Codonopsis clematidea
30 seeds per packet.
A deciduous species in the Campanulaceae family, native to China, with large, pale blue, bell-shaped flowers with beautiful, intricate markings inside the flower. Plants are more scrambling in nature than climbing and will support themselves and interweave through other plants. Flowering June to July. Height 1 metre. Rich, moist, well-drained soil in sun to semi-shade.
GROWING INSTRUCTIONS:
Sow upon receipt (best in autumn). Cover seed thinly, press in gently and keep top of compost from drying out. Keep pot outdoors or in cold frame over winter. Seeds germinate in spring.
Alternatively, if seeds can’t be sown in autumn use the following method: mix seeds with damp vermiculite and place inside a ziplock bag, keep bag somewhere warm for 3 weeks, then place in fridge (not freezer) for 8 weeks. Next spread mixture on top of a pot, thinly cover with compost or grit and keep warm at 15 to 20°C until germination, then move to somewhere cooler.
Carefully prick out seedlings when they have developed true leaves and are large enough to transplant to individual pots for growing on.