Practical
Plants

Campanula lasiocarpa

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Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Height
0.18 m
Fertility
self fertile
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Bees, Flies, Beetles, Lepidoptera, Self

Uses

Edible uses

Stems[2]. No more details are given, but the flowers and leaves of this plant should also be edible[K].

Plant part
Stem

Environment

Range
E. Asia - China, Japan to Western N. America - Rocky Mountains.
Habitat
Gravelly and sandy slopes in C. and N. Japan[7]. Crevices in rocks and on rocky slopes in alpine areas at elevations of 1600 - 3100 metres on Honshu, 1000 - 2000 metres on Hokkaido[6].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 4+
Soil textures
sandy
Soil pH
acid, neutral, 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. 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. 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

Prefers a moist but well-drained rich sandy loam and a neutral or alkaline soil in sun or partial shade[1][3]. A rock garden plant, it is difficult to grow in the garden needing a very gritty soil and perfect drainage[1]. It grows freely amongst rocks or in a loose scree, but is very impatient of winter wet[4]. Plants are hardy to at least -15°c[3]. Slugs are very partial to this plant[4]. 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]. Plants produce seed freely in British gardens[4]. There is at least one named variety, selected for its ornamental value. 'Alba' has white flowers[3].

References

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

    ↩1↩2

  2. Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169

    ↩

  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↩6

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

    ↩

  6. Flora of Japan www.foj.info

    ↩

  7. Ohwi. G. Flora of Japan. (English translation) Smithsonian Institution 1965-00-00

    ↩

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