Table of Contents
Creeping bellflower (Campanula rapunculoides) is an invasive nonnative. It’s the most common of a handful of nonnative bellflowers around Ontario. You’ll mostly spot it on banks and grassy roadsides. It was uncommon when Haliburton Flora was compiled, but is probably fairly common now.
It was called ramps in English kitchen gardens, back in its heyday. Not to be confused with the wild leek AKA ramps.
Edible Uses of Creeping Bellflower
Surprisingly, this dainty looking plant was once a desirable English garden vegetable. The root is the main dish and is somewhat like a parsnip. It’s best harvested when dormant and takes a bit of digging, a few inches below the soil for the larger roots. While growing, it’s tradition to not let the plant flower and to mound up soil around the plant to blanch them. Eat these roots cooked.
The somewhat hairy young shoots can be eaten raw or cooked like asparagus, and the young leaves raw or cooked like spinach. The leaves are bland with a hint of fish. Harebells (C. rotundifolia) leaves are also edible.
The flowers and flower buds of creeping bellflower are also edible raw or cooked.
American bellflower (Campanulastrum americanum) is related and has mostly the same edibility, except for its roots. It’s been moved to its own genus, but they used to share Campanula.
Medicinal Uses of Harebell
Harebell is primarily said to support these body systems:
- Integumentary
Medicinal tags include Anti-inflammatory and Diuretic. See Medicinal tag key for more information.
Common usage includes an infusion of harebell (C. rotundifolia) root for ear drops. Creeping bellflower has seen much more cultivation as a vegetable than as an herbal medicine. Harebell is a close relation, and I’ll probably feature it separately someday.
Growing Campanula SPP.
One native bellflower is wetland loving marsh bellflower (C. aparinoides). While the pictured and mostly featured creeping bellflower is nonnative, common harebell (C. rotundifolia) is native according to VASCAN. There’s also close relation American bellflower (Campanulastrum americanum).
Long-tongued bees will visit the blooms as well as other bees, butterflies and skippers.
Popular lobelia species like cardinal flower and great blue lobelia are related native species.
WARNINGS
And the Usual Cautions:
1) Most medicinal herbs, if edible, are meant to be eaten in moderation, even sparingly. Some require extra preparation. Tannins are toxic if consumed in excess. Before taking any new supplements, you should consult with a healthcare professional.
2) People can be allergic or sensitive to nearly any plant; try new herbs one at a time at your own risk. For instance, saponins commonly cause stomach upset.
3) For serious medicinal use, I must recommend receiving a diagnosis and working with a reputed health care provider. I generally do not post specific treatments and dosages because I think that is best between you and your health care provider, and ideally monitored.
4) Anyone pregnant, nursing, or taking prescription drugs should talk to a health care professional before adding new food items to their diet.
5) Many plants have look-a-likes, and sometimes they are poisonous.
#ads in References
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Every book I reference that is available on Amazon is linked to with an associates link.
REFERENCES
https://data.canadensys.net/vascan/taxon/942
Sam Thayer’s Field Guide to Edible Wild Plants of Eastern & Central North America
A Modern Herbal (Volume 2, I-Z and Indexes)
How Indians Use Wild Plants for Food, Medicine & Crafts (Native American)