The Bluebell Family Campanulaceae rings out a series of interesting and intriguing tunes. Typically their versatility ranges from insignificant ground covers spreading like blues mats within rockery displays to feature plantings of blue spikes framing spectacular spring herbaceous borders.
Besides these much loved varieties, there are many less conspicuous family members. These include the dainty native woodland Bluebells Wahlenbergia sp., the distinctive, much-prized exotic Lobelias eg Red Cardinal Flower, Lobelia cardinalis, the native Lobelias, eg The Poison Lobelia L. pratioides 'Angled Lobelia' L. alata, as well as the unusual bulbous Balloon Flower Platycodon grandiflorous. Interestingly the family name Campanulaceae is derived from the Latin word for bell as seen in the word for bell-ringing campanologist.
Of the Campanula species, the popular 'Canterbury Bells' C. media are prized for their showy spikes of cup and saucer shaped flowers. Their name 'Canterbury Bells' honours St. Thomas a Becket, since the flowers were similar to the horse bells used to cart the pilgrims on their long sojourns to worship at his shrine. Some Campanula species have swollen edible roots, while others such as C. rapunculus are grown for blanching as a celery substitute or boiling for their asparagus-like shoots.
The delicate bell-flowers of the native Wahlenbergia species are commonly seen in summer as bold blue splashes within our grassy woodland. They flourish in the inter-tussock spaces amongst the native grasses and sedges providing tiny nectar pools for a variety of moths, butterflies, bees and ground feeding birds. They include the graceful 'Annual Bluebell' W. gracilenta, the blue flowering 'Sprawling Bluebell' W. gracilis and the larger, funnel-shaped flowers from the 'Naked Bluebell' and 'Tall Bluebell', W.gymnoclada and W. stricta.
All these species thrive in the protective care of a back yard native grass landscape, rewarding the grower with long periods of a rather rare range of blue hues. By late summer they die back to an undergrown rootstock, happily reappearing during winter. An unexpected bonus is that their tasty petals add interest to any garden salad. They are easy to grow. Simply collect the seeds and store them in the refrigerator for 3 months prior to sowing.
The Lobelia genus is a fascinating family member represented by both native and exotic favourites. The distinctive and much-prised exotic Lobelia cardinalis and L. syphilitica were named the 'Red and Blue Cardinal Flowers'. Their stocking-like flower shapes were seen as closely resembling the stockings worn by the Cardinal during the reign of Charles 1st. Their flowers typically form bold red or blue spikes ideal for herbaceous borders. Their roots have a cultural importance for the American Indians being sort after as a powerful tonic. Amongst the Lobelias, the spectrum of blue shades and tolerant easy care nature makes L. erinus still one of the biggest selling bedding plants on the market. Its ability to enhance hanging baskets by forming long blue beards cascading over the sides has continued to enhance its popularity.
Our native Lobelias also have a variety of attractive flowering forms, ideal for rockeries and moister parts of the native garden. Examples include the pale blue fan-shaped flowering Angled Lobelia, the deep blue tubular flowering Tall Lobelia, L. gibbosa and the tufted, white throated, dark blue to light purple-blue flowering Tufted Lobelia L .rhombifolia. These Lobelias contain an alkaloid 'Lobeline' traditionally used by herbalists as a relaxant. Given that it may detrimentally interfere with the nervous system, care is recommended. Recently, scientifically controlled doses administered by surgeons, are providing a favoured means to dilate patient's air ways during operations.
Unknown to most gardeners are a few delicate creeping herbs that a worthy of introducing into moister sections of your native garden. The Tassie natives, Swamp Isotone Isotone fluviatilis, Matted and Poison Pratia P. pedunculata and P. irrigua thrive naturally in swampy conditions or on the fringes of your water ponds presenting trailing mats of soft blue star-like tubular flowers. Their quick to root, long spreading runners enable them to act as soil binding erosion controllers or grass alternatives in low traffic areas.
In conclusion, don't put off too long in applying practically, this newly discovered knowledge about the 2000 member Bluebell family. Select a gem or three from the range of species mentioned and ring a few new notes of interest into your home landscape.
Article contributed by Phil Watson
