Common Name: Harebell

General Information

Campanula rotundifolia is a herbaceous perennial plant producing a cluster of branched stems 15 - 40cm tall from a spreading, rhizomatous rootstock[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine. It is often grown in the ornamental garden - the flowers and leaves can be eaten.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

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Range

Eurasia - Norway and Britain to Spain, east through northern Europe to the Russian Far East and northern China

Habitat

Meadows, forest edges, shrubby formations[]. Dry grassy places and on fixed dunes, often in poor shallow soils[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	0.40 m
Pollinators	Bees, Flies, Beetles, Lepidoptera, Self
Self-fertile	Yes
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Campanula rotundifolia is a very cold-hardy plant, tolerating winter temperatures falling to at least -20°c[].
A very easily grown plant, it succeeds in most fertile well-drained soils[, ], though it prefers a moist but well-drained rich sandy loam and a neutral or alkaline soil in sun or partial shade[, ]. Succeeds in poor soils[]. This species can be naturalized in finer turfs, on grassy banks and in chalk downland and heath associations[].
A very variable species in the wild[].
When established, plants can spread fairly freely and also self-sow, though they are quite easily contained by hoeing[].
The species in this genus do not often hybridize and so seed can generally be relied upon to come true[]. The plants are self-fertile[].
Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer or rabbits[].
A very ornamental plant, there are some named varieties[].

Edible Uses

Leaves - raw or cooked[].

Flowers - a mild, slightly sweet flavour[].

Medicinal

The root has been chewed in the treatment of heart and lung problems[]. An infusion of the roots has been used as ear drops for a sore ear[].

A decoction of the plant has been drunk or used as a wash in the treatment of sore eyes[].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - surface sow in spring in a cold frame. Three or four weeks pre-chilling of the seed improves the germination rate[]. The seed usually germinates in 2 - 4 weeks at 18°c[]. 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[]. 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[]. 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.