# Nettle-leaved Bellflower (*Campanula trachelium*)

The Nettle-leaved Bellflower is a pretty flower with bell-shaped blooms. It grows in gardens and meadows, adding a splash of blue to the landscape!

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

![Nettle-leaved Bellflower](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/.00_2908_Nesselbl%C3%A4ttrige_Glockenblume_%28Campanula_trachelium%29.jpg&width=800)

Photo: W. Bulach, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:.00_2908_Nesselbl%C3%A4ttrige_Glockenblume_%28Campanula_trachelium%29.jpg)

## Appearance

The Nettle-leaved Bellflower has deep blue to violet, bell-shaped flowers that often hang downwards or sideways. Its distinctive leaves are heart-shaped at the base and sharply toothed, resembling stinging nettles but without the sting. The stem is typically hairy.

## Taxonomy

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

## Interesting facts

- Historically, some believed its roots could be used to soothe sore throats!
- Its quirky nickname, "Bats-in-the-belfry," describes its nodding, dark flowers!
- The plant's flowers turn downward to shield precious pollen from rain!
- This adaptable plant thrives in shady spots where many other flowers struggle!

## Special abilities

- **Pollinator Lure:** Nettle-leaved Bellflower has vibrant, bell-shaped flowers with nectar guides that attract bees, ensuring successful pollination.
- **Underground Explorer:** Nettle-leaved Bellflower can spread through rhizomes, helping it colonize new areas and find fresh nutrients in woodlands.
- **Sturdy Sentinel:** Nettle-leaved Bellflower has stiff, hairy stems that help it stand firm against wind and grazing in its natural habitat.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 30-80 cm
- **Spread:** 30-60 cm
- **Flower Size:** 2-3 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Summer
- **Edible:** Yes
- **Toxicity:** None
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — collects nectar and pollen from its flowers.
- **Pollinates:** Buff-tailed Bumblebee (*Bombus terrestris*) — visits for nectar and assists in reproduction.
- **Eaten by:** [Black Slug](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-slug) (*Arion ater*) — grazes on its leaves and tender parts.
- **Eaten by:** [Roe Deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/roe-deer) (*Capreolus capreolus*) — browses on its foliage in woodland areas.

## 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.
- [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.
- [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense.
- [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals.
- [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.

## Collections

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

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Always check with an adult before picking flowers.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Nettle-leaved 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 Nettle-leaved Bellflower?

30-80 cm

### How wide does Nettle-leaved Bellflower spread?

30-60 cm

### How big are the flowers on Nettle-leaved Bellflower?

2-3 cm

### When does Nettle-leaved Bellflower bloom?

Summer

### Is Nettle-leaved Bellflower edible?

Yes

### Is Nettle-leaved Bellflower toxic?

None

### What is Nettle-leaved Bellflower's lifecycle?

Perennial

## 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: [Nettle-leaved Bellflower: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/nettle-leaved-bellflower)