Campanula edulis
Forssk.
Campanulaceae
Campanula esculenta A.Rich.
Campanula quartiniana A.Rich.
Campanula rigidipila Steud. & Hochst. ex A.Rich.
Campanula sarmentosa Hochst. ex A.Rich.
Campanula schimperi Vatke
Common Name:
General Information
Campanula edulis is a perennial plant with stems that can become woody at the base and often persist.
Known Hazards
None known
Botanical References
221- Title
- Campanulas - their cultivation and classification.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Crook. H. Clifford.
- Publisher
- Country Life
- Year
- 1951
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- The most comprehensive treatment of the genus yet written (2002).
Range
Northern and eastern Africa - Chad to Eritrea, Somalia and the Arabian Peninsula, south to Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania
Habitat
Cracks in rocks in mountainous areas.
Properties
| Edibility Rating |  |
| Habit | Perennial |
| Height | 0.15 m |
| Pollinators | Bees, Flies, Beetles, Lepidoptera, Self |
| Self-fertile | Yes |
| Cultivation Status | Wild |
Cultivation Details
We have very little information on this species and do not know if it will be hardy in Britain. There is some doubt as to the validity of this name, the plant is closely related to C. dulcis and to the annual C. strigosa[
221- Title
- Campanulas - their cultivation and classification.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Crook. H. Clifford.
- Publisher
- Country Life
- Year
- 1951
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- The most comprehensive treatment of the genus yet written (2002).
]. The following notes are based on the general needs of the genus.
Succeeds in most well-drained fertile soils[
233- Title
- Perennial Garden Plants
- Publication
-
- Author
- Thomas. G. S.
- Publisher
- J. M. Dent & Sons, London.
- Year
- 1990
- ISBN
- 0 460 86048 8
- Description
- A concise guide to a wide range of perennials. Lots of cultivation guides, very little on plant uses.
], but prefers a moist but well-drained rich sandy loam and a neutral or alkaline soil in sun or partial shade[
1- Title
- RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956
- Publication
-
- Author
- F. Chittendon.
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press
- Year
- 1951
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaced in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [200]).
,
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].
The species in this genus do not often hybridize and so seed can generally be relied upon to come true[
221- Title
- Campanulas - their cultivation and classification.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Crook. H. Clifford.
- Publisher
- Country Life
- Year
- 1951
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- The most comprehensive treatment of the genus yet written (2002).
]. The plants are self-fertile[
221- Title
- Campanulas - their cultivation and classification.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Crook. H. Clifford.
- Publisher
- Country Life
- Year
- 1951
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- The most comprehensive treatment of the genus yet written (2002).
].
Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer[
233- Title
- Perennial Garden Plants
- Publication
-
- Author
- Thomas. G. S.
- Publisher
- J. M. Dent & Sons, London.
- Year
- 1990
- ISBN
- 0 460 86048 8
- Description
- A concise guide to a wide range of perennials. Lots of cultivation guides, very little on plant uses.
].
Edible Uses
Root - thick and sapid[
2- Title
- Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Hedrick. U. P.
- Publisher
- Dover Publications
- Year
- 1972
- ISBN
- 0-486-20459-6
- Description
- Lots of entries, quite a lot of information in most entries and references.
,
105- Title
- Tanaka's Cyclopedia of Edible Plants of the World.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Tanaka. T. & Nakao S.
- Publisher
- Keigaku Publishing; Tokyo
- Year
- 1976
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- The most comprehensive list of edible plants I've come across. Only the briefest entry for each species, though, and some of the entries are more than a little dubious. Not for the casual reader.
,
177- Title
- Plants for Human Consumption.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Kunkel. G.
- Publisher
- Koeltz Scientific Books
- Year
- 1984
- ISBN
- 3874292169
- Description
- An excellent book for the dedicated. A comprehensive listing of Latin names with a brief list of edible parts.
]. It is eaten by children[
2- Title
- Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Hedrick. U. P.
- Publisher
- Dover Publications
- Year
- 1972
- ISBN
- 0-486-20459-6
- Description
- Lots of entries, quite a lot of information in most entries and references.
].
Medicinal
None known
Other Uses
None known
Propagation
Seed - surface sow spring in a cold frame. The seed usually germinates in 2 - 4 weeks at 18°c. 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- Title
- Campanulas - their cultivation and classification.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Crook. H. Clifford.
- Publisher
- Country Life
- Year
- 1951
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- The most comprehensive treatment of the genus yet written (2002).
], 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.
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Useful Temperate Plants Database 2016 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
