National Council for The Conservation of Plants and Gardens
National Collection of the Genus Codonopsis and Allied Genera
Codonopsis lanceolata
A distinctive species in many ways, its only close relative being C.ussuriensis. The RHS still consider these two species as one but Chinese authorities believe them to be distinct and we are inclined to agree with them.On the short lateral shoots that bear the large cream/green bell shaped flowers are small clusters of three or four leaves. The inside of the bell is marked deep red in a variety of patterns, we've never seen two plants the same. It is a hardy twining climber reaching two or three metres. When the plant is young it needs plenty of moisture until the carrot shaped tuber becomes large enough to support itself through dry spells. Consequently we have lost several plants in our dry East Coast conditions here.
Seed is large and straw coloured with a "wing" attached.
Eastern Siberia, Japan, Korea and China
©Mike Ireland
©Simon Garbutt
©Simon Garbutt