Harebell (Campanula rotundifolia) is sometimes known as cuckoo’s shoe, witch bells or old man’s bell – the ‘old man’ being refered to the Devil. The Harebell is also known as the Bluebell of Scotland.
Harebell is a delicate flower that is known for its nodding blue bell shaped flowers and is often found around hedgerows, grasslands and hillsides and sometimes around sand dunes and clifftops.
Harebell is tolerant to a wide variety of habitats, although it prefers dry, mostly undisturbed ground. This flower is often seen around July to September as this is when it is at its best, it makes a fantastic autumnal plant, as it provides nectar for Bumblebees and Honey Bees.
The flowers are often violet/ blue but can also be white or pink. These petals are fused together to form the well known bell shaped flower, with 5 petals around 15mm in length. The petals lobes are triangular in appearance and cure outwards, the flowers bloon on the long thin stems that are either single or in loose clusters.
Height: 15 – 45cm
Flowering Time: July onwards
Preferred Conditions: This plant will live in calcareous and mildly acidic soil and will prefer to infertile dry open grassland, road verges and rocky ledges.
