A Beginner's Guide to Native Bluebell

Highlights

Bluebell bellflowers are one of North America’s iconic wildflowers for a reason: they are delicately stunning, especially when planted in groups. And their bloom time is incredible: June to September! They are also very easy to grow, thanks to their ability to thrive in a wide range of soils and sunlight. Plant them alongside other natives that are white or yellow to help their color shine. Scroll on for planting tips.

Bluebell Bellflower

Latin name:

Campanula rotundifolia

Bluebell Bellflower

Bluebell bellflowers are delightful flowers—native to a wide swath of North America (see below for a map)—that offer beauty and gardening ease, making them an ideal choice for beginner gardeners.

Bluebell bellflower is a tough little species that doesn’t mind rocky soils, alpine conditions, and dry spots. As the USDA says, “The plants are much hardier than they look.” They are hardy in U.S. zones 3-6 and can grow in sun to part shade in medium to dry soils.

Their one Achilles heel is sticky, hot summers; they prefer North America’s cooler regions. (You may be able to grow them in shade further south; if you try, let us know how it goes.)

Bluebell bellflowers are perfect plants for the Pacific Northwest, Mountain West, Upper Midwest, and Northeast. They love mountains and have been recorded growing at 12,000 feet altitude.

They are a stunning soft periwinkle color that mixes gracefully with just about any color that’s already in your garden, from roses to yellow asters to magenta coneflowers to lavender bee balm. They will bloom off and on between June and September in most places.

New to native?

Before lawns and landscaping, native plants were here. They’ve fed birds, bees, and butterflies for thousands of years—and they’ll do the same in your yard. The best part? They’re easier to grow than you think.

What are the benefits of planting native bluebell bellflowers?

There are so many benefits to planting native plants like this one. Some benefits include:

Super low maintenance: Bluebells need minimal care to thrive. They are known for popping up in the randomest of spots—in rocky areas or between sidewalk cracks.
Comes back year after year: this is a perennial, or a plant that comes back year after year from the same roots. If happy, they will also re-seed themselves and spread. So plant once and enjoy for years!
Easy to grow from seed: you can have a patch of Bluebells for under $5!
Feeds native pollinators: Bluebell bellflowers provide native pollinators, including rare native bees, with valuable nectar.
Gorgeous flowers. Beauty matters! A gorgeous landscape with native flowers lifts spirits. Plant a patch of Bluebells and see for yourself.

The many names of bluebell bellflowers

While we call it ‘bluebell’ here, this plant has many common names. A common name is passed down through generations to refer to a particular plant. This plant also goes by Bluebell Bellflower, Bluebell Of Scotland, Harebell, Common Harebell, Lady’s Thimble, Witches’ Thimble, and Witches’ Bells.

All these common names make the singular Latin name so helpful! Look for the Latin name Campanula rotundifolia to ensure you’ve found this plant.

Where are bluebell bellflowers native?

It’s hard to find a plant that has a larger range! You can find bluebell bellflowers from Alaska to Maine. Almost everyone in the cooler parts of North America can happily plant this native flower.

Plant Nerd Fact

Bluebells are world travelers

Bluebell bellflower has one of the widest ranges of any native plant in North America because it’s what botanists call a circumpolar species—meaning it naturally grows all around the Northern Hemisphere. (source). You’ll find its bluebell cousins blooming in places as far apart as Scotland, Finland, and across northern Canada. The world really does have a soft spot for bluebells.

What are some good places to plant bluebell bellflower?

Try bluebell bellflowers in full sun to part shade in medium to dry soil in the garden. The individual plants tend to be short-lived but will reseed themselves if happy.

They usually start blooming in late spring to early summer, but if you have multiple plants, some will sporadically bloom throughout the summer, even into early fall.

Bluebell bellflowers are great in the following landscaping spots:

Edges of lawns
In rock gardens (pair it with wild stonecrop for a pretty chartreuse+lavender combo)
Garden borders, cottage gardens, and meadows
In containers!
In large groups—this is a plant that looks nice in mass
Mixed in with other flowers (especially white and yellow ones)
In hotter areas, grow underneath trees and shrubs

Note that if you grow bluebell bellflowers from seed, they typically do not bloom until their second year.

Is bluebell bellflower the same as Virginia bluebells?

Nope. Bluebell bellflower and Virginia bluebell are two different plants. (We know, so confusing!) These pictures help explain the differences.

Bluebell Bellflower

Campanula rotundifolia

Huge native range: all of Canada and most of the United States
Long bloom-time: spring through summer
Tall-ish: 1-3′

Virginia Bluebells

Mertensia virginica

Native to eastern seaboard: From Nova Scotia to Georgia
Blooms in the early spring
Short: 12-18″

Worried about getting these mixed up?

We hear you—it is confusing. To make sure you’re looking at bluebell bellflower, using the Latin name is your best bet. If you’re looking for bluebell bellflower, ensure the plant tag says Campanula Rotundifolia.

What are good pairings for bluebell bellflower?

Bluebell bellflowers are best paired with other native perennials that like the same conditions but flower at different times. This ensures your garden always has something in bloom and the pollinators always have something to eat. They also look great alongside white and yellow natives—the blue + yellow + white combo makes bluebells pop in the garden.

Great pairings include springtime flowers like false blue indigo and golden alexander; summer favorites are Culver’s root, coneflowers, coreopsis, and Joe-Pye weed; and fall-time bloomers like native asters and goldenrods.

Bluebell Bellflower

pairs well with

Feeling a little overwhelmed picking native plants?

Gardening should be fun and not feel like a botany exam. If you’re feeling overwhelmed as you plan your native garden, check out our inspiration guides! They are all written to help get you gardening (and not worrying.)

To make garden planning easy, check out:

Remember: native plants plant themselves. If they can do it, so can we.

And now, to make it even easier—here are some ideas on where to find bluebell bellflower.

Where can I find bluebell bellflower for my yard?

Bluebell Bellflower

Where can I find seeds and plants?

Finding native plants can be challenging (we partly blame Marie Antoinette.) To make it easier, we’ve assembled four sourcing ideas.

Native Nursery List

300+ native nurseries makes finding one a breeze

Online Native Plant Sellers

We've included 100+ online resources to help

Society Plant Sales

Every state has a native plant society; find yours

Online Communities

Local Facebook groups are a great plant source

In conclusion, bluebell bellflowers are gorgeous native flowers that look best planted in groups to let their delicate beauty shine. They are so easy to plant and come back year after year. Because they are native, they don’t need any fussy fertilizers or irrigation systems—after the first year of getting established, they are happy with just rain. Bluebells are perfect for almost anyone’s garden in North America—from the Northwest to the Northeast. Plant a patch and don’t forget to tag us on Instagram so we can join the ‘like’ party. Looking for other fuss-free favorites? Check out our Beginner’s Guide to Native Lilies or our Beginner’s Guide to Native Hydrangeas. Happy planting!

Written by Em Lessard and Louise Lerner. Em is the founder of The Plant Native. Louise is a science writer with the University of Chicago; on the weekends, she's a gardener and nature enthusiast.

Sources