Codonopsis lanceolata Seeds | Bonnet Bellflower
LATIN NAME: Codonopsis lanceolata
COMMON NAME: Bonnet Bellflower, Lance Asiabell
Plant Profile
Bonnet Bellflower (Codonopsis lanceolata) is a perennial in the bellflower family, native to shaded woodlands of eastern Asia. In good conditions it grows to around Two metres. Its open flowers are a reliable stop for bees and other pollinating visitors. Taken as a whole, it is a plant that repays a little attention many times over.
Science & Biotechnology
Seed science, comparative botany and horticultural selection all touch on Codonopsis lanceolata, a representative of the bellflower family with clear practical value. Bonnet bellflower has a real and distinguished place in the research. In practice, its long garden history means the grower inherits a plant of known and dependable habits.
Uses & Benefits
Beyond its ornamental appeal, Bonnet Bellflower has the practical versatility that makes a plant worth growing from seed year after year. Ecologically, bonnet bellflower is a generous plant of the garden. Its many small, bell-shaped, nodding flowers feed bees and many insects, and its fine, twining, leafy stems give a fine, green cover to trellis and shaded fence. For a grower, bonnet bellflower is an easy and rewarding vine, and for a gardener of shaded places it brings a bell-flowered, twining, leafy vine to the garden. Once settled, it thrives on neglect more than on fussing.
Codonopsis root, Dang Shen, is the gentle everyday ginseng substitute of Chinese medicine, used in soups and formulas to support energy and digestion; its polysaccharides and lobetyolin are studied for immune and hematopoietic effects.
Growing from Seed
Seed is the natural starting point for Bonnet Bellflower, and the process is uncomplicated. Sow the seeds evenly over the surface and cover lightly in a loose, well-drained seed compost, keep the sowing evenly moist, and give the pot or tray bright light. Transplant the sturdiest seedlings to their permanent spots and let them develop without disturbance.
Our Take
Bonnet Bellflower, Lance Asiabell has real presence in the garden without demanding much in return. Its wants are few — a sunny spot, soil that drains, and time to settle in.
Related Reading
If Bonnet Bellflower appeals to you, these related plants are worth a look: