The bluebells of Scotland are particularly well known. These flowers, however, also grow in many other lands. They are common in many parts of Canada and the United States. Bluebells are named for the plant's bell-shaped blossoms. The flowers are not always blue. Some kinds are violet, purple, or white. The tall, slender stems grow from a few inches high to several feet. The leaves are narrow and lancelike. The plants are grown to decorate and add color to a garden and bloom from June to September. Bluebells belong to the genus Campanula (in Latin, “little bell”), which includes about 250 species. The bluebell of Scotland is also called the harebell (Campanula rotundifolia). The tall bellflower (Campanula americana) is a more southerly species found from Canada south to Arkansas and Florida. The most popular garden species is the Canterbury bell (Campanula medium). In the United States the name bluebell is also applied to the Virginia cowslip, also known as lungwort (Mertensia virginica). |