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Flowers by Colour
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Harebells - Campanula rotundifolia - Blue - Western Isles - Wild Flowers
Wildflowers & Flora of The Isle of Harris and The Isle of Lewis - Hebrides Flowers
These lovely blue bell shaped flowers display through the summer months on the Western Isles especially in the machair's. Their bright blue nodding heads are distinctive and they really are beautiful wildflowers.clusters from late spring to autumn.

Western Isles Wildflowers - Wild flowers of The Hebrides
Blue Wildflowers - Harebell

Harebells - Campanula rotundifolia
Western Isles Blue Wildflowers
 
Seen All Over The Western Isles - Harebells - Blue Bell Shaped Blue Flowers

Native to the Hebrides - The Harebell is easily identified by its fragile blue flowers, shaped like bells and heart shaped leaves which are usually slightly toothed. The foliage dies back in the spring as the flowers emerge on their erect stems. Harebells grow in clumps flowering in the machair during July to September.

Flowers
The harebell flowers have five violet-blue, pink, or white petals that make up the bell shape. They have 5 long green pointed sepals behind them. The petal lobes are triangular in shape and have an outward curve. They bloom on long thin stems either singly or in loose clusters through the summer months here in the Hebrides. The flowers are scentless

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Blue Wildflowers Western Isles - Harebells   Blue Wildflowers - Harebell - Western Isles Flora
Harebells in The Reef Machair
  
A lovely nodding harebell - Scarista


Perennial
The harebells are hairless creeping perennial herbs which have long, trailing stems with small, club-shaped leaves at the base. The stem leaves are quite long, and its blue, bell-shaped flowers hang in clusters at the tips of the stems.

Seeds
Seeds are produced in a capsule about 3–4 mm diameter. The seeds are released by pores at the base of the capsule. Seedlings are very very tiny.

Nectar for Insects
These lovely blue wildflowers of the Hebrides are regularly visited by bumblebees and Honey Bees, providing an autumnal source of nectar for these insects.

Common Names
Sometimes called the Bluebell of Scotland although as you can see on this site The Bluebell - or Endymion Scriptus is a different plant altogether. It is also sometimes called The Devils Bell and The Fairies Thimble as its reputed to have sheltered the fairies. It was called Harebell as folk believed that witches used juices squeezed from the flower to turn themselves into hares

Folklore
Witches are said t o have used it in their "flying" ointment. The devil is also said to be close to this flower and it is such a shame that this lovely flower is reputed to bring bad luck.

Stamps
The harebell has appeared on Swedish Stamps

Food
Harebell leaves can be eaten raw in a salad and the plant is known to have beneficial properties


Medicinal Uses
The harebell were used in remedies for earache which was made from the roots. Harebells are also used in a wash for the treatment of sore eyes. Other conditions Harebell is said to cure include depression and if the root is chewed, it may help to treat heart and lung complaints

Western Isles Wildflowers - Flora & Flowers of The Outer Hebrides - Hebridean Wild Flowers
Blue Wild FLowers of Scotland