Campanula americana - Tall Bellflower/American Bellflower
The Tall Bellflower (Campanula americana) is an erect annual or biennial that grows between 2 and 6 feet tall. It is mostly smooth and freely branched. The leaves are 3 to 6 inches in length, lanceolate, and alternately arranged.
The flowers are blue and about an inch across. There are 5 lobes with a light-colored ring at the throat and a long, prominent, curved style. The face of the flower is flat and not bell-shaped as are most other members of Campanula. The flowers are on a loose terminal raceme and flower from the bottom of the raceme up. The fruits are capsules with shiny brown ellipsoid seeds. It is self-seeding.
The Tall Bellflower is found from July until the first frost in partial shade but they can be found in sunnier areas in cooler climates. They tend to be found in moist woods, moist meadows, in ditches, and near streambanks. Their range extends from Minnesota to Florida and west to Oklahoma.
This is a favorite species of many pollinators including bees, wasps, butterflies, and even hummingbirds.
Native Americans traditionally used the leaves of the Tall Bellflower to make a tea that was used to treat coughs and tuberculosis.
The flowers are blue and about an inch across. There are 5 lobes with a light-colored ring at the throat and a long, prominent, curved style. The face of the flower is flat and not bell-shaped as are most other members of Campanula. The flowers are on a loose terminal raceme and flower from the bottom of the raceme up. The fruits are capsules with shiny brown ellipsoid seeds. It is self-seeding.
The Tall Bellflower is found from July until the first frost in partial shade but they can be found in sunnier areas in cooler climates. They tend to be found in moist woods, moist meadows, in ditches, and near streambanks. Their range extends from Minnesota to Florida and west to Oklahoma.
This is a favorite species of many pollinators including bees, wasps, butterflies, and even hummingbirds.
Native Americans traditionally used the leaves of the Tall Bellflower to make a tea that was used to treat coughs and tuberculosis.