Campanula rapunculus
| Campanula rapunculus | |
| Light: |   |
| Moisture: |  |
| Hardiness: | 4 |
| Soil pH: | 6.6-8.4 |
| Self Pollinated | |
| Life Cycle: | Biennial |
| Height: | 3' |
| Width: | 1' |
| Blooms: | Mid Summer-Late Summer |
| Meadows | |
| Native to: | |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
 | |
Campanula rapunculus (common name: rampion)
Propagation: Seed - surface sow May/June in situ. The seed usually germinates in 2 - 4 weeks at 18°c[1].
Cultivation: An easily cultivated plant, it prefers a moist but well-drained rich sandy loam and a neutral or alkaline soil in sun or partial shade[2][3][4], though it succeeds in most good soils[3]. Tolerates a pH in the range 4.8 to 7.5.
Plants are hardy to at least -15°c[4].
Plants often self-sow in the garden[5].
The species in this genus do not often hybridize and so seed can generally be relied upon to come true[6]. The plants are self-fertile[6].
Rampion was formerly often cultivated for its edible root, though it has fallen into virtual disuse[3]. When grown for its edible root, the plant should not be allowed to flower[3].
Plants can be grown in a meadow[4].
Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer[7].
Range: Europe - Mediterranean. Introduced in Britain[8].
Habitat: Hedgerows, woodland edges, fields etc[9], usually on gravelly soils in Britain[8].
Edibility: Root - raw or cooked[10][11][12][13][14][15]. A very nice sweet flavour[16], reminiscent of walnuts[10]. They are best mixed with other root vegetables and used in winter salads[10][9].
Leaves - raw or cooked as a potherb[10][11][9][16][12][13][14][15]. A fairly bland flavour, with a hint of sweetness, they are quite acceptable raw in salads[K]. The leaves are rich in vitamin C, they make an acceptable winter salad[3].
Young shoots in spring can be blanched and cooked like asparagus[15].
Pollinators: Bees, flies, beetles, lepidoptera, self
Habit: Biennial
Soil: Can grow in light and medium soils.
Drainage: Prefers well drained soil.
Seed Ripens: Late Summer-Early Fall
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Links
References
- ↑ Bird, R. Growing from Seed Volume 3. Thompson and Morgan, 1989.
- ↑ Chittendon, Fred. RHS Dictionary of Plants. Oxford University Press, 1951.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Grieve, Margaret. A Modern Herbal. Penguin, 1984.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ Lewis, Margaret. Campanulas - A Gardener's Guide. B T Batsford, 1998.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Crook, H. Campanulas: Their Cultivation and Classification. Country Life, 1951.
- ↑ Thomas, Graham. Perennial Garden Plants. J. M. Dent & Sons, 1990.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Clapham, Arthur and Tom Tootin, Edmund Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press, 1962.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Launert, Edmund. Edible and Medicinal Plants. Hamlyn, 1981.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 Hedrick, Ulysses. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications, 1972.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Mabey, Richard. Food for Free. Collins, 1974.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 Organ, John. Rare Vegetables for Garden and Table. Faber, 1960.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 Thompson, Robert. The Gardener's Assistant. Blackie and Son, 1878.
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 Polunin, Oleg. Flowers of Europe. Oxford University Press, 1969.
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 Facciola, Stephen. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, 1990.
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 Vilmorin-Andrieux. The Vegetable Garden. Ten Speed Press.