 |
|
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Campanula_rapunculoides_Sturm60.jpg |
 |
| http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Konrad_Lackerbeck |
Translate this page:
Summary
Rampion is a European and Asian perennial now naturalized across northern North America, including upper parts of the Southwest. Unlike other Campanula species, its fleshy roots were historically cultivated as a vegetable and its leaves and flowers are palatable raw or cooked. Despite its edibility, it is considered a noxious, invasive weed due to aggressive rhizomes and persistent reproduction.
Physical Characteristics

Campanula rapunculoides is a PERENNIAL growing to 1.1 m (3ft 7in) by 1 m (3ft 3in) at a fast rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 3. It is in flower from July to September, and the seeds ripen from August to October. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Bees, flies, beetles, Lepidoptera (Moths & Butterflies). The plant is self-fertile.
Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.
UK Hardiness Map
US Hardiness Map
Synonyms
Plant Habitats
Woodland Garden Sunny Edge; Dappled Shade;
Edible Uses
Edible Parts: Leaves Root Shoots
Edible Uses:
Leaves are excellent, tasting like a mild combination of lettuce and nettles, with a deep vegetal flavour. Surface hairs create a raspy texture but do not irritate. Flowers are mild and sweet. Roots, once deliberately grown in Europe, are crisp, juicy, mild, and excellent cooked or raw, similar to white radish or a mild turnip. Edibility rating is high for roots and moderate for foliage [2-3]. Leaves and young shoots - raw or cooked[85, 177]. Rich in vitamin C. A pleasant mild flavour[K]. Root - raw or cooked[2, 105, 177]. A nut-like flavour, very palatable[85]. The young roots are best[85]. Somewhat sweet, they are a pleasant addition to the salad bowl[183]. Taste, Processing & Kitchen Notes: Leaves work well in soups, salads, and sautés. Cooking does little to reduce hairiness but enhances sweetness. Roots can be roasted, boiled, or eaten fresh. Flowers make visually appealing and mild-tasting garnishes. Seasonality (Phenology): Flowers appear from June through October. Leaves are available from spring until frost. Roots can be harvested year-round. Safety & Cautions (Food Use): Safe to eat. No toxicity concerns beyond normal caution with raw leaves if digestive sensitivity is present. Harvest & Processing Workflow: Roots are dug in fall or early spring. Leaves are clipped young; older leaves toughen slightly. Flowers can be collected fresh. Look-Alikes & Confusion Risks: Easily confused with ornamental Campanulas; however, the one-sided raceme and invasive rhizomes help confirm identity. Traditional / Indigenous Use Summary: Historically cultivated as a root vegetable in Europe; limited Indigenous use in North America due to its late arrival.
References More on Edible Uses
Medicinal Uses
Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Vitamin C
The plant has been used as a cure for hydrophobia in Russia[271].
References More on Medicinal Uses
The Bookshop: Edible Plant Books
Our Latest books on Perennial Plants For Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens in paperback or digital formats.
Edible Tropical Plants
Food Forest Plants for Hotter Conditions: 250+ Plants For Tropical Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.
More
Edible Temperate Plants
Plants for Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.
More
More Books
PFAF have eight books available in paperback and digital formats. Browse the shop for more information.
Shop Now
Other Uses
Ecology & Wildlife: Pollinated primarily by bees, including bumblebees and solitary species, which readily enter the bell-shaped flowers. Some pollination also occurs from long-tongued flies.
Special Uses
References More on Other Uses
Cultivation details
An easily grown plant succeeding in almost any soil[221], though it prefers a moist but well-drained rich sandy loam and a neutral or alkaline soil in sun or partial shade[1, 200]. It is slower growing and less spreading when grown in heavier soils[271]. Plants are hardy to at least -15°c[200]. The species in this genus do not often hybridize and so seed can generally be relied upon to come true[221]. The plants are self-fertile[221]. A beautiful plant, it was at one time cultivated as a culinary plant but has fallen into disuse[4]. The plant produces a mass of thick white roots which can spread at an alarming rate, especially in light soils. It can often fill an entire bed with its tenaceous roots, killing off less vigorous plants[271]. It is best grown in the wild garden where it can be allowed to romp without harm[221, 271]. Plants can also succeed when growing in thin grass[233]. Plants produce seed freely and often self-sow[221]. Slugs are very attracted to this plant, we have had great problems growing it on our Cornish trial grounds because the slugs eat out all the new shoots in spring and can kill even well-established specimens[K]. Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer[233]. Rampion prefers temperate climates with mild to cool summers. It thrives in loams, clays, or disturbed soils, tolerates drought moderately, and prefers USDA Zones 3–8. It can be invasive in gardens. Habitat & Range: Now widespread across northern United States and southern Canada, extending into Colorado and Utah. Occurs in disturbed habitats, roadside margins, gardens, and fields. Size & Landscape Performance: Plants grow 30–110 cm tall and spread rapidly. As an ornamental, it is problematic due to invasiveness. Cultivation (Horticulture): Easy to grow but difficult to eradicate. Once valued as a vegetable (roots), though rarely grown intentionally in modern times.
References Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information
Temperature Converter
Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:
Fahrenheit:
The PFAF Bookshop
Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees,Edible Shrubs, Woodland Gardening, and Temperate Food Forest Plants. Our new book is Food Forest Plants For Hotter Conditions (Tropical and Sub-Tropical).
Shop Now
Plant Propagation
Seed - surface sow spring in a cold frame. The seed usually germinates in 2 - 4 weeks at 18°c[138]. Easy[221]. 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. Basal cuttings in spring[200]. 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[200]. Very easy, any part of the root will produce a new plant[221].
Other Names
If available other names are mentioned here
Creeping bellflower, rampion bellflower,
Denmark: Ensidig klokke.
Finland: vuohenkello.
Norway: Ugrasklokke.
Sweden: Kn'lklocka. Repusica.
Native Range
TEMPERATE ASIA: Iran (north), Turkey (n. Anatolia), Russian Federation-Ciscaucasia (Ciscaucasia), Azerbaijan, Georgia, Russian Federation-Western Siberia (Western Siberia), Russian Federation-Eastern Siberia (Eastern Siberia), Kazakhstan (north) EUROPE: Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Austria, Belgium, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, Russian Federation (European part), Belarus, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Moldova, Ukraine (incl. Krym), Albania, Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Greece, Croatia, Italy (north), North Macedonia, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, France
Weed Potential
Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section.
Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it's worth checking.
Extremely high. This is a serious invasive in many temperate regions. Introduced to North America, where it has become an extremely invasive weed.
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status : This taxon has not yet been assessed.
| Related Plants
|
| Latin Name | Common Name | Habit | Height | Hardiness | Growth | Soil | Shade | Moisture | Edible | Medicinal | Other |
| Adenophora denticulata | | Perennial | 0.5 |
6-9
| | LM | N | M | 2 | 0 | |
| Adenophora divaricata | | Perennial | 1.0 |
-
| | LM | N | M | 2 | 0 | |
| Adenophora lamarkii | | Perennial | 0.6 |
5-9
| | LM | N | M | 2 | 0 | |
| Adenophora latifolia | | Perennial | 0.5 |
-
| | LM | N | M | 2 | 0 | |
| Adenophora liliifolia | Ladybells, Lilyleaf | Perennial | 0.5 |
3-8
| M | LM | N | M | 2 | 0 | |
| Adenophora nikoensis | | Perennial | 0.3 |
5-9
| | LM | N | M | 2 | 0 | |
| Adenophora remotiflora | | Perennial | 1.0 |
5-9
| | LM | N | M | 2 | 1 | |
| Adenophora stricta | Sha Shen, Ladybells | Perennial | 1.0 |
7-9
| | LM | N | M | 2 | 1 | |
| Adenophora triphylla | Nan Sha Shen | Perennial | 1.0 |
6-9
| | LM | N | M | 2 | 1 | |
| Adenophora verticillata | | Perennial | 1.0 |
6-9
| | LM | SN | M | 2 | 2 | |
| Agapanthus campanulatus | | Bulb | 0.6 |
6-9
| | LM | SN | M | 0 | 1 | |
| Asyneuma pulchellum | | Perennial | 0.0 |
-
| | LMH | SN | M | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Asyneuma salignum | | Perennial | 0.0 |
-
| | LMH | SN | M | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Azorina vidalii | | Shrub | 0.3 |
8-11
| | LM | N | DM | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Campanula alliariifolia | Cornish Bellflower | Perennial | 0.7 |
3-7
| M | LM | SN | M | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Campanula carpatica | Tussock Bellflower, Carpathian Bellflower, Carpathian Harebell | Perennial | 0.3 |
3-8
| S | LM | SN | M | 3 | 0 | 2 |
| Campanula carpatica turbinata | | Perennial | 0.3 |
3-7
| | LM | N | M | 3 | 0 | 2 |
| Campanula cochleariifolia | Fairies Thimbles | Perennial | 0.2 |
5-9
| | LM | N | M | 4 | 0 | |
| Campanula edulis | | Perennial | 0.2 |
-
| | LM | SN | M | 2 | 0 | |
| Campanula fenestrellata | Adriatic Bellflower | Perennial | 0.2 |
5-9
| M | LM | SN | M | 4 | 0 | |
| Campanula garganica | Adriatic Bellflower | Perennial | 0.2 |
4-8
| | LM | N | M | 3 | 0 | |
| Campanula glomerata | Clustered Bellflower, Dane's blood, Clustered Bellflower | Perennial | 1.0 |
4-9
| M | LM | SN | M | 4 | 0 | |
| Campanula lactiflora | Milky Bellflower | Perennial | 1.0 |
4-8
| | LM | SN | M | 3 | 0 | |
| Campanula lasiocarpa | Mountain harebell | Perennial | 0.2 |
4-8
| | L | N | M | 2 | 0 | |
| Campanula latifolia | Large Campanula, Giant bellflower | Perennial | 1.5 |
3-7
| | LM | FS | DM | 3 | 1 | |
| Campanula latiloba | | Perennial | 0.9 |
3-7
| M | LM | SN | M | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Campanula medium | Canterbury Bells, Cup and Saucer, Canterbury Bells | Biennial | 1.2 |
6-8
| M | LM | SN | M | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| Campanula parryi | Parry's Bellflower, Idaho bellflower | Perennial | 0.3 |
3-7
| F | LM | SN | M | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| Campanula persicifolia | Harebell, Peachleaf bellflower | Perennial | 1.0 |
3-7
| | LM | SN | M | 4 | 0 | |
| Campanula portenschlagiana | Adria Bellflower | Perennial | 0.3 |
3-7
| F | LM | SN | M | 3 | 0 | 3 |
|
|
Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.
Now available:
Food Forest Plants for Mediterranean Conditions
350+ Perennial Plants For Mediterranean and Drier Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens.
[Paperback and eBook]
This is the third in Plants For A Future's series of plant guides for food forests tailored to
specific climate zones. Following volumes on temperate and tropical ecosystems, this book focuses
on species suited to Mediterranean conditions—regions with hot, dry summers and cool, wet winters,
often facing the added challenge of climate change.
Read More
Expert comment
Author
L.
Botanical References
17200
Links / References
For a list of references used on this page please go here
Readers comment
| Add a comment |
|
If you have important information about this plant that may help other users please add a comment or link below. Only comments or links that are felt to be directly relevant to a plant will be included. If you think a comment/link or information contained on this page is inaccurate or misleading we would welcome your feedback at [email protected]. If you have questions about a plant please use the Forum on this website as we do not have the resources to answer questions ourselves.
* Please note: the comments by website users are not necessarily those held by PFAF and may give misleading or inaccurate information.
To leave a comment please Register or login here All comments need to be approved so will not appear immediately.
|
Subject : Campanula rapunculoides
|
|
|
|