bellflower

noun

bell·​flow·​er ˈbel-ˌflau̇(-ə)r 

: any of a genus (Campanula of the family Campanulaceae, the bellflower family) of widely cultivated herbs having alternate leaves and usually showy bell-shaped flowers

Examples of bellflower in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

More on Design During or after its maritime service, its original gilding and carvings of bellflowers were stripped away. —Eve M. Kahn, New York Times, 8 May 2024

The idyllic courtyard blooms year round, featuring hydrangeas in May and June, bellflowers in August and September, and even winter tropical plants in January. —Maya Kachroo-Levine, Travel + Leisure, 12 Feb. 2024

For example, creeping bellflower (Campanula rapunculoides), with attractive spikes of purple bell-like blooms, is shade-tolerant and reseeds freely. —Beth Botts, Chicago Tribune, 29 July 2023

In sunnier locales are Parry’s bellflower, yarrow, lupine and beardlip penstemon. —Roger Naylor, The Arizona Republic, 6 July 2023

The powder-blue piece — a combination table, chair, and lamp with a glass shade that looks like a bellflower — feels like it’s been plucked from a dream. —Diana Budds, Curbed, 4 Mar. 2022

Chris HackettGetty Images Part of the bellflower family, this long-living perennial is easy to please. —Terri Robertson, Country Living, 27 June 2022

Examples are amur maple, burning bush, lily-of-the-valley, orange daylily, creeping bellflower and various barberry. —Jennifer Rude Klett, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 5 May 2022

Her design features the nodding petals of Campanula divaricata (bellflower), the white puffs of Ceanothus americanus (New Jersey tea), and the purple stars of Aquilegia vulgaris (columbine). —Washington Post, 27 Dec. 2021

Word History

First Known Use

1578, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for bellflower

• airpower
• brainpower
• devour
• empower
• firepower
• horsepower
• manpower
• mayflower
• safflower
• sunflower
• wallflower
• watchtower

Kids Definition

bellflower

noun

bell·​flow·​er ˈbel-ˌflau̇(-ə)r 

: any of various herbs that are often grown for their showy flowers shaped like bells

Geographical Definition

Bellflower

geographical name

Bell·​flow·​er ˈbel-ˌflau̇(-ə)r 

city in southwestern California east of Los Angeles population 76,616