Creeping bellflower is a devil of an invasive. (Provided photo — D. Gordon E. Robertson via Wikimedia Commons)

I’ve been battling invasive plants in my yard since we moved into the place. Some plants I’ve managed to maintain while trying to eradicate the others. Like any house or property, everything is a matter of priority.

My latest misery is the introduction of creeping bellflower to my garden. Thank you, squirrel, bird or wind that managed to deposit the pretty little purple flowers into my yard.

Once in a while, a volunteer plant will show up in my yard. This time I made the rookie mistake of not identifying the plant when it first appeared. I didn’t realize that behind its pretty, bobbing flowers lurk thousands of seeds ready to spread their evilness. It’s not only through seeds that creeping bellflower chokes out plants but also through its massive root structure. The primary root looks like a white carrot, burying straight to the earth’s core while sending out roots in all other directions.

There are native versions of bellflower, but I didn’t get that gift. No, I was gifted a plant nicknamed “Hell flower.” Native bellflower (Campanula Americana) looks like a starfish rather than a bell, and native harebell (Campanula rotundifolia) has narrow leaves and produces bell-shaped flowers at the top of the stem. Originally from Asia and sold at gardening centers, creeping bellflower (Campanula rapunculoides) has serrated leaves with five-petal, bell-shaped flowers alternating up one side of the stem.

Digging out creeping bellflower isn’t for the weak of heart. The “carrot” can grow 6 inches deep into the soil. Dispose of the plant by fire or feast. That’s right. Either burn it or eat it. The flowers can add nice color to a salad. In springtime, the leaves are tender, like baby spinach. The roots are even edible, but I have yet to try them.

Don’t compost it or toss it somewhere else. Creeping bellflower will root where it lands. It has the stamina of a marathon runner and the stubbornness of a toddler. It’s considered deer resistant, easy to grow and hardy. Don’t be fooled by its seemingly harmless splash of color. It is an evil weed capable of surviving drought or drowning. It will choke out plants and smother gardens. This plant can make me weep while I pull them out by the stem, knowing that the rhizome still exists below ground.

The first year I saw creeping bellflower in my yard, I made the mistake of letting it go to seed. I should have, at the very least, cut the flowers. Each plant can produce up to 15,000 seeds. Now I’m just trying to maintain control while eating a salad of invasive plants. With enough dressing, anything tastes good. Bon appetit!