As far as we aware this was found in just one location in 1989 but has never been found elsewhere since. It is distinctive as the pale corolla is completely covered in fine white hairs, a feature not found in any other Codonopsis. It’s location was approximately 3 miles SW of Braga in the Marsyandi Valley, on the slopes of Annapurna, at an altitude of approximately 3800m. Special thanks to Chris Sanders for these very rare photos.

Images: © Chris Sanders

One of the most distinctive Codonopsis in flower this little beauty grows at high altitude in S.W.Sichuan and N.Yunnan. We have several promising pots of seedlings, which we believe to be correct, but, in the meantime, we bring you these lovely images from the previous collection holder

Images: © Paul Kneebone

Known by many as Codonopsis dicentrifolia this has now been placed in it’s own species following the Chinese revision in 2015. This seems to have been in and out of cultivation and we’re really hoping someone out there is still growing this. It occupies quite a wide area in the Himalaya including S.Tibet, Sikkim and Nepal and often inhabits vertical rocks, hanging downwards as it grows. One well known plant hunter once told us that the first time you notice it is when you walk straight into it and get a smack in the face!

Images: © Paul Kneebone

Flowering here in a Midlands garden, C.meleagris is very closely related to C.subscaposa and just as striking. In China the latter grows in Sichuan and Yunnan but  C.meleagris is only found in N.W. Yunnan on grassy slopes or open woods. The patterning on the outside of the petals seems to be much finer than its cousin’s and the tall stem (20-90cms) is never branched.

Images: © Paul Kneebone

This is Codonopsis bicolor, taken by Chris Sanders in Sikkim, showing the rocky terrain that it favours. Some authorities have lumped it in with C.viridiflora but there are many others who don’t agree so, for now, we’ll leave it alone.

Images: © Chris Sanders

A true alpine plant, often growing at 4000 metres above sea level, that can be found in Tibet, Nepal and Sikkim, where this photograph was taken. There is a close relative, C.thalictrifolia ssp. mollis that is only found in S.E. Tibet. This latter species has larger flowers with a slightly different shape.

Image: © Chris Sanders

Codonopsis subsimplex is a species with a large range being found in Bhutan,Tibet, Nepal and Northern India. Chris Sanders has photographed this on his trip to Sikkim. Although occasionally offered by nurseries we have never found it to be correct and the fact that it has no stand out features probably accounts for the confusion. It is quite a small plant and erect to about 70cm.

Image: © Chris Sanders

Small differences separate the two subspecies of Codonopsis foetens but the distribution range of ssp foetens is Bhutan, N.India, S.E.Tibet and N.Myanmar. It grows at between 3650 and 4880 metres altitude in meadows, thickets and alpine debris. Once again, I am indebted to Chris Sanders for the photos.

Images: © Chris Sanders

Growing on grassy slopes at an altitude of 3000 to 4000 metres in N. W. Sichuan and East Tibet this seemingly delicate alpine plant thrives in very harsh conditions. Here it is growing in a Suffolk garden! This is one of the very few white flowered Codonopsis. The leaves are covered in white hairs making it very distinctive.

Image: © Jane Leeds

As explained in C.foetens ssp foetens the two subspecies are very similar but with different internal markings. Unlike C.foetens ssp foetens, which is Himalayan, C.foetens ssp nervosa is Chinese with the two only overlapping in S.E. Tibet. Here it is shown growing in Jiajin Pass, Sichuan at 4200 metres in 2018. We retain high hopes of getting this little beauty established at rather lower levels here in Lincolnshire one day!

Images: © Pavel Křivka