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You can easily see that these are not bluebells (whether English or Spanish), but they are bell-shaped and they’re a pretty lilac-blue. When I first saw this plant, I thought it must be a variety of campanula. But it isn’t, although it is part of the Campanulaceae family.
It’s Adenophora confusa ‘Fairy Bells Gaudi Violet’. (Adenophora is also known by the name ‘Ladybells’.) I’d never heard of this plant before, but the colour and shape of the flowers attracted me. (Gardeners and bees have a lot in common. We’re easily drawn to colourful flowers.)
My recently-planted adenophora has almost finished blooming now, but I expect that next year, as the plant gets bigger, there will be a long display of flowers. They are described as flowering from June through into September, so lots of colour and a great plant for bees too.
Reading up about my new plant has made me aware that some of the taller-growing adenophoras can be easily confused with the very invasive Campanula rapunculoides (creeping bellflower). Luckily, this plant is lower-growing and more compact, with its flowers held close together on short stems – a very different appearance to the creeping bellflower, thank goodness!
Ann Mackay: Inspired by Nature 
Look at that looooooong central column that splits into recurved hooks at the tip. I’d never heard of this species. According to Wikipedia: “Adenophora is a genus of flowering plants in the family Campanulaceae, the bellflowers. Plants of this genus are known commonly as ladybells. Most of the species in the genus are native to eastern Asia, with a few in Europe. Many are endemic to either China or Siberia.”
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That central column is the ‘style’ which has the pollen-receiving stigma (the bit that looks like hooks) at the tip. Before the flower opens, the anthers (at the bottom of the tubular flower) are pressed against the style so that the style becomes coated in pollen. Visiting insects brush against the style, transferring the pollen to other flowers and when that has happened, the stigma can then open to receive pollen from another flower. Aren’t flowers and their structures amazing?
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Times may have changed, but there’s still a stigma attached to receiving pollen from a stranger.
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LOL, great comment, Steve! Necessary if you’re a flower though… 🙂
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What’s true for your blue bells is also true for some birds, Ann. While many birds are blue, not all are bluebirds. But all blue birds are pretty, as are all blue flowers (even if some are not desirable, such as the invasive species you mention).
I liked your statement: “Gardeners and bees have a lot in common. We’re easily drawn to colourful flowers.” 🌸🐝
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I agree with your opinion of blue birds, although I’ve only seen a few of the and mostly in photographs rather than in life. 🙂 (And you know that I’d agree about the flowers! 😁) I like the idea of having something in common with bees, hehe!
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We are lucky here and have a number of blue birds, including three species of bluebirds! Although we have many blue flowers, there are only a few blue bells, and even fewer bluebells. 😊
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Sounds very good to me!
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My first thought when I saw these flowers was, “They look like Lobelia.” Well, lo and behold: lobelias also belong to the Campanulaceae. I laughed at your title, since I also posted a photo today of a bluebell that isn’t a bluebell, and that isn’t blue; flower naming can be misleading from time to time! I wonder if the namers of this one chose ‘gaudi’ as a more genteel form of ‘gaudy’?
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My first reaction to the name was to suppose that it may be related to the architect Gaudi, or possibly the same family name. (I don’t know who the breeder was.) But I’d love it if it was related to Latin ‘gaudete’ – rejoice! (My general feeling about flowers, hehe!). I’ve just read your lovely post and I’m amused by the not-really-a bluebell. Flower names can be a bit odd! Your photographs are beautiful and I hope my readers will have a look: https://lindaleinen.com/2024/09/22/autumn-lavenders/
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The ‘Fairy bells’ have very lovely colour! Beautiful, Ann!
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The colour was what first attracted me to them Indira. They are still flowering, though maybe not for a lot longer. 🙂
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Well my first thought on seeing the picture was ‘ooh campanula’. So evidently not. This looks like a good alternative if it’s non- invasive and bees like it.
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Yes, that was my first thought when I saw it. Campanulas are easy to grow here so I picked one up and discovered that it was a different plant, but in the same family. It seems happy so far. (But it’s getting a real drenching today, along with the rest of the garden. A day for staying indoors!)
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