Campanula rapunculus
Rapunzel bellflower
Common names: Rapunzel, Little Rapunzel
At a glance
- Light
- Partial shade
- Spacing
- 15 cm, rows 25 cm
- Lifespan
- Biennial
- Sowing
- May–Jul
- Harvest
- Mar, Apr, Oct, Nov
- Hardiness
- Hardy down to −15 °C
- Water need
- Medium
- Origin
- Native to Germany
Photo: Hectonichus · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
This description was machine-translated.
Description
Campanula rapunculus, known as the rapunzel bellflower, is an ancient root and leafy vegetable that has largely fallen out of favor. It is a biennial: in its first year it forms a rosette of leaves around a spindle‑shaped, white root; in its second year it produces tall flower spikes bearing pale violet bell‑shaped blooms. The root tastes nutty and slightly sweet, while the young leaves are mild and can be eaten raw in salads. Historically common in peasant gardens, it was displaced by radishes and turnips. Today it is a charming rediscovery for small gardens and home gardens, offering high ornamental value during the flowering season.
Care instructions
The rapunzel bellflower prefers loose, humus‑rich soil in a semi‑shaded to sunny spot. Keep the soil evenly moist during the seedling stage; thereafter it is remarkably tolerant of drought and requires little watering. In the first year, allow the rosette to form early so the roots can strengthen. Regularly remove weeds to ensure the rosette receives adequate light. Apply a light mulch layer over the winter to protect the roots from frost, allowing harvest into early spring.
The care notes were machine-translated from German.
Garden year
SowingMay–Jul
HarvestMar–Apr, Oct–Nov
Germination
- Soil temperature
- from 8 °C, ideally 15 °C
- Days to sprout
- 14 to 28 days
- Light
- Needs light to sprout
- Sowing depth
- Press in, don't cover
- How to start
- Sow straight into the bed
Soil & site
Soil pH
Soil type
well-drained, lime-loving, humus-rich, lean
The rampion bellflower likes loose, well-drained soil with a touch of lime, as it finds it on dry verges and meadows. It is better to leave out soils that are too rich and heavy, otherwise the foliage becomes soft and the roots taste less piquant. A lean to medium bed with good drainage is the best choice.
Feeding
Light feeder
The rampion bellflower needs practically no feeding. A little well-rotted compost when preparing the bed in late summer is entirely sufficient. More nutrients only promote lush leaf growth at the expense of flavour.
Overwintering
In the first year the plant forms a leaf rosette that gets through the winter well outdoors. A thin mulch layer of leaves gives the rosettes extra protection in hard frost. In the second year it bolts and flowers before it dies.
Propagation
Methods
- From seed
Sow directly outdoors from June to August, preferably broadcast onto a fine, crumbly bed. The seeds are tiny and are only pressed down lightly, because they need light to germinate. After emergence, thin to a spacing of about 15 cm. The leaf rosette is harvested in autumn and winter of the first year, before the plant goes to flower in the following year.
For your garden
Grow Rapunzel bellflower yourself
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