Milky Bellflower (Campanula lactiflora)

Taxonomy and growth

Family: Campanulaceae
Genus: Campanula
Life cycle: perennial
Height: 1 m
Spread: 0.75 m
Fertility: self fertile
Flower type: hermaphrodite

Uses

Edible uses

Leaves - raw or cooked. A mild flavour with a pleasant sweetness[K]. Flowers - raw. A decorative and tasty addition to salads[K].

Plant part: Flowers

Plant part: Leaves

Environment

Range: Europe - Caucasus. Naturalized in Britain.
Habitat: Naturalized in Britain in waste and rough ground, often in damp places.
Light: full sun
Shade tolerance: light shade
Water: moderate
Hardiness: Zone 5+
Soil textures: sandy, loamy
Soil pH: acid, neutral, alkaline
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil: No
Drought: intolerant

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe, otherwise surface sow spring in a cold frame. The seed usually germinates in 2 - 4 weeks at 18°c. Easy^[3]. Plants, especially as they grow, resent root disturbance so, as soon as they are large enough to handle the seedlings should be pricked out into individual pots and grow them on in a cold frame for at least their first winter. It is generally better to grow the plants on in larger pots than average in order to ensure good root development^[5]. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Basal cuttings in spring. Easy[K]. 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^[3], 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. Another report says that it is difficult to divide the thick tenacious roots of mature plants, and that they resent the disturbance^[5].

Cultivation

Succeeds in most fertile well-drained soils^[4], though it prefers a moist but well-drained rich sandy loam and a neutral or alkaline soil in sun or partial shade^[1]^[2]. A very tolerant plant, thriving even when growing in unkempt grassy areas^[4]. There are some named forms, selected for their ornamental value^[2]. Plants tend to be top-heavy and will need supports in windy gardens^[4]. The species in this genus do not often hybridize and so seed can generally be relied upon to come true^[3]. The plants are self-fertile^[3]. Although usually freely set, it is quite difficult to harvest the seed since it is readily dispersed by the plant as soon as it ripens^[5]. The plant often self-sows in the garden and, if potted up whilst small, the seedlings usually transplant fairly well^[5]. Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer or rabbits^[4].

Campanula alliariifoliaCornish Bellflower
Campanula carpaticaTussock Bellflower
Campanula carpatica turbinata
Campanula cochleariifoliaFairies Thimbles

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
↩1 ↩2
Crook. H. Clifford. Campanulas - their cultivation and classification. Country Life 1951-00-00
↩1 ↩2 ↩3 ↩4
Thomas. G. S. Perennial Garden Plants J. M. Dent & Sons, London. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0 460 86048 8
↩1 ↩2 ↩3 ↩4
Lewis. P. & Lynch. M. Campanulas - A Gardener's Guide. B. T. Batsford. London. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-7134-8266-4
↩1 ↩2 ↩3 ↩4