Adenophora remotiflora

Adenophora remotiflora is a herbaceous perennial in the Campanulaceae family. Its common names include Incheon ladybells and scattered ladybells. It comes from the southern Russian Far East, northern China and Japan. It grows in temperate regions and is not native to Britain. Wild habitats include meadows, mountain woods and deciduous forests. Records place it from lowlands to 5,906 feet [1,800 metres].

This plant forms clumps and loses its leaves in winter. Garden plants reach 1.6–3.3 feet [0.5–1 metre] tall. Their spread is about 0.3–1.6 feet [0.1–0.5 metres]. They take two to five years to reach full size. The leaves at the base are oval or heart-shaped. Upright stems carry narrow, lance-shaped leaves with coarse teeth. Pale purple flowers hang from loose clusters with wide gaps. These appear in late summer and early autumn.

Grow it in sun or partial shade. It needs humus-rich soil that stays moist but drains well. It accepts sand, loam, clay and chalk. Acid, neutral and alkaline soils all suit it. The RHS rates its hardiness as H5 for British conditions. Plants For A Future lists USDA zones 5–9. Avoid disturbing the roots, as the plant dislikes this. It needs no routine pruning. Grow new plants from seed or basal softwood cuttings. Take those cuttings in late spring.

Its late flowers suit beds, borders and informal cottage gardens. Suggested settings also include prairie plantings, wildlife gardens and slopes. It can grow along the sunny edge of a woodland garden. The RHS also lists it for gravel gardens. In that setting, its need for moist soil still applies. Slugs, snails and vine weevil may cause problems. The RHS reports few disease problems. Plants For A Future does not flag it as weedy.

Plants For A Future lists the roots as edible raw or cooked. It also names leaves among the edible parts. A report mentions cooked buds, but their identity is unclear. They may be flower buds or leaf buds. The same source records traditional medicinal use of the root. These uses include soothing tissues and helping clear mucus. It also records use for bites and poisoning. Such reports do not establish that these treatments work. The source lists no known hazards, but this is not proof of safety.