Campanula punctata 

'Spotted Bellflower'

[Ex. Džagdy 1050 m., Russia]

Campanulaceae: an herbaceous perennial to 1m. Found on grassy slopes in lowland and low mountains all over Japan, waste places such as roadsides and stony slopes. The flowers are tubular and drooping bell-shaped. The colours range from white to pale pink. There are red spots inside of the flower along with hairs. The basal leaves are long, ovate and heart-shaped. Leaves on flowering stems are rosettes, short and ovate. They are alternate and toothed. It has hair on its full body, including flowers, stems, and leaves. Native to Korea, and is also distributed in Japan and Eastern Siberia.

USES:

The flowers and leaves are used as potherbs. The leaves are slightly hairy but they have a very pleasant taste raw, with a pleasant sweetness. They have been enjoyed by almost everyone we have given them to try and make a very acceptable salad. The flowers make a decorative and tasty addition to the salad bowl.

GROWING INFORMATION:

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.

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. Plants are hardy in most parts of Britain but are best grown in pots in a cold greenhouse. Another report says that it is very well suited to the ornamental garden. This species has proved to be difficult of cultivation in many gardens, though it spreads freely in others. The species in this genus do not often hybridize and so seed can generally be relied upon to come true, and are self-fertile.

HARVESTED: 2023*

 
APPROX. 200+ SEEDS