Creeping Bellflower

More than a garden weed?

Creeping bellflower, Campanula rapunculoides, as long been considered a garden weed, but this year there have been reports of it spreading into natural areas. We'd like to better understand it's impact in our forests, savannas and natural areas. Report it only if it's found in a natural area - not in a garden, tended area or urban community. Learn more about identification and management at these two Extension webpages.

Pictures from iNaturalist: Banner zm6ie, left pictures: sp4rrows

Using iNaturalist

Watch this 1:24 minute video to learn how to report to iNaturalist.

Remember: Report creeping bellflower only in forests and natural areas.

Creeping bellfower identification

Watch this 3:20 minute video from the University of Wisconsin, Madison for an overview of creeping bellflower identification. Additional information visit this great MN State Horticultural Society article.

Then review the images below to see the differences between creeping bellflower and a native look-alike harebell, Campanula rotundifolia.

Native harebell idenification

Native harebell, Campanula rotundifolia, has a similar purple flower, but it's less robust and the leaves are very different.

Photo by Rob Routledge, Sault College, Bugwood.org

All questions about this project should be directed to Angela Gupta, UMN Extension Forester, agupta@umn.edu