You won’t be sorry if you grow these precious little bells in your native wildflower garden, and nor will the bees! Read on to discover more about the delightful little harebell.
Growth Requirements
Despite their delicate appearance, harebells are one tough little plant. They will grow in moist to dry soil, ideally in full sun but they can grow in shade as well. Once established, they’ll reseed happily about but certainly not in an aggressive way, in my experience. Seedlings are easy to pull, if needed.
A word of caution: DO NOT CONFUSE HAREBELLS WITH CREEPING BELLFLOWER. While gorgeous in bloom, creeping bellflower is a noxious weed that is prohibited in Alberta. Once it invades your garden, it’s next to impossible to get rid of it.
Blooms
These cheerful little bells put on a display longer than most other native plants, blooming from June to September. The cool color palette has my heart in the garden, so these really fit the bill! (Although I do love the cheer of a bright yellow mass of Blackeyed Susans too, hmm…)
Insects and Wildlife
Harebells are attractive to butterflies as well as to many different types of native bees.
Plant With…
Harebells would do well in a meadow- or prairie- type planting. Mixed with not-too-aggressive grasses such as blue grama grass and other pockets or swaths of flowers such as purple prairie clover and blue flax. See it growing here in the coulees of Southern Alberta.
In Conclusion
I would absolutely recommend adding harebells to your native flower garden. They’re an easygoing, cheerful flower that require zero maintenance.
Happy Gardening!
