Campanula rotundifolia, the harebell, is a herbaceous perennial flowering plant in the bellflower family Campanulaceae. It has a circumpolar distribution in the Northern Hemisphere, extending in Europe from the north Mediterranean to the arctic.
Campanula rotundifolia is a delicate perennial with graceful, slender stems, usually in clusters, rising in height from 4-15 in. The stems can be weak so that the entire plant bends over. Its rounded, basal leaves wither early while the narrow, stem leaves remain. Blue-violet bell-shaped flowers hang singly or in clusters along the top parts of nodding, thread-like, mostly unbranched stems that grow in small patches. The nodding, bell-shaped, lavender flowers are borne in loose clusters at stem tips. The genus name, from the Latin campana (bell), means little bell. The name Harebell may allude to an association with witches, who were believed able to transform themselves into hares, portents of bad luck when they crossed a person`s path. In Scotland, another old name for this plant was Witches Thimble.
Like every other plant, the bell flower requires regular watering. High bell flowers should be watered more often. The bell flower requires especially within the main growth period as well as the flowering period a sufficient amount of water, the soil should furthermore be kept moist.
The plant prefers a light, well-drained soil. Many bell flowers accept a loosened ground which is low in clay and humus.
By adding standard fertilizer, the bell flower can be strengthened in its structure and the flowering process. Depending on the size and the growth rate, the plants are being fertilized every two weeks or once a month.
Bellflowers thrive best at -30°F and higher. In winter, the plant is hardy down -20° to -10°F (-29° to -23°C).
