Practical
Plants

Campanula latifolia

Large Campanula

a perennial member of the Campanula genus in the family Campanulaceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Height
1.5 m
Spread
0.3 m
Fertility
Self fertile, Bees, Flies, Beetles, Lepidoptera, Self
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Bees, Flies, Beetles, Lepidoptera, Self

Uses

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Young shoots - raw or cooked[13][5]. Contains up to 400mg% of vitamin C[4]. Root - raw[15]. This report is rather vague and needs further investigation. Flowers - raw or cooked. A pleasant sweetness[K].

Plant part
Flowers
Plant part
Leaves
Plant part
Root

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The flowers are emetic[14].

Product or use
Emetic

Environment

Range
Much of Europe, including Britain, north to Norway east to Siberia and W. Asia.
Habitat
Woodlands, lush meadows and hedgerows, frequently on slightly acid soils[1][13][12][11].
Light
partial sun
Shade tolerance
permanent shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 3+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, heavy clay
Soil pH
neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - surface sow in spring in a cold frame. Three or four weeks pre-chilling of the seed improves the germination rate[3]. The seed usually germinates in 2 - 4 weeks at 18°c[3]. 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. The seed can also be sown outdoors in situ during the spring. Basal cuttings in spring[1]. 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[2]. 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

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

A very robust plant, capable of succeeding in the wild garden and tolerating considerable neglect[11]. It succeeds in most fertile well-drained soils[10], though it prefers a moist but well-drained rich sandy loam and a neutral or alkaline soil in sun or partial shade[1][7]. Prefers a humus-rich soil in shade or partial shade[11]. Grows well in cool moist woodlands with light shade where it can spread freely[1]. Plants occasionally grow in old walls[8] and also succeed in the dry shade of trees[10]. Plants are hardy to at least -15°c[7]. The species in this genus do not often hybridize and so seed can generally be relied upon to come true[9]. The plants are self-fertile[9]. Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer or rabbits[10]. A very ornamental plant, there are some named varieties[6]. The species can be quite invasive, though most of the cultivars that have been selected for flower colour are less rampant[11].

References

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

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  2. Sanders. T. W. Popular Hardy Perennials. Collingridge 1926-00-00

    ↩

  3. Bird. R. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 3. Thompson and Morgan. 1989-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  4. Kariyone. T. Atlas of Medicinal Plants.

    ↩

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

    ↩

  6. Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Perennials Volumes 1 and 2. Pan Books 1991-00-00 ISBN 0-330-30936-9

    ↩

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

    ↩1↩2

  8. Grey-Wilson. C. & Matthews. V. Gardening on Walls Collins 1983-00-00 ISBN 0-00-219220-0

    ↩

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

    ↩1↩2

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

    ↩1↩2↩3

  11. 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

  12. Brown. Shade Plants for Garden and Woodland.

    ↩

  13. Mabey. R. Food for Free. Collins 1974-00-00 ISBN 0-00-219060-5

    ↩1↩2

  14. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

    ↩

  15. Komarov. V. L. Flora of the USSR. Israel Program for Scientific Translation 1968-00-00

    ↩

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