Campanula parryi aka Rocky Mountain Bellflower

Campanula parryi is a small perennial in the bellflower family, Campanulaceae. Gardeners know it as Parry’s bellflower or Idaho bellflower. It comes from the northwestern and west-central United States. Its range includes Washington, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, and Utah. It also reaches mountain sites in Arizona and New Mexico. It grows in moist mountain meadows and other open places. Recorded habitats lie at 6,890–9,840 feet [2,100–3,000 metres].

Plants reach about 1 foot [0.3 metres] tall. They spread to about 1.6 feet [0.5 metres] wide. Growth is fast, and plants spread freely in light soil. Long runners can make division hard. The stems are wiry and tough, unlike the tender leaves. Its bell-shaped flowers give the plant its familiar name. Each flower has both male and female organs. Bees, flies, beetles, butterflies, and moths visit the flowers. The plant can also set seed through self-fertilisation.

Cool sites with moist soil suit this mountain plant. In the wild, snowmelt can soak its meadow habitat. In gardens, give it moist soil that drains well. A rich sandy loam suits it well. It also grows in other light or medium soils. Choose neutral to mildly alkaline soil. Full sun suits high sites, while partial sun suits lower ones. The supplied hardiness range is USDA zones 3–7. One account also reports survival at least to 5°F [−15°C]. Site exposure affects its tolerance of cold.

Grow it in beds or let it trail over walls. Its small size suits planting where gardeners can see it closely. The flowers provide food for visiting insects. Seed, spring basal cuttings, and division offer ways to raise plants. Sow seed on the surface in spring under a cold frame. Germination takes about two to four weeks at 64°F [18°C]. Keep young plants under cold-frame protection through their first winter. The source does not flag the species as weedy.

The leaves and flowers are edible, either raw or cooked. Their mild taste recalls lettuce, with a slight marshy note. Each plant yields little food, so its food value is limited. Avoid the tough stems, which may splinter. The source lists no known hazards. It records past uses of roots for bruises and dried plants for sores. It also records using chewed flowers to remove hair. These are reports of traditional use, not proof of safe treatment.