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Campanula carpatica

Carpathian Bellflower · Carpathian Harebell · Tussock Bellflower

Family CampanulaceaeGenus Campanula

A mound of upward-facing violet-blue cup flowers with white centers, spilling over weathered timber
FlowerJerzy OpiołaCC BY-SA 4.0

About the plant

What it is and where it grows — not part of any germination protocol.

The plant

Habit
Ground Cover, Herbaceous PerennialExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Habit
perennialPlants of the World Online
Height
0.3-1 ft10-30 cmExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Spread
0.3-1 ft10-30 cmExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Flower
Blue, Purple/Lavender, WhiteExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Blooms
Spring, SummerExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Native range
Czechia-Slovakia, Romania, UkraineGBIF Backbone Taxonomy
Hardiness zones
3-8Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Growing conditions

Sun
Dappled Sunlight; Full sun; Partial ShadeExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil
High Organic Matter, Loam (Silt), SandExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0), Alkaline (>8.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0)Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Moisture
Good Drainage, MoistExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Toxicity is noted only where a source states it. No note here is not a finding of safety.

Sources: Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — NC State Extension; Plants of the World Online — Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; GBIF Backbone Taxonomy — Global Biodiversity Information Facility.

Worth knowing

  • Nikolaus Joseph von Jacquin introduced the tussock bellflower to Kew in 1774. Cultivars in white, blue, pink and purple have since been bred, and it holds the RHS Award of Garden Merit. Wikipedia: Campanula carpatica

Two sources report three treatments between them. All are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1998

Difficulty Low Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around April 1, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on March 31, 2026.

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 365 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

about 12 months from start to sowing. Then 5 days to germinate.

100% germination in 5 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1998 · 2nd Supplement, Campanula p. 21Public domain
Show the original text
Campanula (Campanulaceae). C. carpatica alba seeds DS 1 y germ 70D(100% on 5th d) the same as fresh seeds
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement, 2nd Supplement, Campanula p. 21. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 2

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Low Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around October 1, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on September 30, 2026.

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 180 days

  2. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C

about 6 months from start to sowing. Then 7 days to germinate.

70% germination in 7 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Campanula p. 110Public domain
Show the original text
Campanula (Campanulaceae). Most species are D-70 germinators. There are some that are 40-70 germinators and photorequirers and C. carpathica germ. 70(70-85% largely on 7th d) and 40(25%)-70(3%) using seed DS 6 m at 70 or 40 whereas fresh seed germ. under 8% over several cycles whether sown at 70 or 40. This species is a D-70 germinator.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Campanula p. 110. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 3

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty High Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around September 17, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on September 16, 2026.

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 180 days

  2. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  3. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

    3 germinated in this phase.

Steps after step 2 run on after germination.

about 6 months from start to step 2. Germination happens during step 2; time not stated, 21 days assumed.

25% germination.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Campanula p. 110Public domain
Show the original text
Campanula (Campanulaceae). Most species are D-70 germinators. There are some that are 40-70 germinators and photorequirers and C. carpathica germ. 70(70-85% largely on 7th d) and 40(25%)-70(3%) using seed DS 6 m at 70 or 40 whereas fresh seed germ. under 8% over several cycles whether sown at 70 or 40. This species is a D-70 germinator.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Campanula p. 110. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

How each step is done, in Deno’s words, and what Verified and Derived mean.

Germination trials

Readers’ own records of sowing this species, published after review. Share your trial · All trials

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