Campanula rapunculoides 

'Creeping Bellflower'

Campanulaceae: a spreading perennial herbaceous plant to 120cm. Found in grassy places, dry hills, meadows, in deciduous and pine forests, woods, fields and roadsides, along railway lines and hedgerows. The inflorescence consists of nodding spike-like racemes with numerous drooping flowers. The flowers are bright blue-violet (rarely white), 2-4 cm long. Blooming from July-September. The basal leaves are triangular, narrow, with a heart-shaped or rounded base, jagged edges and are up to 12cm. Native to Europe and western Siberia and it has been introduced to North America.

USES:

The leaves and young shoots can be eaten raw or cooked. They are rich in vitamin C, and have pleasant mild flavour. The root can also be used raw or cooked, these have a nut-like flavour, very palatable. The young roots are best, they are somewhat sweet, they are a pleasant addition to the salad bowl.

The plant has been used as a cure for hydrophobia in Russia.

GROWING INFORMATION:

Surface sow seeds in 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.

An easily grown plant succeeding in almost any soil, though it prefers a moist but well-drained rich sandy loam and a neutral or alkaline soil in sun or partial shade. 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.

NOTE: This plant can become invasive.

HARVESTED: 2023*

 
APPROX. 200+ SEEDS