The Harebell (Campanula rotundifolia)
Family - CampanulaceaeType - herbaceous perennial
Related - Canterbury Bells, Carpathian Bellflower, Peach-leaved Bellflower
Also known as The Bluebell of Scotland
Found in: - Britain (harebell), Finland (kissankello), United States, Germany (rundblättrige glockenblume), Norway (blåklokke), Denmark (blå-klokke, liden klokke), Iceland (bláklukka), Sweden (liten blåklocka)
Found in dry, grassy banks and downlands. The flowers are scentless but are visited by butterflies and bees,
including the very small Harebell Carpenter Bee which shows a preference for their pollen and nectar.
Thrives in poor, dry soils and flowers July-September.
Folklore
The flower of witches, who used its juice as part of their flying ointment. Its associated with seeing fairies, goblins and earth spirits. It was also thought to be associated with the devil and to bring bad luck, but it also was used by witches to transform themselves into hares. This was the fairy plant of the south-west of England; in the Isle of Man the 'fairies' thimble'; the bluebell of Scotland (also the Devil's bell). Clumps of this thick and pretty ground cover were once thought to offer shelter to the fairies.
Other Info
Stamps - the harebell has appeared on Swedish stamps as it is the Central Ostrobothnia (Keski-Pohjanmaa) provincial flower.Art - one of Cicely Mary Barker's famous flower fairies was the Harebell Fairy.