Bellflower and bluebell are not the same plant, although they both belong to the bellflower family Campanulaceae. Campanula rotundifolia, also known as bluebell, harebell, Scottish bluebell, or bluebell of Scotland, is a specific species of flowering plant within this family. On the other hand, the term “bellflower” is a more general term that refers to various species within the Campanulaceae family.
While bellflowers and bluebells may share similar bell-shaped flowers, they differ in terms of their specific characteristics and distribution. Bluebells are herbaceous perennials that are found throughout temperate regions of the northern hemisphere. They have rounded leaves and delicate, nodding, bell-shaped flowers that are typically blue or purple in color. In Scotland, they are commonly referred to as bluebells.
Bellflowers, on the other hand, encompass a wide range of species within the Campanulaceae family. These species can vary in their growth habits, leaf shapes, and flower colors. Some common types of bellflowers include Campanula persicifolia (peach-leaved bellflower), Campanula carpatica (Carpathian bellflower), and Campanula lactiflora (milky bellflower).
Each bellflower species has its own unique characteristics. For example, Campanula persicifolia has long, narrow leaves and produces slender spikes of bell-shaped flowers in shades of blue, white, or pink. Campanula carpatica is a compact plant with rounded leaves and bell-shaped flowers in shades of blue or white. Campanula lactiflora, as the name suggests, has milky white flowers and lance-shaped leaves.
While bluebells (Campanula rotundifolia) are a specific species within the bellflower family, bellflower is a more general term that encompasses a wide range of species within the Campanulaceae family. Bluebells are known for their rounded leaves and delicate, nodding, blue or purple bell-shaped flowers, while bellflowers can have diverse growth habits, leaf shapes, and flower colors.