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Campanula carpatica

Common name:	Tussock Bellflower	Family:	Campanulaceae
Author:	Jacq.	Botanical references:	200
Synonyms:
Known Hazards:	None known
Range:	S. E. Europe - Carpathian Mountains.
Habitat:	Not known
Edibility Rating (1-5):	3	Medicinal Rating (1-5):	0

Other Possible Synonyms:	From various places across the web, may not be correct. See below.
	C. turbinata[G]
Other Common Names:	From various places around the Web, may not be correct. See below.
	Carpatic Bluebell [MS], Tussock Bellflower [P,H,B],
Systematics:	From a USDA Plants Database
	Order: Campanulales. Bellflower family

Physical Characteristics

Perennial growing to 0.3m by 0.3m . It is hardy to zone 3 and is not frost tender. It is in flower from July to August. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Bees, flies, beetles and Lepidoptera (Moths & Butterflies). The plant is self-fertile. We rate it 3/5 for edibility and 0/5 for medicinal use.

The plant prefers light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils, requires well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. The plant prefers acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It requires moist soil.

Habitats and Possible Locations

Woodland, Dappled Shade, In Walls, In South Wall, In East Wall, In West Wall, Ground Cover.

Edible Uses

Flowers; Leaves.

Leaves - raw or cooked. A pleasant flavour, they are slightly sweet but a little bit chewy when eaten raw[K].
Flowers - raw or cooked. Slightly sweet, they make a pleasant and decorative addition to salads[K].

Medicinal Uses

Disclaimer

None known

Other Uses

Ground cover.

Plants make a good ground cover when planted about 30cm apart each way, forming a spreading clump[208].

Cultivation details

Prefers a moist but well-drained rich sandy loam and a neutral or alkaline soil in a sunny position though it also tolerates partial shade[1, 200, 208]. A very easy species to grow, it will tolerate almost any soil or situation though it prefers the fullest amount of sun[221]. Plants grow well on a sunny wall so long as the roots have soil to grow into[219].
Plants are hardy to at least -15°c[200].
A very free-flowering plant, indeed it has one of the longest flowering periods of any species in this genus[271]. If the plant is cut back as the flowers fade, it will usually produce a second flush of flowers later in the season[271].
The species in this genus do not often hybridize and so seed can generally be relied upon to come true[221]. This species, however, especially under garden conditions, is more likely to produce hybrids than most other members of the genus[271]. The plants are self-fertile[221].
A very variable species in the wild[271]. There are many named varieties selected for their ornamental value[200]. 'Chewton Joy' has pleasantly flavoured leaves[K].
Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer[233].

Propagation

Seed - surface sow spring in a cold frame. Seed usually germinates in 2 - 4 weeks at 18°c. Very easy from seed[221]. 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[221], 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.

Cultivars

'White Clips': A very reliable white-flowering cultivar growing about 25cm tall. It comes nearly true from seed[271].
'Blue Clips': A very reliable blue-flowering cultivar growing about 15 - 20cm tall. It comes nearly true from seed[271].
'Chewton Joy': Smaller than the species, growing about 20cm tall, it also flowers a bit later than the species[271]. This form has pleasantly flavoured leaves[K].

Suppliers

For more details of plant suppliers please see our Suppliers Page which lists many more places to look.

Web References

[H] Details of Scandanavian and European Common names in Henriette's names database
[V] Images from the Vascular Plant Image Gallery of the Texas A&M Bioinformatics Working Group.
[B] Data (Latin & Common names, other references) from the BONAP's Synonymized Checklist of the Vascular Flora of the United States, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.
[G] Data (Common Names, Uses, Distribution) from the USDA/ARS NPGS's GRIN taxonomic database.
[P] Data. (uses, distribution, wetland) from the USDA'a Plants database.
[HP] Links, Photos, Suppliers from Hortiplex Plant Database

See the PFAF Links Pages for other sources.

Also try Photos and info from the The Plants Database which has 14,000 images.

References

[K] Ken Fern
Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.

[1] F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951
Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaces in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [200]).

[200] Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.

[208] Thomas. G. S. Plants for Ground Cover J. M. Dent & Sons 1990 ISBN 0-460-12609-1
An excellent detailled book on the subject, very comprehensive.

[219] Grey-Wilson. C. & Matthews. V. Gardening on Walls Collins 1983 ISBN 0-00-219220-0
A nice little book about plants for growing against walls and a small section on plants that can grow in walls.

[221] Crook. H. Clifford. Campanulas Country Life 1951
A comprehensive treatment of the genus.

[233] Thomas. G. S. Perennial Garden Plants J. M. Dent & Sons, London. 1990 ISBN 0 460 86048 8
A concise guide to a wide range of perennials. Lots of cultivation guides, very little on plant uses.

Readers Comments

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Plant information taken from the Plants For A Future - Species Database. Copyright (c) 1997-2003.
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