Spotted bellflower, is an upright, clump-forming perennial in the Campanulaceae family. This showy plant is native to Sibera, China, and Japan. The Latin name for the genus C ampanula means "bell" and punctata means "spotted" refering to the shape and markings inside the showy pink flowers. This plant typically grows 1 to 2 feet tall bringing interest to the garden as it flowers in the late spring or summer. Plant in well-drained soil and in full sun to partial shade (though in warm southern summers, it prefers partial shade). To propagate this plant, divide its clumps every three to four years in the fall, or with adequate growing conditions, it will self-seed and spread by rhizomes itself. Masses of showy pink tubular down-facing flowers appear in late spring and last throughout the summer. The flowers and leaves are used as potherbs. Plant it in mass or small groups to take advantage of its large showy flowers. It is at home in woodland borders, rock or cottage gardens as an accent plant, or let it naturalize. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: This plant has few insect and disease problems. It can spread aggressively.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
Available space
12 inches-3 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in. | Width: 1 ft. 6 in. - 2 ft. 6 in.
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
Medium
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (1-3 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Arching; Clumping; Erect; Mounding
Texture
Coarse
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate; Rosulate
Leaf shape
Cordate; Ovate
Leaf margin
Serrate
Leaf feel
Velvety
Leaf value
Edible
Leaf size
1-3 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
This plant has green, velvety, heart-shaped to oval leaves in basal rosettes.
Flower color
Pink; Purple/Lavender; Red/Burgundy; White
Flower value
Edible; Good Cut; Long Bloom Season; Showy
Flower form
Raceme
Flower shape
Bell; Cup; Star; Tubular
Flower size
1-3 inches
Flower detail
White to pale pink flowers (with purple spots inside) bloom for a long time, from late spring through summer.
Bloom time
Spring; Summer
Fruit type
Capsule
Stem color
Green
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
Sibera, China, Japan
Play value
Attractive Flowers; Colorful
Food & Medicine
Edible parts
Leaves; Roots
Fruit type
Capsule
Edibility
The leaves and roots are edible, and this plant is a delicacy in Korea (where the plant is called 'do-ra-jee'). While the roots are edible in a variety of ways (raw, dried, or cooked), they are very small which may be hard to cook with. The leaves can be eaten raw in salads and can taste anywhere from mild to sweet to even bitter depending on the season (bitter flavor happens generally mid-summer).
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Container; Naturalized Area; Woodland
Landscape theme
Asian Garden; Cottage Garden; Cutting Garden; Edible Garden; Rock Garden
Design feature
Accent; Border; Mass Planting; Small groups
Garden tags
#pink flowers #deer resistant #white flowers #edible leaves #flowers late spring #flowers early summer #border planting #low maintenance #edible roots #edible flowers #aggressive #large flowers #rock garden #naturalizes #flowers mid-summer #flowers late summer #mass planting #cottage garden #herbaceous perennial #accent #weedy #small groups