Practical
Plants

Campanula poscharskyana

Trailing Bellflower

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
evergreen
Growth rate
vigorous
Height
0.25 m
Spread
1 m
Fertility
self fertile
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Bees, Flies, Beetles, Lepidoptera, Self

Uses

Edible uses

Leaves - raw or cooked[K]. A pleasant sweet flavour but the leaves are a little tough[K]. It makes a very addition to mixed salads in the winter, though we tend not to eat it much at other times of the year when there are more leaves available[K]. Flowers - raw. Produced in abundance, they have a pleasant sweet flavour and make a decorative addition to the salad bowl[K].

Plant part
Flowers
Plant part
Leaves

Material uses

A rampantly spreading plant, suitable for ground cover in a sunny position[3][5][7].

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche
Soil surface

Ground cover

Environment

Range
Europe - N. Yugoslavia. Naturalized in Britain.
Habitat
Naturalized on walls and rocky banks in central and southern England.
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[2]. 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[6]. Very easy, the plant can be divided at almost any time of the year[8].

Cultivation

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][6][7]. We have seen plants doing very well on a north-west-facing wall[K]. Plants are very drought-tolerant and can be grown on a dry stone wall[6], they also succeed in poor soils[8]. Plants are hardy to at least -15°c[6]. A rampant spreading plant[4], it makes an excellent ground cover but can become a nuisance if it isn't sited with care[6]. The species in this genus do not often hybridize and so seed can generally be relied upon to come true[8]. The plants are self-fertile[8]. This species does not produce seed very freely in Britain, but it is very easily propagated by division[8]. There are several named forms selected for their ornamental value[6]. The form 'E.K.Toogood' is less invasive[5]. Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer[9].

References

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

    ↩1↩2

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

    ↩

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

    ↩

  4. Brickell. C. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-86318-386-7

    ↩

  5. Royal Horticultural Society. Ground Cover Plants. Cassells. 1989-00-00 ISBN 0-304-31089-1

    ↩1↩2

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

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6

  7. Thomas. G. S. Plants for Ground Cover J. M. Dent & Sons 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-460-12609-1

    ↩1↩2

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

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

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

    ↩

Edit this page