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Harebells

Edible Edible Autumn Autumn Summer Summer

This delicate blue wild flower is called the Scottish bluebell but can be found around most of the UK in summer.

Hedgerow Type
Common Names Harebells, Scottish Bluebells, Witch's Bells, Devils Bell, Fairy Thimbles, Old Mans Bell
Scientific Name Campanula rotundifolia
Season Start Jul
Season End Oct
Please note that each and every hedgerow item you come across may vary in appearance to these photos.

Leaves

The basal leaves are round to heart shaped with a bluntly toothed edge, as the leaves grow up the stem they become very narrow and will start to loose the toothed edge.

Flowers

The delicate bell shaped flowers are made up of five triangular petals that are most often lavender blue but can be white or pink. Harebells bloom in summer but the seeds can stay on the plant into autumn.

Stem

The stem is thin, covered in small hairs and has a white sap if the stem is broken.

Habitat

Prefers dry, poor soil on grasslands, open hedgerows, meadows, beside paths or even permanent sand dunes.

Frequency

Locally common throughout the UK.

Collecting

The flowers make a beautiful addition to a salad and the leaves can be added to salads or steamed as a green.

Other Facts

Has been used to produce a blue dye for tartan.
Witches are supposed to have used the flowers to transform themselves into hares and if eaten by non witches can help people see fairies in the underworld.

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