Codonopsis

Our collection of this Asian herbaceous perennial vining member of the Bellflower or Campanula family, this is very distinctive in having narrow and elegant tubular green flowers on a vine to 8'. This will die down each fall but pop back in the spring. This prefers bright shade to part shade and we found this growing in shrubbery in open forest.

Interesting genus in the Bellflower or Campanula family and we try to grow as many different ones as possible. Just how long can we last growing unprofitable plants is a question we ponder. This is one of the better ones for the garden making perennial carrot roots and annual vines to 4' with tubby cream flowers with purple corolla lips. Z5 at least.

One of the showiest in this genus of vining Bellflowers. Large purple-blue flowers with a dark ring - sometimes pure white - quickens our pulses in either expression. Recently reduced from species status, grey-wilsonii has been retained as a geographic race of the species convolvulacea based on larger leaves and flowers.

We haven't yet flowered this twining Campanula relative which we received as seed labeled Codonopisis - Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh form. RBGE is Mecca for plantspeople with one of the finest collections of plants in the world. This is a herbaceous vine to 6' with likely blue flowers. Zone 6 at least.

Ok, update as of this summer 2016. This has pale yellow-green flowers netted heavily with purple veins and variable leaves ranging from ovate to ovate-lanceolate with leaf margins all over the map running from serrate to crenulate, entire to lobed. Historically this has been regarded as Codonopsis rotundifolia var. angustifolia but Hong in his recent taxonomic revision of the genus now places this in the new species, C. bomiensis. Fits perfectly with his description and photos in the monograph and our thanks to Bob Armstrong for assisting us with identification. Native to China and Tibet, zone 6 for sure and very likely lower.

Rare Campanula relative from Bhutan, Nepal and Tibet. This has a perennial carrot-like root and in mid spring, the new growth emerges getting 12"-18" tall and tipped by pale blue bells with a darker blue base. We collect Codonopsis every time we see them in Asia because we love them. Musky foliage if bruised.

Codonopsis are curious things. These are herbaceous vining relatives of Campanula or Bellflowers and seem an unlikely expression of such. From an almost bulbous root arises several tendril shoots which love to twine into surrounding shrubs from which to display their 2" dusky lavender star shaped flowers. Usually the foliage carries a musky scent but true confessions, we can't remember if this species does writing this as we are in the middle of winter. An unlikely armature for such improbable and lovely flowers. Many species of Codonopsis are dug in the wild as their roots are eaten although we wouldn't encourage you to try it. There's carrots in the market after all. These are young plants but should flower this year.

Codonopsis are usually twining members of the Bellflower or Campanula family and the range of color and shapes in the flowers of the various species keeps our interest in this genus at a sharp edge. We are very keen on this one as it not only has intriguing flowers but a non-vining growth habit. This makes a low clump of leaves from which long, stiff flower stems emerge to 18" tall. The flowers are held several per stem and while not large, overcome this size deficiency with exceptional detail. The small ivory bells are heavily netted in vivid maroon veins inside and out. These stems are surely adapted to growing through grass or other low plants in Yunnan and Sichuan. Hardy to zone 6 and likely lower.