Bloomipedia
Western harebell (Campanula petiolata)
Photo: Brian Dickerson via iNaturalist · CC0 · resized

Flower profile

Western harebell

Campanula petiolata

Western harebell (Campanula petiolata) is a flowering plant in the Campanulaceae family, native in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly July–September across the U.S.

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 July–September.

36states where USDA records it
6Bloomipedia state lists include it
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.

  • 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 July–September. iNaturalist
  • In Wyoming, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in July–September. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 4,774 research-grade sightings of it in Colorado, ranking #21 among the 160 flowers on our Colorado list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 1,208 research-grade sightings of it in Wyoming, ranking #12 among the 113 flowers on our Wyoming list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 935 research-grade sightings of it in Montana, ranking #33 among the 128 flowers on our Montana list. iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month across the U.S. (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (1,066 records)
Bloom time in the 6 states whose Bloomipedia list includes it
StateTypePeak bloomSightings*
Colorado–July–September4,774
Wyoming–July–September1,208
Montana–June–September935
New Mexico–few records (27)598
South Dakota–few records (36)379
North Dakota–few records (12)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.

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.

Names, range and relatives

Native status by region (USDA PLANTS): Alaska: Native; Canada: Native; Greenland: Native; Lower 48 states: Native; St. Pierre and Miquelon: Native.

Other scientific names (synonyms in USDA PLANTS): Campanula alaskana, Campanula dubia, Campanula gieseckiana, Campanula groenlandica, Campanula heterodoxa, Campanula intercedens, Campanula sacajaweana.

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 586 counties across 33 states; the most are in Michigan (66), Wisconsin (62), Montana (51).

Other Campanula on Bloomipedia (2): Creeping bellflower, Mountain harebell.

More from the Campanulaceae family (8 on Bloomipedia; most observed first): Cardinal flower, Great blue lobelia, Tall bellflower, Indian tobacco, Clasping Venus's looking glass, Downy lobelia.

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Sources