Harebell (Campanula persicifolia)

Taxonomy and growth

Family: Campanulaceae
Genus: Campanula
Life cycle: perennial
Foliage: evergreen
Height: 1 m
Spread: 0.45 m
Fertility: self fertile
Flower type: hermaphrodite
Pollinators: Bees, Flies, Beetles, Lepidoptera, Self

Uses

Edible uses

Leaves - raw or cooked^[8]^[2]. Rich in vitamin C^[13]. A mild flavour, it is nice in salads and is liked by most people who try it[K]. The plant forms over-wintering basal rosettes of leaves and thus provides a source of fresh leaves throughout the winter[K]. The main problem with these leaves is that they are very narrow and it takes quite a lot of picking in order to obtain a reasonable quantity[K]. Root - raw^[13]. Flowers - raw. A pleasant sweetness, and a very ornamental addition to mixed salads[K].

Plant part: Flowers

Plant part: Leaves

Plant part: Root

Environment

Range: Europe to western and northern Asia. Locally naturalized in Britain.
Habitat: Commons and open woods^[4]^[6].
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

Seed - surface sow spring in a cold frame. The seed usually germinates in 2 - 4 weeks at 18°c^[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^[9]. Very easy^[10], 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

Easily grown in ordinary garden soil^[7]. Prefers a moist but well-drained rich sandy loam and a neutral or alkaline soil in sun or partial shade^[1]^[9]. Succeeds in light woodland^[9]. Plants are hardy to at least -15°c^[9]. The species in this genus do not often hybridize and so seed can generally be relied upon to come true^[10]. The plants are self-fertile^[10]. A very ornamental plant, there are many named varieties^[7]. It was at one time grown as a culinary vegetable, but is now only grown as an ornamental plant^[12]. The sub-species C. persicifolia crystalocalyx has larger leaves than the species and so is more suitable as a food crop[K]. A very long-lived and easily grown plant^[7], it is best divided every other year^[3]. Slugs are very fond of this plant and can cause severe damage even to large plants[K]. Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer^[11]. This plant is a potential winter salad plant, it retains a basal rosette of leaves all winter[K].

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
↩1 ↩2
Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00
↩
Sanders. T. W. Popular Hardy Perennials. Collingridge 1926-00-00
↩
Triska. Dr. Hamlyn Encyclopaedia of Plants. Hamlyn 1975-00-00 ISBN 0-600-33545-3
↩
Bird. R. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 3. Thompson and Morgan. 1989-00-00
↩
Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press 1962-00-00
↩
Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Perennials Volumes 1 and 2. Pan Books 1991-00-00 ISBN 0-330-30936-9
↩1 ↩2 ↩3
Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6
↩
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
Thomas. G. S. Perennial Garden Plants J. M. Dent & Sons, London. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0 460 86048 8
↩
Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9
↩
Komarov. V. L. Flora of the USSR. Israel Program for Scientific Translation 1968-00-00
↩1 ↩2