Common Name: Large Campanula

General Information

Campanula latifolia is an erect, clump-forming herbaceous perennial plant growing from a fibrous rootstock. The stems are unbranched, around 100 150cm tall[, ].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and a medicine. It is grown as an ornamental in gardens.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

Eurasia - Norway to Britain and Spain, east to western Siberia, Kazakhstan, Iran, Pakistan and Nepal

Habitat

Woodlands, lush meadows and hedgerows, frequently on slightly acid soils[, , , ]. Mixed deciduous -coniferous forests, riparian woodland and tall, herbaceous alpine vegetation[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	1.00 m
Pollinators	Bees, Flies, Beetles, Lepidoptera, Self
Self-fertile	Yes
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Campanula latifolia is a very cold-hardy plant, tolerating winter temperatures down to at least -20°c[].
A very robust plant, capable of succeeding in the wild garden and tolerating considerable neglect[]. It succeeds in most fertile well-drained soils[], though it prefers a moist but well-drained rich sandy loam and a neutral or alkaline soil in sun or partial shade[, ]. Prefers a humus-rich soil in shade or partial shade[]. Grows well in cool moist woodlands with light shade where it can spread freely[]. Plants occasionally grow in old walls[] and also succeed in the dry shade of trees[].
The species in this genus do not often hybridize and so seed can generally be relied upon to come true[]. The plants are self-fertile[].
Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer or rabbits[].
A very ornamental plant, though somewhat coarse in habit[]. There are some named varieties[].
The species can be quite invasive under optimum growing conditions, spreading freely and agressively by both rhizomes and self-seeding[, ]. Though most of the cultivars that have been selected for flower colour are less rampant[].

Edible Uses

Young shoots - raw or cooked[, ]. Contains up to 400mg% of vitamin C[].

Root - raw[]. This report is rather vague and needs further investigation, especially since the description of the plant is that it has fibrous roots.

Flowers - raw or cooked. A pleasant sweetness[].

Medicinal

The flowers are sometimes used to induce vomiting[].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - surface sow in spring in a cold frame. Three or four weeks pre-chilling of the seed improves the germination rate[]. 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.
The seed can also be sown outdoors in situ during the spring.
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, 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.