Campanula latiloba
a perennial evergreen member of the Campanula genus in the family Campanulaceae.
Taxonomy and growth
- Family
- Campanulaceae
- Genus
- Campanula
- Life cycle
- perennial
- Foliage
- evergreen
- Growth rate
- moderate
- Height
- 0.9 m
- Spread
- 0.5 m
- Fertility
- self fertile
- Flower type
- hermaphrodite
- Pollinators
- Bees, Flies, Beetles, Lepidoptera, Self
Uses
Edible uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Leaves - raw or cooked[K]. Pleasantly sweet, though individual leaves are quite small. The leaves are available all year round. Flowers - a pleasant taste and texture with a slight sweetness[K].
- Plant part
- Flowers
- Plant part
- Leaves
Material uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Plants can be grown for ground cover when planted about 45cm apart each way, they form spreading clumps[4].
Ecology and functions
- Ecosystem niche
- Soil surface
Environment
- Range
- Europe - Siberia.
- Habitat
- Not known
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- light shade
- Water
- moderate
- Hardiness
- Zone 3+
- Soil textures
- sandy, loamy
- 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 spring in a cold frame. The seed usually germinates in 2 - 4 weeks at 18°c[2]. Easy[5]. 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[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[3]. Very easy[5], 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.
An easily grown plant that succeeds in almost any soil[5], it prefers a moist but well-drained rich sandy loam and a neutral or alkaline soil in full sun though it also tolerates partial shade[1][3][4]. Plants can be grown in quite coarse grass, which can be cut annually in the autumn[6]. Plants are hardy to at least -15°c[3]. If the plants are cut back by half after the first flush of flowering, they will usually produce a second flush[7]. The species in this genus do not often hybridize and so seed can generally be relied upon to come true[5]. The plants are self-fertile[5]. Plants often self-sow in British gardens[5]. There are some named forms selected for their ornamental value[4]. This species is very closely related to C. persicifolia, differing from that species in having stalkless flowers and stiff rather thick angular stems[7]. The main difference from a gardener's viewpoint is that this species is coarser and more robust with stems that rarely blow over[7]. Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer[6].
References
F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00
Bird. R. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 3. Thompson and Morgan. 1989-00-00
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Thomas. G. S. Plants for Ground Cover J. M. Dent & Sons 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-460-12609-1
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
Lewis. P. & Lynch. M. Campanulas - A Gardener's Guide. B. T. Batsford. London. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-7134-8266-4