Campanula fragilis ?

[Pauli]

I grow this plant from Gerd Stopp, who is usually a very reliable source. It has hirsute leaves and big , flat flowers. Now I was around the Gulf of Sorrento, where a similar plant, but with glabrous leaves is common (2 pictures). In Ravello, above Amalfi I saw a plant which is close to the type sold by Mr. Stopp. It was very rare while the other glabourous type was common(mixture of both types- 3 rd photo). Up there they were not yet in flower. I do not think, that this two plants are the same species - has anybody an idea?

[Maggi Young]

Graham Nicholls, who has written a book on Campanulas, says C. fragilis is very hairy.

He has written : "Campanula fragilis comes from central and southern Italy where it grows on coastal limestone rocks in partial shade. It makes a woody rootstock from which it sends up tufts of deep green, ovate, very hairy, crenate leaves. The numerous branched, prostrate stems to 45 cm are quite brittle and care must be taken when handling the plant as they are easily broken. The campanulate flowers are mid blue, 3-4 cm in diameter and have a darker ring at the base. The lobes are well spread and the style is very prominent extending well beyond the lobes."

Your first photo  with the green leaves and flower with the style  seeming to be inside, or level with the lobes, does look different, doesn't it?


Bob Mitchel has an article on C. fragilis here   http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/~gdk/stabg_new/poms/2011/dec11pom.htm 

[Pauli]

I think, there are two species or varieties involved - but I have no guess which.

[David Nicholson]

There is a picture of Campanula fragilis by Rudi Weiss on Reply 14 of the Campanula 2014 Thread

[Maggi Young]

There is indeed David -  http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=11986.msg308608#msg308608
Rudi's photo

[Lesley Cox]

A really lovely species. It used to be freely (?) available in NZ, maybe 30 years ago, touted as a plant for hanging baskets but I haven't seen it around for at least 20. It always seemed to be very short-lived with me, perhaps just one or maybe 2 flowerings. Worth it though.

[ruweiss]

Herbert, I grow 3 different forms of this of this fine species in the Alpine House,
because they didn't survive my attempts to cultivate them in the open garden.
Under glass they are quite rewarding, vigorus and free flowering.
The most vigorous is the form from the Abruzzi Mts.,collected far away from the sea.
The form from Mte. San Angelo grows in rock crevices near the sea in Southern Italy.
The hairless form is from the same nursery like yours, sorry, I have no information
about the origin.

[Pauli]

Thanks Rudi for your explanation.  In the net I found only descriptions of villous fragilis. I must have a closer look if there is  a bald variety described!

[Corrado & Rina]

I grow this plant from Gerd Stopp, who is usually a very reliable source. It has hirsute leaves and big , flat flowers. Now I was around the Gulf of Sorrento, where a similar plant, but with glabrous leaves is common (2 pictures). In Ravello, above Amalfi I saw a plant which is close to the type sold by Mr. Stopp. It was very rare while the other glabourous type was common(mixture of both types- 3 rd photo). Up there they were not yet in flower. I do not think, that this two plants are the same species - has anybody an idea?

Apart from the type species there are also two subspecies. I don't know whether it could help but here are a few onsite pictures from local botanical websites where the plant grows:

http://www.posidonia-cilento.it/foto/1-fiori/detail/1-campanula-fragilis.html
http://www.grupponaturalisticodalsasso.it/schede/specie/dettaglio/43

Regards

Corrado

[JohnnyD]

Two plants from Gerd Stopp - one as a cutting from an existing plant - showing the great difference in habit which can occur.
Both plants appear ready to have many blooms quite soon.
JohnnyD