Great Oriental Bell flower

Great Oriental Bell-flower (Ostrowskya) - O. magnifica is a remarkable and handsome hardy plant found by Dr Regel on the higher mountains of Chanat Darwas, in E. Bokhara, and is like a huge Platycodon in aspect, but distinct, the flowers being of great beauty, 4 to 6 inches across, of a delicate purple, veined, and varying from seed; the leaves are in whorls. The plants like a deep sandy loam, as the carrot-like roots when of full size go down to a depth of 2 feet. They must be carefully handled, as they are very brittle. The Ostrowskya does not apparently thrive equally in all places, and is often disappointing. Seeds germinate readily in a cold frame, but a few years elapse between sowing and flowering. Unique among perennials, it is worthy of any care to make it a success. Plant year-old seedlings where disturbance is unnecessary.