How to Identify a Plant with Purple Bell Shaped Flowers
Flowers come in all colors and shapes, such as purple blossoms in bell-shaped forms. These blooms are distinct in that the tops of the petals--those nearest the stem--are thin and tubular, and the petal tops flare as they open. If you find these distinct flowers growing in your yard or elsewhere, knowing how to pinpoint their species will help you have the ability to care for them properly or add them to your own garden. Besides the characteristic bell shape, note the other key traits that identify the purple flower.
Write down the type of plant on which you see the purple, bell-shaped flower. Morning glory, for instance, blossoms on vines, while Spanish bluebell is a bulb that grows on top of stems that reach as high as 18 inches tall.
Look at the petals of the flower to see if they display additional colors. Some flowers, including the purple false foxglove, bear pink shades along with their purple tone and have dark spots on the inner petals.
Record the state where you find the purple flower. For instance, wild Canterbury bells are found in California and Massachusetts.
Mark down the months that you see the purple flowers. The columbine, for example, blossoms during April and May, while the Wilkins' bellflower shows up in July, August and September.
- Write down the type of plant on which you see the purple, bell-shaped flower.
- Record the state where you find the purple flower.
Photograph your purple, bell-shaped flower.
Take the photograph and your findings to a garden center or nursery to receive help with identifying the plant. You also can use the photograph to help identify the flowering plant in flower guidebooks and online flower guides.
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References
- Missouri Botanical Garden: Hyacinthoides hispanica "Excelsior" (Spanish Bluebell)
- Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center: Agalinis Purpurea (L.) Pennell, Purple False Foxglove
- U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service: Phacelia Minor (Harv.) Thell., Wild Canterbury Bells
- Missouri Botanical Garden: Aquilegia Vulgaris (Columbine)
- Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center: Campanula Wilkinsiana Greene, Wilkins' Bellflower
Resources
Writer Bio
Brandy Alexander has been writing professionally since 2001. She is a glass artist with a Web design and technical writing background. Alexander runs her own art-glass business and has been a contributor to "Glass Line Magazine" as well as various online publications.
