# Alaskan bellflower (*Campanula alaskana*)

The Alaskan bellflower is a lovely flower that grows in the wild. It has beautiful blue or purple bell-shaped blooms that can brighten up any place they grow.

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** Mountain regions

![Alaskan bellflower](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Campanula_alaskana_313991068.jpg&width=800)

Photo: kallummcdonald, CC0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Campanula_alaskana_313991068.jpg)

## Appearance

The Alaskan bellflower is a small, upright plant with vibrant blue to purple, bell-shaped flowers that hang downwards. Its slender stems bear narrow, green leaves. These unique dangling bells make it distinct from other wildflowers in its chilly habitat.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Magnoliopsida
- **Order:** Asterales
- **Family:** Campanulaceae
- **Genus:** Campanula

## Interesting facts

- Each delicate bell hides tiny seeds, ready to make more bellflowers!
- Its scientific name, Campanula, means 'little bell' in Latin!
- Some related bellflower species are actually edible, even their leaves!
- This tough flower often grows wild in Alaska, even near icy glaciers!

## Special abilities

- **Winter Warrior:** Alaskan bellflower can survive freezing Arctic winters by having roots that store energy underground.
- **Pollen Protector:** Alaskan bellflower has downward-facing bell flowers that shield its pollen from rain and harsh winds.
- **Rocky Roamer:** Alaskan bellflower can thrive in tough, rocky soils where many other plants struggle to grow roots.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 5-30 cm
- **Spread:** 10-20 cm
- **Flower Size:** 1-3 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Summer (June-August)
- **Edible:** No
- **Toxicity:** None
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** Arctic Bumblebee (*Bombus polaris*) — Main pollinator in its cold habitat
- **Eats:** [Arctic Ground Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/arctic-ground-squirrel) (*Urocitellus parryii*) — Forages on leaves and stems in summer
- **Eats:** [Caribou](https://www.snappit.app/explore/caribou) (*Rangifer tarandus*) — Graze on tundra plants including bellflowers

## Traits

- [Bell-Shaped Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/bell-shaped-flower): Bell-shaped flowers possess petals fused or arranged to form a cup-like or campanulate structure resembling a bell.
- [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.
- [Ornamental](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ornamental): Ornamental plants are cultivated primarily for their aesthetic appeal, enhancing landscapes and gardens with their attractive foliage, flowers, or form.
- [Summer Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/summer-blooming): Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished.
- [Cold Hardy](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/cold-hardy): Cold hardy plants are able to withstand low temperatures and freezing conditions without significant damage.
- [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.
- [Mountain](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/mountain): This habitat trait identifies species found in mountainous regions, characterized by high elevation, steep slopes, and varying climate zones.

## Collections

- [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Always look but don't pick flowers, so they can keep growing for everyone to enjoy.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Alaskan bellflower?

Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is Alaskan bellflower?

5-30 cm

### How wide does Alaskan bellflower spread?

10-20 cm

### How big are the flowers on Alaskan bellflower?

1-3 cm

### When does Alaskan bellflower bloom?

Summer (June-August)

### Is Alaskan bellflower edible?

No

### Is Alaskan bellflower toxic?

None

### What is Alaskan bellflower's lifecycle?

Perennial

## Where to spot

- [Sooke Potholes Regional Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/sooke-potholes-regional-park) — British Columbia, CA · Park

## More Plants

- [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*)
- [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*)
- [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*)
- [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*)

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Source: [Alaskan bellflower: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/alaskan-bellflower)