Campanula garganica
Adriatic Bellflower
Taxonomy and growth
- Family
- Campanulaceae
- Genus
- Campanula
- Life cycle
- perennial
- Foliage
- evergreen
- Height
- 0.15 m
- Fertility
- self fertile
- Flower type
- hermaphrodite
- Pollinators
- Bees, Flies, Beetles, Lepidoptera, Self
Uses
Edible uses
Leaves - raw or cooked. The leaves are quite small but have a pleasant mild flavour, and make a very acceptable addition to salads[K]. Flowers - raw or cooked. Slightly sweet[K].
- Plant part
- Flowers
- Plant part
- Leaves
Environment
- Range
- S. Europe - Italy.
- Habitat
- Not known
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- no shade
- Water
- moderate
- Hardiness
- Zone 5+
- Soil textures
- sandy, loamy
- Soil pH
- acid, neutral, alkaline, very alkaline
- Drainage
- well drained
- Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
- No
- Drought
- intolerant
Propagation
Seed - surface sow spring in a cold frame. The seed usually germinates in 2 - 4 weeks at 18°c. Very easy[4]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in a cold frame for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Basal cuttings in spring. Very easy[4]. Harvest the shoots when they are about 10 - 15cm long with plenty of underground stem. Pot them up into individual pots and keep them in light shade in a cold frame or greenhouse until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the summer. Division in spring or autumn. Very easy, larger clumps can be replanted direct into their permanent positions, though it is best to pot up smaller clumps and grow them on in a cold frame until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the summer or following spring.
Cultivation
An easily grown plant[4], it succeeds in most fertile well-drained soils[5], though it prefers a moist but well-drained sandy loam and a neutral or alkaline soil in sun or partial shade[1][2]. Flowers most freely when growing in full sun with a good supply of chalk or lime in the soil[4]. Plants grow well in a wall so long as there is some soil for them to root into[3]. Plants are hardy to at least -15°c[2]. The species in this genus do not often hybridize and so seed can generally be relied upon to come true[4]. The plants are self-fertile[4]. Plants are often short-lived, though they are easily propagated by seed or basal cuttings[3][4]. They also usually self-sow freely[4]. This species is closely related to C. elatines[2]. There are some named varieties selected for their ornamental value[2]. 'Dickson's Gold' has golden-green leaves with a pleasant mild flavour[K]. Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer[5].
References
F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Grey-Wilson. C. & Matthews. V. Gardening on Walls Collins 1983-00-00 ISBN 0-00-219220-0
Crook. H. Clifford. Campanulas - their cultivation and classification. Country Life 1951-00-00
Thomas. G. S. Perennial Garden Plants J. M. Dent & Sons, London. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0 460 86048 8