harebell	Family:	Campanulaceae
Author:	L.	Botanical references:	17, 200
Synonyms:
Known Hazards:	None known
Range:	Northern Temperate regions of the world, including Britain, to latitude 70° N.
Habitat:	Dry grassy places and on fixed dunes, often in poor shallow soils throughout most of Britain[17].
Edibility Rating (1-5):	1	Medicinal Rating (1-5):	1

Other Possible Synonyms:	From various places across the web, may not be correct. See below.
	C. alaskana[B,P] C. dubia[B,P] C. heterodoxa[B,P] C. intercedens[B,P] C. petiolata[B,P] C. polymorpha[G] C. rotundifolia ssp. intercedens[B] C. rotundifolia var. alaskana[B,G,P] C. rotundifolia var. intercedens[B,P] C. rotundifolia var. lancifolia[B,P] C. rotundifolia var. petiolata[B,P] C. rotundifolia var. velutina[B,P] C. sacajaweana[B,P]
Other Common Names:	From various places around the Web, may not be correct. See below.
	Blue Bells Of Scotland [H], Bluebell [L], Bluebell Bellflower [P], Bluebell Of Scotland [E], Bluebell-of-scotland [B], Chilete [E], Harebell [H,L],
Epithets:	From a Dictionary of Botanical Epithets
	rotundifolia = round leaved
Systematics:	From a USDA Plants Database
	Order: Campanulales. Bellflower family
Other Range Info:	From the Ethnobotany Database
	Belgium Britain Us

Physical Characteristics

Perennial growing to 0.4m. It is hardy to zone 3 and is not frost tender. It is in flower from July to September, and the seeds ripen from August to October. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Bees, flies, beetles and Lepidoptera (Moths & Butterflies). The plant is self-fertile. We rate it 1/5 for edibility and 1/5 for medicinal use.

The plant prefers light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils, requires well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. The plant prefers neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It requires dry or moist soil.

Edible Uses

Leaves - raw or cooked[K].

Medicinal Uses

Disclaimer

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].

Other Uses

None known

Cultivation details

A very easily grown plant, it succeeds in most fertile well-drained soils[233, 271], though it prefers a moist but well-drained rich sandy loam and a neutral or alkaline soil in sun or partial shade[1, 200]. Succeeds in poor soils[17]. This species can be naturalized in finer turfs, on grassy banks and in chalk downland and heath associations[200].
Plants are hardy to at least -15° c[200].
A very variable species in the wild[271].
When established, plants can spread fairly freely and also self-sow, though they are quite easily contained by hoeing[271].
The species in this genus do not often hybridize and so seed can generally be relied upon to come true[221]. The plants are self-fertile[221].
Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer or rabbits[233].
A very ornamental plant, there are some named varieties[200].

Propagation

Seed - surface sow in spring in a cold frame. Three or four weeks pre-chilling of the seed improves the germination rate[138]. The seed usually germinates in 2 - 4 weeks at 18° c[138]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in a cold frame for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts.
The seed can also be sown outdoors in situ during the spring.
Basal cuttings in spring[1]. Harvest the shoots when they are about 10 - 15cm long with plenty of underground stem. Pot them up into individual pots and keep them in light shade in a cold frame or greenhouse until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the summer.
Division in spring or autumn[111]. Very easy, larger clumps can be replanted direct into their permanent positions, though it is best to pot up smaller clumps and grow them on in a cold frame until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the summer or following spring.

Suppliers

Plants For A Future is working with the following groups to try and make these plants easily available. Parts of the proceeds will be donated to so please mention us when ordering.

Wildwood Nurseries: Lower Manor Cottage
Thornbury
Holsworthy
Devon
EX22 7DD
Email: lorna@macace.co.uk
Phone 01409 261324 Fax 01409 261324
Distribution: UK
How to order: Direct from Wildwood by email/phone
Last Updated: March 03
Item: Campanula rotundifolia (harebell)

For more details of plant suppliers please see our Suppliers Page which lists many more places to look.

Web References

[H] Details of Scandanavian and European Common names in Henriette's names database
[E] Ethnobotany Data (common names, uses, countries) from the Ethnobotany Database.
[V] Images from the Vascular Plant Image Gallery of the Texas A& M Bioinformatics Working Group.
[B] Data (Latin & Common names, other references) from the BONAP's Synonymized Checklist of the Vascular Flora of the United States, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.
[C] Taxon data. from the CalFlora database.
[G] Data (Common Names, Uses, Distribution) from the USDA/ARS NPGS's GRIN taxonomic database.
[P] Data. (uses, distribution, wetland) from the USDA'a Plants database.

References for campanula rotundifolia (a possible synonym).

[HP] PhotoFrom Henriette's plant pictures
[HP] PhotoFrom Henriette's plant pictures
[HP] PhotoFrom Henriette's plant pictures
[HP] PhotoFrom Henriette's plant pictures

See the PFAF Links Pages for other sources.

Also try Photos and info from the The Plants Database which has 14,000 images.

References

[K] Ken Fern
Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.

[1] F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951
Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaces in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [200]).

[17] Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press 1962
A very comprehensive flora, the standard reference book but it has no pictures.

[111] Sanders. T. W. Popular Hardy Perennials. Collingridge 1926
A fairly wide range of perennial plants that can be grown in Britain and how to grow them.

[138] Bird. R. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 3. Thompson and Morgan. 1989
Very readable magazine with lots of information on propagation.

[200] Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.

[221] Crook. H. Clifford. Campanulas Country Life 1951
A comprehensive treatment of the genus.

[233] Thomas. G. S. Perennial Garden Plants J. M. Dent & Sons, London. 1990 ISBN 0 460 86048 8
A concise guide to a wide range of perennials. Lots of cultivation guides, very little on plant uses.

[257] Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998 ISBN 0-88192-453-9
Very comprehensive but terse guide to the native uses of plants. Excellent bibliography, fully referenced to each plant, giving a pathway to further information. Not for the casual reader.

Readers Comments

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Plant information taken from the Plants For A Future - Species Database. Copyright (c) 1997-2003.
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