Campanula latifolia
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Campanula latifolia, the giant bellflower,[1] is a species of bellflower in the family Campanulaceae. It is also known as the large campanula and the wide-leaved bellflower. It is native to Europe and western Asia and is widely grown as an ornamental plant.
Description
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Campanula latifolia is a clump-forming perennial herbaceous plant growing to a height of Template:Convert. The stem is unbranched, erect, and shortly pubescent, basal leaves are stalked, broadly ovate with a heart-shaped (cordate) base, while the upper leaves are ovate-lanceolate, stalkless, softly hairy with bluntly toothed margins. The inflorescence is a many-flowered terminal raceme or in the axils of upper leaves and has subtending bracts. The flowers are hermaphrodite, bell-shaped, initially erect but later nodding, and Template:Convert long. The calyx is fused with five narrow lobes, eventually spreading. The corolla is pubescent with five dark violet-blue fused petals. There are five stamens and a pistil formed from three fused carpels. The fruit is a hairy, nodding capsule. The flowering period is from July to September.[2]
Distribution and habitat
Campanula latifolia is native to Europe and western Asia as far east as Kashmir.[3] Its natural habitat is broad-leaved woodland, coppices, parkland and forest margins. Some occurrences are as a result of escape from cultivation.[2]
Cultivation
Grows easily even in partial to full shade. Hardy in zone 5. Seeds freely to become naturalised and can spread by rhizomes.[3] Wait until the seed heads are dark brown and then open them and spread the seed around. Withstands drought quite well.
Gallery
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Young plant
