Don't Confuse This Non-Invasive Flower For Creeping Bellflower

You may have heard of the invasion of Campanula rapunculoides, or creeping bellflower, a once-popular European import to North America that has since become a thorn in many gardeners' sides. While creeping bellflower's bell-shaped purple flowers are beautiful, don't be fooled into letting it take over your garden. Even if you are vigilant and spot a creeping bellflower infestation early, the hardy perennial is difficult to remove, as tearing it out of the ground won't destroy the thick roots that have grown deep into your soil, and new shoots will sprout up from those roots when you least expect them. It is also drought-proof and difficult to smother, requiring months of light deprivation before it finally succumbs.

Because creeping bellflowers are so hardy and so determined to choke the life out of your garden, you might be a little too trigger-happy when it comes to destroying any plant dripping with bell-like flowers. Don't be tempted to shoot first and ask questions later — take your time identifying creeping bellflower to be certain that is what you're dealing with. Otherwise, you might accidentally destroy a rare patch of Campanula americana, or the American bellflower, a beneficial wildflower native to eastern North America that will beautify your garden and make for stunning table decor.

Though creeping bellflower and American bellflower both belong to the genus Campanula, which is Latin for "little bell," and bear many physical similarities, there are ways to definitively tell the difference between them to avoid annihilating a patch of innocent American bellflowers. 

The two flowers have similar leaves, so it is more difficult to differentiate between them before they flower. However, the creeping bellflower usually has wider, heart-shaped leaves at the plant's base that narrow to lance-shaped leaves farther up the stem, while the American bellflower also has lance-shaped or narrowly egg-shaped leaves. If you're not sure which you have, stay the executioner's axe for the time being. Once spring comes, they will both flower, making it easy to identify the two.

The creeping bellflower boasts vibrant purple blooms that hang down off the stem like bells in a belfry. In contrast, the American bellflower's five-petaled blooms are more subtly cup-shaped with a distinct blue-purple hue. At the flower's throat, a white patch rings the long, dangling pistil. Another significant difference lies in the shape of the petals, with creeping bellflower's being smooth and American bellflower's being ruffled. If you're still not sure which is which, you can use Google to identify plants for free.

If you like the look of creeping bellflowers but don't want to deal with all their baggage, consider cultivating the American bellflower. Like its invasive European cousin, the American bellflower is hardy and easy to care for, preferring partial sunlight and well-draining soil. It's a flower that attracts pollinators, so expect to see new friends buzzing around your garden in the summer when they bloom, and they can be planted either in the ground or in pots. 

To encourage your bellflowers to grow and produce more blooms, you can mix compost with your soil to enrich its nutrient levels. Other than the usual pesky pests like aphids, you don't have to worry much about your bellflowers when it comes to diseases and pests, with some even serving as deer repellant. Unlike the creeping bellflower, the American bellflower is a beautiful, non-invasive addition to your garden.