# tall bellflower (*Campanulastrum americanum*) The tall bellflower is a beautiful flower that grows tall and has lovely blue or purple petals. It often blooms in the summer and can be found in fields and along roadsides. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 8 - **Habitat:** Fields and roadsides ![tall bellflower](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Campanulastrum_americanum.jpg&width=800) Photo: Robert H. Mohlenbrock. USDA SCS, Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Campanulastrum_americanum.jpg) ## Appearance The tall bellflower is a striking plant with a single, unbranched stem crowned by numerous star-shaped, blue-violet flowers. Its unique flat, wheel-like blooms feature a prominent, curved white pistil extending from the center, making it visually distinct. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Asterales - **Family:** Campanulaceae - **Genus:** Campanulastrum ## Interesting facts - Early American settlers used its leaves and roots for various remedies. - It's the only species in its entire genus, making it truly unique! - Its flowers are star-shaped, not bell-shaped like other bellflowers! - The stamens release pollen before the pistil is ready, stopping self-pollination. ## Special abilities - **Shady Supporter:** It can thrive in dappled light, adapting its growth to flourish where many sun-loving plants struggle. - **Self-Seeding Spreader:** This plant readily drops seeds around its base, creating new plants each year without needing much help. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 30-240 cm - **Spread:** 30-60 cm - **Flower Size:** 1-2.5 cm - **Bloom Season:** Summer to early fall - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Biennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Collects nectar and pollen, aiding reproduction. - **Pollinates:** Common Eastern Bumblebee (*Bombus impatiens*) — Visits flowers for nectar, transferring pollen. - **Pollinates:** [Eastern Tiger Swallowtail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-tiger-swallowtail) (*Papilio glaucus*) — Feeds on nectar, helping to spread pollen. - **Eaten by:** [White-tailed deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-tailed-deer) (*Odocoileus virginianus*) — May browse its leaves, especially when young. ## 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. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [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 look but don't touch flowers without asking an adult first. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify tall 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 tall bellflower? 30-240 cm ### How wide does tall bellflower spread? 30-60 cm ### How big are the flowers on tall bellflower? 1-2.5 cm ### When does tall bellflower bloom? Summer to early fall ### Is tall bellflower edible? Yes ### Is tall bellflower toxic? None ### What is tall bellflower's lifecycle? Biennial ## Where to spot - [Bixby State Preserve](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bixby-state-preserve) — Iowa, US · Nature Reserve - [Cheekwood Botanical Garden and Museum of Art](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cheekwood-botanical-garden-and-museum-of-art) — Tennessee, US · Botanical Garden - [Fort Custer Recreation Area](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/fort-custer-recreation-area) — Michigan, US · Nature Reserve - [Garfield Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/garfield-park) — Illinois, US · Botanical Garden - [Knob Creek Farm](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/knob-creek-farm) — Kentucky, US · Historic Site - [Memphis Botanic Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/memphis-botanic-garden) — Tennessee, US · Botanical Garden [View all places to see tall bellflower](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/tall-bellflower) ## 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*) --- Source: [Tall Bellflower: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tall-bellflower)