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Campanula garganica - Ten.

Adriatic Bellflower

Author	Ten.	Botanical references	200
Family	Campanulaceae	Genus	Campanula
Synonyms
Known Hazards	None known
Range	S. Europe - Italy.
Habitat	Not known
Edibility Rating	3 (1-5)	Medicinal Rating	0 (1-5)

Physical Characteristics

An evergreen Perennial growing to 0.15m by 0.2m.

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 and can grow in very alkaline soil. It cannot grow in the shade. It requires moist soil.

Habitats

Woodland Garden; Dappled Shade; Cultivated Beds; East Wall In; South Wall In; West Wall In;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Flowers; Leaves.

Leaves - raw or cooked. The leaves are quite small but have a pleasant mild flavour, and make a very acceptable addition to salads[K]. Flowers - raw or cooked. Slightly sweet[K].

Medicinal Uses

None known

Other Uses

None known

Cultivation details

An easily grown plant[221], it succeeds in most fertile well-drained soils[233], though it prefers a moist but well-drained sandy loam and a neutral or alkaline soil in sun or partial shade[1, 200]. Flowers most freely when growing in full sun with a good supply of chalk or lime in the soil[221]. Plants grow well in a wall so long as there is some soil for them to root into[219]. Plants are hardy to at least -15°c[200]. The species in this genus do not often hybridize and so seed can generally be relied upon to come true[221]. The plants are self-fertile[221]. Plants are often short-lived, though they are easily propagated by seed or basal cuttings[219, 221]. They also usually self-sow freely[221]. This species is closely related to C. elatines[200]. There are some named varieties selected for their ornamental value[200]. 'Dickson's Gold' has golden-green leaves with a pleasant mild flavour[K]. Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer[233].

Propagation

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

'Dickson's Gold'

This form has golden-green leaves with a pleasant mild flavour[K]. It is slower-growing than the species but is generally very robust and long lived if grown in its preferred habitat of a scree[271].

Links

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.

[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 - their cultivation and classification. Country Life 1951
The most comprehensive treatment of the genus yet written (2002).

[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.

[271] Lewis. P. & Lynch. M. Campanulas - A Gardener's Guide. B. T. Batsford. London. 1998 ISBN 0-7134-8266-4
Very readable account of almost 150 members of the genus, together with their hybrids and cultivars, that are more commonly grown in gardens. Excellent photographs of many of the species.

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