Flower profile

Western harebell

Campanula petiolata

Native in the lower 48

Western harebell is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. It's on our flower lists for 6 states, and across the U.S. it's most often seen in bloom in June–September.

36states

6of our state lists

8,616U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: Colorado, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming

Quick look

Campanula petiolata is a flowering plant that is called western harebell when it is distinguished from Campanula rotundifolia or simply harebell when it is considered the same species. It is in the bellflower family (Campanulaceae). This herbaceous perennial is found in areas of western North America with continental climates. It produces violet-blue, bell-shaped flowers in late summer and autumn.
From Wikipedia's article Campanula petiolata, CC BY-SA 4.0.

It belongs to the Campanulaceae family. ^iNaturalist
USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) with a perennial life cycle. ^{USDA PLANTS}
USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 36 states. ^{USDA PLANTS}
In Colorado, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in June–September. ^iNaturalist
In Wyoming, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in June–September. ^iNaturalist
iNaturalist has 4,774 research-grade sightings of it in Colorado, ranking #21 among the 110 flowers on our Colorado list. ^iNaturalist
iNaturalist has 1,208 research-grade sightings of it in Wyoming, ranking #12 among the 107 flowers on our Wyoming list. ^iNaturalist
iNaturalist has 935 research-grade sightings of it in Montana, ranking #33 among the 109 flowers on our Montana list. ^iNaturalist

Western harebell gift ideas

Handmade western harebell gifts from independent makers.

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When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month across the U.S. (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (1,066 records)

Bloom time in each of our 6 states

State	Type	Peak bloom	Sightings*
Colorado	–	June–September	4,774
Wyoming	–	June–September	1,208
Montana	–	June–September	935
New Mexico	–	June–October	598
South Dakota	–	June–September	379
North Dakota	–	few records	120

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA): Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. ^{USFWS ECOS}
NatureServe global: GNR Not yet ranked worldwide. ^NatureServe
Colorado: No list Colorado has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Colorado ranks instead. NatureServe has no Colorado rank for it.
Wyoming: No list Wyoming has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Wyoming ranks instead. NatureServe has no Wyoming rank for it.
Montana: No list Montana has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Montana ranks instead. NatureServe has no Montana rank for it.
New Mexico: Not listed Not on New Mexico state endangered plant species (19.21.2.9 NMAC). NatureServe has no New Mexico rank for it. ^{19.21.2.9 NMAC}
South Dakota: No list South Dakota's endangered and threatened list (ARSD 41:10:02) covers animals only, so we show NatureServe's South Dakota ranks for plants. NatureServe has no South Dakota rank for it.
North Dakota: No list North Dakota has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's North Dakota ranks instead. NatureServe has no North Dakota rank for it.
Rare elsewhere: No other U.S. state ranks it S1, S2, SH or SX.

Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Can you eat it?

For peopleNot well documented

None of the sources we checked (NC State Extension (no page for this plant), USDA PLANTS) say whether it's edible or poisonous for people.

For petsNot well documented

It isn't on the ASPCA plant list.

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS records Western harebell in 36 states.

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recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming.

Colorado counties with USDA records: Arapahoe, Archuleta, Boulder, Chaffee, Clear Creek, Conejos, Costilla, Custer, Delta, Dolores, Douglas, El Paso, Fremont, Garfield, Gilpin, Grand, Gunnison, Huerfano, Jackson, Jefferson, La Plata, Lake, Larimer, Las Animas, Mesa, Mineral, Montezuma, Montrose, Park, Pitkin, Rio Blanco, Routt, Saguache, San Juan, San Miguel, Summit, Teller.

Wyoming counties with USDA records: Albany, Big Horn, Campbell, Carbon, Converse, Crook, Fremont, Hot Springs, Johnson, Laramie, Natrona, Niobrara, Park, Platte, Sheridan, Sublette, Teton, Washakie, Weston.

Montana counties with USDA records: Beaverhead, Big Horn, Blaine, Broadwater, Carbon, Carter, Cascade, Custer, Daniels, Dawson, Deer Lodge, Fallon, Fergus, Flathead, Gallatin, Garfield, Glacier, Golden Valley, Granite, Hill, Judith Basin, Lake, Lewis and Clark, Liberty, Lincoln, Madison, McCone, Mineral, Missoula, Musselshell, Park, Petroleum, Phillips, Pondera, Powder River, Powell, Prairie, Ravalli, Richland, Roosevelt, Rosebud, Sheridan, Silver Bow, Stillwater, Sweet Grass, Teton, Toole, Valley, Wheatland, Wibaux, Yellowstone.

More Colorado flowers

Great mullein

Verbascum thapsus

Introduced

🌼 Blooms in CO: June–October

Blue columbine

Aquilegia coerulea

★ CO state flowerNative

🌼 Blooms in CO: June–August

Showy milkweed

Asclepias speciosa

Native

🌼 Blooms in CO: June–July

Sources

USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile CARO2.
iNaturalist, Campanula petiolata: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
Wikipedia, Campanula petiolata (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
Colorado: Colorado noxious weed lists A, B and C (8 CCR 1206-2, eff. May 15, 2025).
Wyoming: Wyoming state designated noxious weeds (W.S. 11-5-102(a)(xi)), as listed by the Wyoming Weed & Pest Council.
Montana: Montana noxious weed list (Admin. R. Mont. 4.5.206–4.5.210).
New Mexico: New Mexico state endangered plant species (19.21.2.9 NMAC).
New Mexico: New Mexico Noxious Weed List (NM Department of Agriculture, updated June 2020).
South Dakota: South Dakota statewide noxious weeds (ARSD 12:62:03:01.06).
North Dakota: North Dakota state noxious weeds (N.D. Admin. Code 7-06-01-02), as listed by the ND Department of Agriculture.
USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
NatureServe Explorer, Campanula petiolata (global and state ranks).
Edibility and toxicity: no source found (marked "not well documented").
Photo: Brian Dickerson via iNaturalist · CC0 · resized.