Codonopsis ovata

National Council for The Conservation of Plants and Gardens

National Collection of the Genus Codonopsis and Allied Genera

Codonopsis ovata

Standing at approximately 18" this is one of our favourites with distinct lantern shaped light blue flowers with darker blue veins inside and out turning to dark purple towards the base. The bud is long and purplish blue. On a mature specimen the flowers are numerous with as many as 50 on our oldest plant. One year the earliest flowers all opened as doubles and the later ones singles. We believe a late frost caused a type of fasciation that year. Whatever, it was very beautiful!

This is a plant of open hillsides and we are currently growing it in a stony scree garden, a sand garden and in richer soil in our woodland. The common factor here is sharp drainage in all three sites. We find it sulks if grown in a pot and much prefers its freedom flowering early to mid June.

The seed is dark brown and medium sized.

Pakistan to Kashmir