Sha Shen, Ladybells
Adenophora stricta
Family: Campanulaceae
What it is like
Bloom Color: Purple. Main Bloom Time: Early fall. Form: Irregular or sprawling.
Adenophora stricta is a PERENNIAL growing to 1 m (3ft 3in) by 0.3 m (1ft). See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 7. It is in flower in September, and the seeds ripen in October. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Insects. Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist soil.
Height (m): 1
Where it is found
Hillsides and hilly places in China.
E. Asia - China. Cultivated and naturalised in Japan.
Conservation Status:
Countries/locations it is found in
How it is used
Food
Rating: 2
Root - cooked. When boiled in two changes of water, it is said to be excellent eating. Leaves - cooked.
Root: includes bulbs, corms, tubers, rhizomes etc.
Medicine
Rating: 1
The root is a stimulant herb that acts mainly on the respiratory system and the heart. It is antitussive and expectorant and is used internally to treat dry coughs, chronic bronchitis and tuberculosis.
Antitussive: Prevents or relieves coughing.
Expectorant: Clears phlegm from the chest by inducing coughing.
Other
Rating:
How it is grown
Landscape Uses:Border, Massing. Prefers a light rich slightly alkaline soil that is not too dry, and a warm sunny position. Plants are intolerant of root disturbance, though they are fast-growing and can become invasive when well-sited. The young growth is extremely attractive to slugs, they have been known to destroy even mature plants. Special Features: Attractive foliage, Attractive flowers or blooms.
Propagating it: Seed - best sown in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe. The seed can also be sown in spring. Surface sow 2 - 3 seeds per pot in the spring in order to avoid transplanting. We have found that if transplanted when very small seedlings grow away without difficulty. Germinates in 1 - 3 months at 10°c. Plant out into their permanent positions whilst young. Basal cuttings in spring. Division in spring - very difficult because the plant dislikes root disturbance.
Best place to grow: Woodland Garden Sunny Edge; Cultivated Beds;
Habit: Perennial
Hardiness: 7-9
Growth:
Soil: Light (sandy), medium
Shade: No shade
Moisture: Moist