Practical
Plants

Campanula glomerata

Clustered Bellflower

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Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Growth rate
moderate
Height
1 m
Spread
0.6 m
Fertility
self fertile
Flower type
hermaphrodite

Uses

Edible uses

Leaves - raw or cooked. A mild flavour with a pleasant sweetness, it can be used as a major ingredient in salads[K]. Flowers - raw[K]. Beautiful to look at, they have a pleasant sweetness and make a very attractive decoration to a salad[K].

Plant part
Flowers
Plant part
Leaves

Environment

Range
Most of Europe, including Britain, to temperate Asia.
Habitat
Grassy places on calcareous soils, particularly in chalk grassland, less commonly on sea-cliffs or in woods[2].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 2+
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[4], 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

Prefers a moist but well-drained rich sandy loam and a neutral or alkaline soil in sun or partial shade[1][3]. Succeeds in any well-drained soil in sun or partial shade[5]. A very ornamental plant, there are several named forms[3]. This is a very vigorous species and can be invasive, spreading by means of its creeping rootstock, when well suited to its site[3]. Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer[5]. 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].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

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  2. Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press 1962-00-00

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  3. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3

  4. Crook. H. Clifford. Campanulas - their cultivation and classification. Country Life 1951-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  5. Thomas. G. S. Perennial Garden Plants J. M. Dent & Sons, London. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0 460 86048 8

    ↩1↩2

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