Decorative bell flower. Campanula (campanula): types, care and cultivation

Campanula (from Latin Campanula) is a large genus of plants, which includes about 400 species. They all have bell flowers: modest but attractive. Campanulae are distributed throughout Europe, Russia, and are found even in North America. These plants adorn both shady forests and alpine slopes. Will there be a place for them in the garden?

Bluebells are exclusively herbaceous plants, wildlife Mostly perennials are common. But There are biennial and annual species. All of them are united by the special shape of flowers collected on a stem, for which they got their name (campana - bell). Petals can be colored in shades of blue, blue, purple; There are species with snow-white flowers.

Garden campanula has long stems that trail along the ground. Various plant varieties have been developed, including those with double flowers, interesting colors. They exude a pleasant and unobtrusive aroma with sweet notes, which intensifies in the evening.

How to grow bells (video)

Description of types and varieties of bellflower (garden campanula)

A large assortment of species allows you to beautifully decorate the site. Campanulas look good in communal flower beds because their delicately colored flowers blend well with the other inhabitants of the flower garden. Ampelous varieties will decorate flowerpots. You can choose a plant to your taste that will organically fit into the overall design concept of the area.

Bellflower peach

Perennial herbaceous plant, the shoots of which can reach a length of 80 cm. Blooms from early summer until August inclusive, pale blue or white bells. The leaves are shaped like peach, which is why the species got its name. Based on it, deduced decorative varieties, for example, “Bernise” with double inflorescences, which are erect panicles.

Bluebell Carpathian

This species is distinguished by low but well-branched stems. Therefore, the plant looks lush and compact. Flowering continues until September, decorating the flowerbed all summer long. The color of the bells depends on the variety: it can be snow-white, blue, or light purple.

The peach-leaved bellflower blooms from early summer until August inclusive.

Terry campanula

Terry species will definitely not go unnoticed on the site. Their lush bushes are strewn with voluminous bells, the edges of which seem to be decorated with carvings skilled craftsman. At the same time, flowers of different shades can fit on one bush, which adds originality to the plant. High decorative properties made possible thanks to breeding work: terry varieties campanula - hybrids.

The bell is brittle

He is also called the “groom”. The homeland of the brittle bell is distant Sicily. Long ampelous shoots are decorated with small leaves of rich green color in the shape of a heart and blue flowers.

The homeland of the brittle bell is distant Sicily

Campanula lactiflora

This tall plant with numerous stems (their number can reach 20), forming a lush bush. Bells can be either one-color or two-color. In addition to the size, there is one more thing important advantage: resistance to adverse conditions. It withstands summer droughts and severe frosts with dignity.

Campanula Portenschlagiana (C. portenschlagiana)

A dwarf perennial bell, the height of its shoots does not exceed 15 cm. But the width of the bushes is up to 35 cm, and they form delicate flowering “pillows”. Comes from the Balkan Peninsula.

Campanula milkiflora is resistant to adverse conditions

Campanula isophylla

The plant has the popular name “bride”. Blooms predominantly with white bells, although there are varieties with unusual sky and purple colors. Stems are thin, creeping. Like the "groom", the "bride" is often raised in room conditions, placing in hanging pots.

Campanula latifolia

In the wild, it is a field and forest plant; it is less common in the mountains. The height of its stems ranges from 70 to 90 cm. The species is listed in the Red Book because it is on the verge of extinction in the wild. It has modest but pretty flowers, colored blue with a purple tint.

The broadleaf bell is listed in the Red Book because it is on the verge of extinction in the wild.

Bell dotted

A distinctive feature of this species are the inflorescences of bells, lowered down, and decorated from the inside small dots on the petals. Blooms in the garden until September. The plant is quite unpretentious. Variety "Pantalunus" has double drooping flowers large sizes in the shape of a glass.

Other varieties of bluebell

There are other types of bells that can be planted on the site:

1. Long-columnar: height does not exceed 30 cm, so it is well suited for borders. Bluish flowers are collected in brushes.
2. Saxifraga: a low-growing plant with purple flowers. Height no more than 5 cm.
3. Pyramidal: a tall perennial with thick stems covered in inflorescences.
4. Poskharsky: ideal for alpine hills, because its bushes spread along the soil. Blooms from May to autumn.
5. Sarasto: has a medium height stem and large bell flowers purple looking down.
6. Sarmatian: a rare species native to the Caucasus. Loves the sun. Bells exude a pleasant honey smell.
7. Thyrsoid: a rather exotic-looking plant because it has a dense cone-inflorescence, the height of which can be up to 70 cm.

Gallery: Campanula, or bellflower (25 photos)

Varieties of bells (video)

Growing bells from seeds in the garden and at home

All types of bells, both perennial and annual, reproduce by seeds. This is a fairly simple method, and the process will not be difficult even for those who have recently started decorating their site. Garden campanulas are suitable for growing in boxes or hanging planters on verandas, balconies, in gazebos.

Bluebell seeds usually have good germination rates if they have been collected and stored correctly. They don't need any preliminary preparation before boarding. The main thing is that they are healthy: without signs of rot or other diseases or unpleasant odors.

The easiest way is to plant the seeds directly into the ground. This is usually done in May or October “before winter.” It is necessary to make grooves, taking into account the distance between the rows and based on the dimensions of the selected type of bell. In the spring, the seedlings can be thinned out and replanted as desired. But perennial varieties may not please you with their beautiful blooms this year.

The easiest way is to plant bell seeds directly into the ground.

If you want the campanulas to bloom in the coming summer, you will have to take care of the seedlings in March or April. The seeds are simply scattered evenly over the soil in a container. It is better to choose a lightweight substrate with good water permeability. For example, a mixture of turf, humus soil and sand in a ratio of 3:6:1 is suitable. The soil must be pre-moistened. Bell seeds are lightly pressed into the ground and sprayed with a spray bottle; and then the container is covered with polyethylene, creating a greenhouse effect. The ideal temperature is 20°C. Shoots will appear after 14 - 20 days.

After this, you can remove the film and place the container itself on a bright windowsill. But it is important to ensure that young plants are not exposed to bright sunlight. Caring for seedlings involves timely watering, if upper layer the earth becomes dry. When 2–4 full-fledged leaves develop, you should make a pick and plant the bells so that there is 8–10 cm between them. Each plant will have enough space to develop. When replanting, use a complex fertilizer diluted in a weak concentration.

If you want the campanulas to bloom in the coming summer, you will have to take care of the seedlings in March or April

Campanula equifolia: features of care in indoor conditions

Campanula is an incomparable “bride”. Two or three decades ago such a houseplant could be found in every home, but today its popularity has undeservedly declined. It’s a pity, because the “bride” successfully combines beauty and unpretentiousness.

Equal leaf campanula loves good lighting, but its delicate leaves and flowers do not tolerate scorching sun rays. Therefore, if the pot is on the south side, you will need to create artificial shading or place it near the window on a bedside table or a special stand. The north is also not suitable for growing, because the bluebells will not have enough sun, flowering will stop, and their stems will stretch out, becoming unattractive. Perfect option– east and west windows of the house. In the warm season, the “bride” can be taken out onto an open balcony or into the garden.

Campanula is an incomparable bride

Like all plants, Campanula equifolia needs sufficient quantity moisture. She needs moderate watering, more often in summer, less often in winter; but the earthen ball should never dry out completely. Excess water is also extremely undesirable, because it provokes root rot. Wherein experienced flower growers share information with each other that campanula tolerates watering well tap water without settling.

In the warm season, especially in the summer months, the flower is sprayed with a spray bottle. It is advisable that the drops do not fall on the bells themselves (unsightly stains may appear on them). Therefore, you should lift the pot and refresh the shoots “from the inside,” from the bottom. If the air in the room is very dry, then the pot can be placed in a tray filled with moistened moss or small pebbles.

Equal leaf campanula loves good light, but its delicate leaves and flowers do not tolerate scorching sun rays

Garden bell: technology for planting and care in open ground

Seedlings are planted at the border between spring and summer: in the last ten days of May or early June. You need to choose a place so that the seedlings receive required amount sun rays. Shade-loving species are distinguished by the dark green color of their leaf blades. Therefore, you need to choose an open place so that they are not blocked from the sun by bushes, trees, fences, or walls of the house.

The soil must be prepared in advance: dig up well, remove weeds and remnants of their roots, and apply fertilizer. If the soil is heavy, then humus and sand can be added to the flower garden. But it is not recommended to add manure and peat, because they can provoke infection of campanula by fungus.

When planting low bells, it is enough to maintain a distance of 10 to 15 cm between plants, for medium-sized ones - about 25 cm, and for species with long stems - at least 50 cm. When the plants are planted, all that remains is to trample the soil around them and thoroughly water them.

Shade-loving types of bells are distinguished by the dark green color of their leaf blades

In nature, there are plants that look like bells. But, according to botanical systematization, they belong to other families, and sometimes belong to different classes.

Thus, the Chilean bell, which is officially called Lapageria, belongs to the monocots. It is a vine strewn with large flowers. It grows in the wild only on the slopes of the Andes in Chile.

How to grow indoor bellflower (video)

Similar to bells:

1. Foxglove – herbaceous perennial, some types of which are used for decorative and medicinal purposes. Some of them are poisonous, so they are not planted where children walk.
2. Gentian is also usually decorated with blue bells, less often with snow-white or yellowish ones. It, like campanula, is planted in flower beds.
3. Gloxinia is an indoor plant with voluminous “gramophones” of various colors.
4. Petunia is a popular flower that decorates areas and balconies.
5. Morning glory is a bindweed with colorful bells.

Estimate

Bell (Campanula) is a herbaceous plant of the Campanaceae family, numbering 300 species, growing in countries with temperate climates. In cultivation there are annual, biennial and perennial plants. Among the wide variety of bells, there are both low-growing ones, only 10-15 cm, and tall ones, up to 2 meters in height. Plant height may vary depending on growing conditions, so it is not characteristic feature to determine the type.

The bell has erect, branched stems, which can be either pubescent or smooth, with alternate whole leaves. There are ampelous and groundcover types of bells with flexible lodging shoots. In perennial and varietal biennial bells grown from seeds, flowering occurs in the second year.

The flowers of the bell are very beautiful, bell-shaped or star-shaped, white, blue, purple, pink, collected in racemes or paniculate, dense or loose inflorescences. Bellflower flowers contain a large number of pollen and nectar that attracts bees. The aroma of bluebell flowers is delicate, reminiscent of the aroma of a fragrant meadow or a shady forest edge.

After flowering, a fruit is formed - a capsule, which has a special structure. At the bottom of the box there are holes covered with flaps. When it is cloudy, the valves are closed, but in dry weather they open, and the seeds spill out and are carried by the wind. The color of the seeds of different types of bells may vary: from milky white to dark red or brown.

The bell, in addition to the fact that its height changes depending on growing conditions, has one more feature: it can change the color of the corolla depending on air humidity. If the air humidity is high, the flowers become a little lighter, and this makes them seem more tender.

Light-loving bells, grow well in partial shade, some species even tolerate shade.

They are suitable for well-drained, non-acidic (or slightly acidic for some species), moderately moist, loose, nutritious soil. Bells can be planted in the ground and replanted in both spring and autumn. For garden growing Several of the most decorative types of bells are suitable.

Types of bells

Campanula ciliata (Campanula ciliate) is a herbaceous perennial with a taproot, thickened. The stems are slightly leafy, 7 - 15 cm high. There is one flower on the stem. The basal rosettes are formed by oblong, linear-lanceolate, serrated along the edges, leaves. The flower at the base of the calyx is slightly lighter, blue-violet; at the upper limbs of the corolla the color is more saturated, violet. As it fades, the flower becomes lighter in color until blue-blue color. Blooms in June-July.

The ciliated bell prefers slightly alkaline or neutral, fertile, well-drained soils. If you use deep planting, the bluebell tolerates drought better, and the flowering time increases slightly.

It produces seeds, but their germination rate is low. The ciliated bell belongs to the highly decorative types bells

Bellflower (Campanula cochleariifolia) is a low herbaceous perennial, up to 15 cm in height, with very thin, thread-like, creeping stems, forming a dense turf. The leaves are small, elongated at the stem, semi-oval at the end, three-toothed at the edges, very decorative throughout the growing season until late autumn. Blooms white, blue, blue flowers, flower size up to 1 cm in diameter. The flowers of the bellflower are drooping, collected in small inflorescences. Flowering period: June - July. There are varieties, including those with white flowers. It looks good on an alpine hill, grows quickly, forms a continuous turf, and looks impressive during the flowering period.

Portenschlag's bell (Campanula portenschlagiana) is a perennial herbaceous evergreen ground cover plant up to 15 cm tall. When growing, it forms cushion-shaped thickets up to 30 cm wide. The leaves are round, serrated along the edges, ivy-shaped, evergreen. Star-shaped flowers of bright purple or lilac color, collected in small inflorescences at the ends of creeping shoots. It blooms from mid-June for a month. There are varieties.

Portenschlag's bell grows well in both sun and shade. Prefers alkaline or neutral, nutritious, well-drained soil. Does not tolerate clay soils at all. If on site clay soil, you need to add sand and humus to make the soil moisture- and breathable.

Bell of Portenschlag reproduces by seeds and vegetatively, better in spring, pieces of shoots with roots. It overwinters without shelter, but does not tolerate stagnation of melt water and damps out, so for planting they use elevated places such as a rock garden or a retaining wall, or arrange good drainage.

Portenschlag's bell grows quickly and blooms profusely. It can be used not only on an alpine hill, but also in continuous plantings. In the rock garden it looks beautiful with phlox, carnation grass, fescue, geranium, sedum, and sedum.

Campanula garganica (Campanula garganica) is a perennial herbaceous plant, up to 15 cm tall, with fragile, creeping shoots, rising tops. Forms a low compact bush. The leaves are medium-sized, round, jagged along the edges, on petioles. The flowers are blue, fully open with outstretched petals, resembling stars, up to 4 cm in diameter. Flowering period is July. It blooms very profusely, during flowering the leaves are not even visible. There are varieties with pale blue, light lavender flowers.

Gargan bell is a very whimsical plant for the garden. Prefers only non-acidic, well-drained, nutritious soils, usually loams, and does not tolerate stagnation of thawed and Wastewater, does not grow in shade.

Propagated by pieces of rooted shoots in spring or late summer; if necessary, cuttings are grown in a greenhouse.

It is best to grow the Gargan bell in the summer in an alpine hill, borders, and flowerpots. For the winter, the bell can be transplanted into a pot and kept as a houseplant in winter.

Pozharsky's bell (Campanula poscharskyana) is a herbaceous perennial that can be used as a ground cover plant, as it forms cushion-shaped spreading thickets up to 20 cm high. The basal leaves of Pozharsky's bell are quite large, rounded, with jagged edges. During the growing season it forms long, up to 80 cm, creeping shoots. Star-shaped flowers up to 2.5 cm in diameter, blue, lavender, lilac, dark blue, collected in loose inflorescences up to 10-20 cm in diameter, located at the ends of the shoots.

Flowering period: July-August for 30-40 days. There are varieties.

Pozharsky's bell is very hardy, unpretentious and ornamental plant. Grows well in well-drained neutral and alkaline soils, prefers lacy partial shade.

It overwinters without additional shelter, as it can withstand frosts down to -40 o C. It is very easily propagated vegetatively, by cuttings of stems with roots in the spring and by seeds. Looks good on an alpine hill next to carnation, carnation, saxifrage, and subulate phlox. Pozharsky's bell can be used for carpet plantings.

Campanula rotundifolia (Campanula rotundifolia) is a widespread herbaceous perennial. The height of the plant varies from 10 to 60 centimeters. The rhizome is thin, creeping, branched. The bell received its name because its basal leaves have round shape. The stem leaves, like those of many bellflower species, are lanceolate. May have several stems.

In the round-leaved bell, the basal leaves dry out earlier, and the stem leaves, fresh and green, are perfectly preserved until autumn.

The flowers are small, blue, collected in paniculate inflorescences at the ends of the stems. There are garden varieties: velvety, garden, arctic.

Campanula equifolia (Campanula isophylla Moretti) - perennial herbaceous hanging plant with small, up to 30 cm, flexible, drooping stems. The leaves of Campanula equifolia are round, sometimes pubescent, light green or olive. The flowers are bell-shaped, up to 4 cm in diameter, white and blue. Much less often you can find a form with purple flowers. IN indoor floriculture Campanula equifolia is widely known by the names: groom - with blue flowers, and bride - with white flowers.

In the garden, the bellflower blooms all summer and during flowering it is completely covered with flowers. Very handsome! To prevent flowering from weakening, you need to remove faded flowers in time and pinch shoots for better branching. It can be grown in hanging baskets, on retaining walls, or in rock gardens.

Campanula equifolia is light-loving; in the shade the shoots grow, flowering becomes less intense. Loves moisture. It tolerates summer temperature changes well, but it does not overwinter in open ground in our climatic conditions with cold winters, so in the fall it needs to be transplanted into a pot and kept as a houseplant in winter.

Bluebell Carpathian (Campanula carpatica) is a perennial herbaceous plant with branched stems 30-50 cm high. The basal heart-shaped leaves on long petioles are collected in a rosette. The flowers are large, blue and white, bell-shaped, up to 3 centimeters in diameter.

Flowering is long-lasting, from June to September. Carpathian bellflower reproduces well by seeds, dividing the bush and root suckers.

Grows very well on open places and in partial shade, prefers fertile soils with the addition of peat and humus, and is frost-resistant. It can grow in one place for up to 5 years.

Carpathian bellflower is suitable for creating carpet plantings instead of lawn grasses, it can be planted in the border, it looks great on an alpine hill.

There are varieties. A very common variety of Carpathian bell, Gnome, is one of the most unpretentious. The height of the plant does not exceed 30 cm, the color of the flowers is white and blue, flowering is very long, from June to September.

Bell Takeshima (Campanula takesimana), Korean bell is a herbaceous perennial that forms low thickets up to 60 cm in height. The stems are creeping, with erect tips. The leaves are heart-shaped, with a wavy edge, on petioles. It blooms with white, blue, pink single or double flowers, up to 6-7 cm long. The flowers are slightly drooping and appear throughout the summer.

Takeshima bell develops best in loose, fertile soils, both in sunny and partial shade. It grows very quickly and produces many lateral shoots that can be easily separated in spring or autumn.

Bluebell crowded (Campanula glomerata) is a perennial herbaceous plant with simple or weakly branched leafy shoots 30-60 centimeters high. The basal leaves of the bellflower are oblong, on long petioles, the upper ones are sessile, lanceolate, serrated along the edge.

The flowers are white, blue, dark purple, up to 2 cm in diameter, collected in capitate inflorescences of up to 20 pieces. Flowering period - June-July for 1-1.5 months. In the crowded bell, usually after flowering the basal rosettes along with the stems die off, but before that the root system manages to form many new rosettes, which is why it grows very quickly.

The crowded bell can be grown both in sunny places and in partial shade. Grows best in moist, nutritious, light sandy loam or medium loamy soils. The crowded bell is easily propagated by seeds, which can be sown before winter, as well as by separating young rosettes in spring or autumn.

Bellflower peach (Campanula persicifolia) is a perennial herbaceous plant. From a rosette of basal linear leaves grows a straight ribbed leafy stem 0.5 to 1 meter high. The stem leaves are narrow, lanceolate, shiny, serrated along the edges.

The peach-leaved bell blooms with white, blue, light purple, blue-violet single flowers or collected in a racemose loose inflorescence of 3-8 pieces. The flowers are quite large, double in varietal forms, with a diameter of 4 - 5 cm. There are varieties.

The peach-leaved bellflower blooms from June to September. After flowering, it is recommended to trim the flower stalks in order to encourage new flowering, and also to prevent the bluebell from spreading throughout the garden by self-sowing. The peach-leaf bell is completely unpretentious in care and grows well both in partial shade and in open sunny areas. Prefers well-drained soils.

In hot weather, watering is advisable. Overwinters without shelter. Propagates well both by seeds and by dividing the bush. Without division, it forms a large clump in 3-4 years, so its growth in the flower garden has to be limited.

Next to the peach-leaf bell in the flower garden you can plant evening primrose, chistets, carrion, alpine aster, matricaria, cineraria.

Campanula nettlefolia (Campanula trachelium) - a plant up to 1 m high. It has a white, cord-like, deep-lying, spreading different sides, rhizome. Numerous erect, thick, ribbed stems, simple or branched, covered with stiff hairs. The leaves are very similar to nettle leaves and are also covered with hairs. Lower leaves ovoid, up to 10 cm in length, on long petioles, the middle ones are heart-shaped, on short petioles, the upper ones are oval-lanceolate, sessile. The flowers are white, blue, blue, violet, 1-3 each, located in the axils of the leaves, collected in a racemose inflorescence up to 45 cm long. Flowering period: late June - early August.

The nettle-leaved bell grows in open sunny places and can also withstand partial shade. It grows better in well-drained, nutritious, neutral or slightly alkaline soils.

During the dry season, the bell needs watering. After flowering it produces abundant self-seeding; the flower stalks are cut off immediately after flowering, otherwise it becomes a strong weed.

The nettle-leaved bell is propagated by seeds, dividing the bush, segments of rhizomes, root suckers, and green cuttings. Reproduction and transplantation can be carried out both in spring and autumn, in early September.

Preparing for winter. At the end of September - beginning of October, all bellflower stems are cut off at the root. It winters well without shelter. However, it should be remembered that it absolutely cannot tolerate stagnation of melt water during wintering: the roots rot and the rosette freezes.

Nettle-leaved bellflower is planted singly against the background of a lawn or in groups in mixborders, ridges, borders. In the flower garden it goes well with cornflowers, cornflowers, delphinium, poppy, low decorative cereals, daylily, foxglove, calendula, phlox.

Medium bell (Campanula medium) - herbaceous biennial, 0.5-1 meter high. The basal leaves are oval or lanceolate, the stem leaves are broadly lanceolate. The flowers are white, blue, pink, very large, up to 7 cm in length, very beautiful. Bluebell average can be grown in the garden as a perennial due to natural renewal due to shedding and germinating seeds.

Medium bell, grown from seeds, blooms in the second year, blooming from June to September. For long-lasting flowering, it is recommended to trim off faded flower stalks. The middle bell prefers bright places. The plant is moisture-loving, but on damp, poorly drained soils the rosette becomes wet and damp.

The middle bell is very common in garden floriculture; many varieties and varieties have been bred, differing in the doubleness of the flowers, the size of the overgrown calyx, and the dissection of the teeth.

Campanula lactiflora (Campanula lactiflora) is a tall perennial plant, the height of the stems varies greatly, ranging from 60 cm to 1.5 m, depending on both the variety and growing conditions. It has a taproot and a highly branched stem. The lower leaves are on short petioles, the upper ones are sessile, oblong, toothed. Thanks to its root system, it grows well on heavy loams, which makes it different from other types of bells. Numerous bell-shaped flowers, up to 3-4 cm in length, milky white, blue, light purple, lilac in color, collected in wide pyramidal inflorescences. There are up to hundreds of flowers in one inflorescence. Blooms profusely in June-July. There are varietal forms with flowers of different colors.

Campanula lactiflora prefers an open sunny place. It is propagated mainly by seeds, and the seeds are sown immediately in open ground in the main place, and then the seedlings are thinned out. This is due to the fact that the bellflower does not tolerate transplantation. Although the bellflower does not tolerate division well, if desired, it can still be propagated in the spring by small, 10-15 cm long, basal shoots-cuttings, which are first rooted in a greenhouse.

The bellflower milkflower grows in one place for 10-12 years, it is one of the longest-living representatives of the genus.

Preparing for winter. At the end of September, the stems are cut off and the root rosettes are sprinkled with leaves.

The article uses materials from https://ru.wikipedia.org, http://flower.onego.ru, http://www.plantopedia.ru
Image source www.plantarium.ru (Tatiana Vinokurova), www.biolib.cz: Michael Kesl, www.99roots.com, www.perryhillnurseries.co.uk, dic.academic.ru, http://tuinplantendepauw.be, www .pinterest.com, flickr.com: mr.bong.bing, Hans Hillewaert, Andreas Kay, naturgucker.de / enjoynature.net (2), NB Photos, Finn Jensen, 11299883, Peter Laughton (2), Amselchen, Stephen Rees , Marta, Rob (2), Ross Bayton, Nicholas Turland, Vojtěch Zavadil, John Weiser, equipaje, Tango, Zuzka Grujbárová, Native Sons Melissa G, Gebr. ten Have (5), John Weiser, Changxu Pang, eleonora mariotti, Robert Strusievicz, Janet Ulliott, BEARTOMCAT (Bear) (2), Cristina, ankiask. Francis Ackerley, JardinsLeeds (2), Ben Rushbrooke, Linda Daley, Florian Brault, Megan Hansen (2), jacki-dee (2), Ewa, Shawn Beelman, Valery Chernodedov, Chironius, Alan (2), Valleybrook Perennials, Shigemi. J, Michel Pierfitte, longk48, Takashi .M @Mon jardin (2), Winsors Farm, caroline, b1zarr0, angela garrod (3), Javier Pelayo, Peter Hegi, Angle Shades, gianna elena, tomokotouzaki tomokotouzaki, Süleyman Demir, Nobuhiro Suhara , ntson, Un jardí al riu Anoia, Debbie, Sylvi, Swaentje5, Van Swearingen, Michael Ruecker, Randal Atkinson, Dietmut Teijgeman-Hansen, Jean-Maurice Turgeon, fromseeds, mentos2

Among the huge number of wild plants that people have long cultivated in their garden plots, the peach-leaved bellflower is very attractive. Even novice gardeners can grow this crop due to its unpretentiousness.

Description

This type of bell received its name due to the similarity of its leaves to peach leaves. They are narrow, elongated, dark green in color, with jagged edges. The peach-leaf bell is a perennial plant with a racem-rooted plant, found mainly in the forest edges of Europe, Western Siberia and the Caucasus. A strong stem rising from a rosette of large leaves can reach 100 cm in height and ends in a one-sided inflorescence collected in a brush.

Flowers up to 4 cm in size have different colors depending on the variety - white, blue, light blue, purple. The flowering period begins in June and lasts almost all summer. By September, in place of the flowers, boxes with numerous seeds are formed.

Advantages of the bell

Many gardeners strive to grow peach-leaved bellflower on their plot, the description of which is given above. They are attracted not only by the beautiful and unique appearance of this flower, but also by its undeniable advantages. These include a fairly large variety of varieties, allowing the bell to be widely used as a single decorative element in the garden, and in various compositions.

This plant is very unpretentious, quite resistant to various natural phenomena. It can easily tolerate long-term droughts and prolonged rains, and can withstand nighttime drops in temperature and even slight frosts. It grows well in loamy soils, which most flowering garden plants cannot tolerate.

Choosing a landing site

Growing bellflower is not onerous. The main thing is to choose a suitable place for it, where the plant will be comfortable. This will minimize the effort required to care for it.

A site for planting this light-loving crop must be chosen that is well lit, but it is better if the sun's rays hit it only in the first half of the day, otherwise the flowering period will not be long.

The soil must be well developed. The peach-leaf bell feels good on loose loams enriched with humus. Stagnation of moisture in the soil is detrimental to this plant, so an elevated or well-drained area is most suitable.

Soil preparation

The soil for planting must be prepared in advance by digging the area to a depth of 30-40 cm. If the soil is heavy and clayey, then sand and peat are added to it. Loose and poor in composition soils are enriched with humus, turf soil and fertilizers are applied (per 1 square meter - 50 g of superphosphate and 30 g of potassium sulfate). You should be careful with fertilizer - its excess can negatively affect the winter hardiness of flowers.

Under no circumstances should you add fresh peat and manure as top dressing. This provokes the development of fungal diseases, which are then very difficult to get rid of.

Features of care

Despite the fact that the peach bell is not a whimsical plant, planting and caring for it require compliance with certain rules. Like any other garden culture, this flower needs watering, loosening the soil, removing weeds and fertilizing. Due to lack of moisture, the leaves may become smaller and flowering may stop. It is necessary to water the bell on hot and dry days, but in moderation.

To avoid stagnation of water, which this plant is so afraid of, and to ensure access of oxygen to the roots, it is necessary to systematically loosen the soil and remove weeds.

In the spring, when the snow melts, fertilize with nitrogen fertilizer, also adding additional humus or compost under each bush. During the budding period, complex mineral fertilizers are applied at the rate of 15 g per 1 sq. m. meter.

In order for the peach-leaved bell to delight with its abundant flowering for a long time, prune faded shoots by about one third. And in mid-autumn, the above-ground part of the plant is completely cut off and the surface of the soil is mulched with compost. Most of these colors are resistant to low temperatures and do not require shelter for the winter, with the exception of some southern varieties.

Growing from seeds

This plant reproduces different ways- seeds, dividing the bush, cuttings. The vegetative method is used most often, but in order to improve the health of planting material, it is recommended to periodically grow peach bell from seeds. They are harvested in the fall, when the boxes ripen, acquiring a brown color, and mixed with sand. You can sow seeds directly into the ground in autumn or spring. The emerging seedlings are then thinned out, and when the third true leaf appears, they are planted in a checkerboard pattern.

Growing seedlings

Seeds for seedlings are sown around mid-spring in greenhouses or in a container placed indoors. The soil for planting is prepared in advance from a mixture of turf soil, stale peat and river sand in equal parts. After some time, after about 12-15 days, when the peach leaf bell sprouts its first shoots, caring for it is not difficult.

The seedlings are watered through a strainer and the soil is very carefully loosened. Already at the end of May, when warm weather sets in, they can be planted in the garden. And only in August are young plants planted in a permanent place. In this case, it is very important to maintain the interval between them - it should not be less than 30-40 cm.

By autumn, a rosette of leaves develops, and flowering can only be expected the next season. For the winter, the bell is covered with fallen leaves or peat with a layer of 10-15 cm.

Vegetative propagation

You can grow peach bells not only with the help of seeds. It can also be propagated by cuttings or dividing the bush. These methods allow you to save all properties mother plants. Green lignified cuttings are cut in the spring, placed in a greenhouse, buried in the sand. Rooting occurs faster if conditions with high humidity are created, for this you can use a fogging installation. The next year, the plants are planted in a permanent place.

Bushes that are at least 3 years old are propagated by division. This is best done in the fall. Having dug up the plant along with a large lump of earth, cut off its above-ground part, and carefully divide the root system into several parts. Each division must have a sufficient volume of roots and regeneration points. New plants are planted immediately in a permanent place, watered abundantly. Planting peach bells by division helps preserve this crop for many years. Sometimes gardeners propagate bells using root cuttings.

If you transplant these plants into pots in the fall and place them in a cool room for the winter, where there is enough light, then in the spring they can bloom. To do this, in February, the flowers are moved to a warmer place and periodically sprayed and watered.

Diseases and pests

Bluebell peach leaf belongs to a group of plants that are quite resistant to various fungal diseases. But growing it for many years in one place contributes to the accumulation of pathogenic microorganisms, which often lead to the death of the plant. The most common pathogens are botrytis fungus, fusarium and sclerotinia. Treatment of the soil and the plant itself with a solution of “Fundazol” helps in the fight against them. It is carried out twice - in spring and autumn. You can avoid fungal diseases if you replant flowers every 4-5 years to a new place.

Among insect pests, the most dangerous are slobbering pennies and slugs that attack the plant in wet weather. To destroy them, gardeners advise using superphosphate, scattering it near the base of the stem, as well as spraying with a decoction of capsicum or garlic infusion.

If you follow all these simple recommendations, it can become a real decoration. garden plot such unpretentious flower like a peach-leaved bell (planting and care, photo flowering plants and methods of reproduction are given in this article).

Use in landscape design

The bell harmonizes perfectly with many garden plants - mallow, carnation, ferns, cosmos and others. It is suitable for both single and group plantings. Any peach-leaved bell - white, blue or purple - looks beautiful against a background of greenery. Being an excellent honey plant, the bell will be useful in every garden. Bouquets of cut flowers retain their sophisticated beauty for a very long time.

Representatives of the bellflower family have been grown in gardens for many centuries, because even wild species of these plants are elegant and attractive.

Bells are not only decorative, but also medicinal plants, many of which are used in folk medicine. And such types of bells as nettle-leaved, broad-leaved, peach-leaved, medium, milky-flowered. can also be used in the kitchen - leaves and stems are added to salads, and roots are stewed with vegetables.

Bells - name and description of species

The most extensive genus is actually bluebells (Campanula), includes more than 300 species. And among them you can find plants for every taste and suitable for any conditions.

For those who want to admire bells not only in summer, there are winter-green species - natives of the Mediterranean and the Caucasus ( middle bell, gargan bell, Portenschlag bell, Radde bell) - they can be used as an indoor crop, as well as for forcing and cutting (medium grade).

Most species grown in the garden bloom in June-July, the duration of their flowering is from 2 weeks to 1.5 months. Among the early flowering ones we can name three-pronged bell, Campanula Oshe, in the second half of summer the flowers of the Campanula equifolia bloom, pyramidal bell, and species such as Carpathian bellflower and bellflower, bloom all summer.

The life span of bells varies greatly - there are also annual species ( annual, dichotomous), and species living for 6-8 years ( K. broadleaf, K. Carpathian). Has the greatest longevity Campanula lactiflora, individual specimens of which can live more than 20 years.

Bells are also very diverse in relation to soil conditions. Very unpretentious and can grow in a variety of conditions k. crowded, k. round-leaved– they can be found in nature in the forest, in the meadows, and in the steppes. Mountain species are very capricious - they require good drainage and often need to add lime ( K. Komarova, K. spoonleaf, K. annual). For the vast majority of species, neutral and slightly alkaline soils are suitable. For the most part, bells are undemanding when it comes to watering, and if the year is not dry, then natural precipitation is enough for them. Areas flooded with rain and spring waters are not suitable for bluebells.

Most species are light-loving; they need to choose a sunny place. But forest species with wide dark green leaves can tolerate even dense shade - these are bells nettle-leaved, broad-leaved, dotted.

Depending on the structure of the root system, bells can grow compactly, or they can spread out, and quite strongly. They grow especially aggressively K. dotted, K. rapunzel-shaped, Takeshima bell. The nettle-leaved bellflower also requires attention - it produces abundant self-seeding that can clog the entire area.

From HIGH Bluebells are often grown broad-leaved and nettle-leaved. Their flower stalks rise above 1 m. They can grow well in the shade; the flowers are white and blue in color. Like all tall bells, after flowering these species significantly lose their decorative properties, so faded stems must be removed in a timely manner, including so as not to litter the area with self-sowing. These plants are good to plant in the background of the flower garden, where after flowering they will not be very noticeable. Another view in Lately began to actively spread throughout the gardens - this is the Campanula lactiflora. During flowering, it resembles a flower pyramid, reaching a height of 1.5-2 m. There are varieties different color, but from experience, plants grown from seeds overwinter better; it is better to always have them in the garden for backup.

AMONG MEDIUM HEIGHT Popular are K. dotochny and K. Takeshima. They have dull pink flowers with abundant purple mottling, especially inside the drooping narrow corolla. They must be planted with caution, as these species actively spread. They bloom very profusely and for a long time. There are interesting hybrids obtained with the participation of these species.

STRUGGLE BELLS look very attractive, but not all are easy to grow. The most common of them is the Carpathian bell. In nature, this species is considered endangered, but in gardens it is very common. Despite small sizes plants, its flowers are large, up to 5 cm in diameter, and the flower size remains the same even in miniature forms, the color can be from white to dark purple. To prolong the flowering of this bell, it is imperative to remove the faded flower stalks.

Nowadays people are often keen on growing flowers in hanging baskets and flower pots, and bellflower is suitable for such purposes (it has white and blue varieties that can be planted together), gargan (forming long flowering “beards”). Many bluebells are grown for cutting - they stand well in bouquets.

Biennial types of bells can be used for winter forcing. In the fall, they are transplanted into pots along with a lump of earth and kept in a cool room at temperatures up to 10°. keeping the soil only slightly moist. One and a half months before the planned flowering date, they begin to water and feed with a weak solution of complex fertilizers for flowering plants. indoor plants.

Growing bluebells

The most difficult to grow are bells, which naturally grow in rocky mountain areas. For their prosperous life it is necessary to create special conditions, a rocky slide is required. Plants of alpine meadows and forest species are much less capricious.

Reproduction

All bells, with the exception of varietal ones, reproduce well by seeds. For annual species, this is the only method of reproduction. True, due to the fact that annual bells are mainly of southern origin, they are rarely grown in our country. Biennial species are also propagated by seeds or by dividing rosettes in the spring. For perennial species with a tap root system, the seed propagation method is also the most common.

Planting bluebells

Bell seeds are quite small, so it is better not to sow them directly into the ground, but to use boxes or bowls for sowing.

You can sow before winter or spring in the garden, or you can grow seedlings indoors.

Seeds are sown superficially, only lightly sprinkled with soil. After sowing, it is better not to water them, but to sprinkle them generously, this will prevent the seeds from going too deep. Containers with sown seeds need to be covered. The easiest way is to place them in a transparent plastic bag. If there is no special lighting, it makes no sense to sow before March.

Shoots appear in 10-15 days, and they must immediately be moved to a lighted place and opened. The seedlings must be sprayed so that they do not dry out. But you shouldn’t overdo it with moisture - young plants, especially if they are densely sown, can get sick. Therefore, seedlings are always thinned out to avoid thickening.

At this stage, it is better to immediately plant species with a tap root in separate containers so as not to injure them during transplantation. Such bells are planted in the garden immediately in a permanent place - they do not like transplanting, and often cannot tolerate it.

Grown seedlings are planted in the ground in June. Bells grown from seedlings manage to develop well enough during the season to overwinter and bloom the next year. Plants grown directly in the ground develop somewhat more slowly.

Now there are many varieties that can only be propagated vegetatively - by dividing the bush or cuttings.

Cuttings are cut in early spring when the plant is just starting to grow. Cuttings can be treated with a stimulant and planted immediately, covered with cut plastic bottles. Plantings are placed in the shade so that the cuttings do not burn in the sun.

Care

You can take cuttings of the Carpathian bell for quite a long time. In the peach bell, after removing the capsules with the resulting seeds, small plants can form on the stem, which can be treated as cuttings. They can even be left to overwinter under bottles, which are removed only in the spring.

Bells can be planted and replanted in spring and autumn. Species that have a compact, shallow root system can be replanted with a clod of soil throughout the season, even during flowering.

In early spring, bells can be fed with nitrogen fertilizer, and humus and ash can be added under the bushes. Before budding, plants can be fed with complete mineral fertilizer.

By removing faded flowers and peduncles, you can prolong the flowering of bluebells. If seeds are needed, then some of the boxes are left, but you need to watch them so that the seeds do not have time to spill out onto the ground. At the end of September, all the stems of the bells are cut off at the root. The vast majority of these plants do not require shelter for the winter.

Adult plants are rarely affected by diseases and pests, but recently many snails have appeared in gardens, which can cause significant damage, especially to low-growing species with abundant foliage.

What types of bells are the most popular? The middle bell holds the palm. Despite the fact that it is a biennial, it is actively grown and numerous varieties are bred. This bell has forms with flowers of real pink, as well as white, different shades of blue and lilac, there are flowers of varying degrees of doubleness. Its flowers reach a diameter of 7 cm, flowering profusely, from June to August. Can be used as a potted and forcing crop.

Bells are essentially...

In addition to the bells themselves, other representatives of this species are grown in gardens. families – bells, codonopsis, and have become especially popular recently broadbells (Platycodon). The stems of this plant are up to 0.5 m high; large, wide-open flowers up to 8 cm in diameter bloom at their tops. The buds are very original - they resemble round lanterns. The flowers of the species plant are blue and white, but in cultivation there are forms of other colors, for example pink, and there are light forms with contrasting bright veins.

The broadbell is easy to grow from seeds; in adulthood it does not like transplanting. It grows quite late in the spring, and small bulbs of early spring flowering can be planted under it. It blooms for a long time, starting from mid-June, and is especially valuable because many other bells have already faded by this time. Grows well in the sun, but also tolerates partial shade.

Growing bluebells in the garden

Bells are such simple, cute and familiar flowers from childhood. With what joy we collected unimaginably beautiful bouquets of sky-blue bells in the meadow or at the edge of the forest! And now they are an integral decoration garden beds, above all, gardens in a natural style or in a rustic front garden.

Caring for bluebells

Bells are not capricious plants. They are completely undemanding to soil, but will grow better on well-cultivated, drained, nutritious and non-acidic soils. The only thing they cannot tolerate is stagnant water. In such conditions they may die during wintering.

In the spring, before the bells begin to grow, they need to be fed with nitrogen fertilizers.

In October, all the stems of the plant are cut off at the root.

Reproduction

Bells are propagated both by seeds and vegetatively - by cuttings of rhizomes and root suckers, by dividing bushes during transplantation, and by green cuttings.

Sowing seeds

Small seeds are sown together with sand in the ground in May. The seeds germinate on the 10-12th day.

Sowing of seedlings is carried out in March. Sow superficially in small bowls, sprinkling on top thin layer sand. Shoots appear quickly. When they grow up, they pick. Young seedlings are planted in the ground in early June.

Dividing and transplanting bells

Bells are transplanted in spring and autumn, usually at the 3-5th year of the bush’s life. It is necessary to divide the bush so that each division has a good root system and several new buds.

Bluebell in the garden

Due to the variety of flower colors and bush shapes, abundant and long flowering, bells are often used in the design of mixborders, rockeries, as a potted crop and for cutting.

Tall bells look very good next to phlox, echinacea and rudbeckia. A large monogroup of bells will be good separately against the background of the lawn.

Low-growing species are incomparable in any rocky garden - in a rock garden, on a hill or as border plants along paths or along the edges of flower beds.

Diversity

The genus includes about 300 species. These are mainly perennial plants, but there are also biennials; annual plants are very rare.

In almost all species, the flowers are bell-shaped; very rarely they are wide open. The color of the petals ranges from white and blue to blue, lilac and purple. There are pink flowers. There are varieties with double and semi-double flowers.

Types of perennial bells - photos

Types of bell flowers - photos

Tall

• The bell is pyramidal (up to 2 m).
• Bellflower peach (50-90 cm). Varieties: Bernice, Pride of Exmus, Telham Beauty, Snowdrift, New Giant Hybrid, Gran Diflora Alba.
• Broadleaf bell (120-150 cm). Varieties: Macranta, Alba, Bruntwood.
• Campanula milkiflora (80-120 cm).

Medium height

• Campanula crowded (60 cm).
• Takeshiman's bell (up to 50 cm).

short

• Bell point (30-50 cm). Variety: Pink Red.
• Carpathian bell, up to 40 cm high. Variety: Blaue Klips.
• The bell is cube-shaped (15-25 cm).
• Bell-leafed bell ("rug" up to 15 cm high).
• Gargan bell (10-12 cm).
• Pozharsky's bell (15-20 cm). Variety: Silberregen.

Biennials

• The bell is medium (50-100 cm).

Large branches are painted in dark blue, white, purple, blue, pink color A. It has many garden forms: large-flowered, double-flowered, crowned, variegated.

A blooming garden is not only my passion, but also, in a sense, my life’s work. I sincerely rejoice at every flower in my garden, but, as often happens, I also have my favorites. I want to tell you about one of them - this is the middle bell.

What is he like?

Of the wide variety of garden bells, this particular species has forever won my heart. This is extraordinary beautiful plant! During flowering, all eyes are focused on it. From a distance it is even difficult to determine that these are bells. Its flowers are simple, in the form of a glass, and double, which resemble a cup and saucer. By the way, one of the varieties received exactly this name. And its double flowers are very reminiscent of eustoma - the Irish rose.

Bellflower medium – herbaceous biennial plant(blooming in the second year after sowing). I'm growing it seedling method. Most often, the seeds are sold under the general name “Bellbell medium” or “Bellbell medium mixture”. The bag may contain flower seeds of different colors: white, blue, pink, which in itself is very good; you don’t need to buy several envelopes of seeds with different colors.

Sowing seedlings

The bell seeds are quite small; I sow them on moist soil and sprinkle them with a thin layer of fine wet sand. I cover the bowl with glass and place it in a warm, bright place, as a rule, I do this at the beginning of March 8th. The seeds sprout vigorously in about 10 days. I don’t remove the glass right away, at first two or three times a day to ventilate the seedlings. Then, when they get stronger, I remove the glass completely.

I pick up the plants not one at a time, but in small bunches; they tolerate this procedure well and, after “sitting” for a while without moving, they slowly begin to grow.

On a note

Bells love moisture; the earthen ball should not be allowed to dry out, but at the same time they cannot tolerate waterlogging and can easily die from overwatering. So in this matter it is very important to maintain the golden mean.

Bells in the open ground

Bluebells should be planted in a permanent place in the garden after the threat of return frosts has passed. In our zone it is the end of May. You need to choose a place for the bells that is bright and sunny, but such that in the midday heat the flowers are in light partial shade, and not in the scorching open sun. You can, of course, plant plants in the shade, but the flowering will not be as abundant and the flowers themselves will be much smaller than those of those specimens that grow in the light.

Over the summer, bell seedlings take root in a new place and grow a significant root rosette of long leaves.

Nutrition

Bells need to be fed 2-3 times per season. 2 weeks after planting in a permanent place, you need to give them nitrogen fertilizers (dilute according to the instructions). In the first half of July, I feed the plants with complex fertilizer AFK 16-16-16 (according to the instructions) and for the third time (in early August) I give phosphorus and potassium; you can use ash as a potassium fertilizer.

Wintering bluebells

In winter, the bells leave with a well-developed rosette of leaves. Immediately after the onset of persistent cold weather, I make the following shelter for them: I put a plastic box with holes (for fruit) on top of the socket, cover it with fallen leaves and throw on thin spunbond. Under such shelter, the bells overwinter perfectly: they do not freeze out and do not rot out, since air access is provided. In the spring, immediately after the snow melts, I remove the leaves and the box, feed it with complex fertilizer, install the arms and stretch spunbond over them. The plant grows quite quickly.

In May, strong peduncles (about 1 m in height) rise above the rosette of leaves, dotted along the entire height with the embryos of future flowers. Bells bloom in the first half of June, and the spectacle is, frankly, mesmerizing. Faded bells must be removed - and then new ones grow from the axils of the leaves, they are a little smaller than the first, but just as beautiful and bright.

If you leave a couple of stems and do not cut off the faded flowers, the bluebells will multiply by self-sowing. They can grow in one place for up to five years. It must be said that the path from sowing seeds to flowering is long, but it is worth going through. If you sow a few seeds every year, you will get annual flowering. Additionally, a certain number of flowering plants will self-sow.

Try growing this beautiful flower at least once, and I'm sure it will... long years will fit into your garden and will delight everyone around you with its incredible beauty! For those who don’t mind cutting flowers, I want to say that in bouquets, the middle bell is no less charming and beautiful.

Campanula (from the Latin Campanula) is a herbaceous plant of the Campanula family. There are more than 300 types of bells. The plant prefers temperate climate, found in Europe, Western and Central Asia, the Caucasus, Siberia and North America. Bells grow in steppes, meadows, forests, desert areas and rocks. Many species are found in alpine and subalpine mountain zones. People call the flower differently: bells, chebotki, chenille.

Most species are perennial, but biennial and annual plants are occasionally found. The bell can be low, high or medium.

The stems of the bell are thin, covered with alternate green oblong leaves with smooth or jagged edges. The flower shape is bell-shaped, white, blue and various shades of purple flowers are collected in racemes or paniculate inflorescences. Flowers can also be single. After flowering, seed boxes with 4-6 slits appear.

Growing bells from seeds When to plant

Sowing in the ground

• You can sow in open ground in April-May, but for two months before that you will need cold stratification - keeping it in the refrigerator. The seeds are mixed with wet sand and placed in a plastic bag in the vegetable section.
• In addition, bellflowers can be sown before winter at the end of October - the seeds will undergo natural stratification in the soil and sprout together in the spring.

The planting depth should not exceed 2 cm, since the seeds are small and it will be difficult for them to break through to the surface. You need to sow less often so that the seedlings do not clog each other; it is good if you get a 2-3 cm gap between the seeds. After the sprouts appear, they must be thinned out, leaving 4-5 cm of distance. When the plants grow, they are planted at a distance of 20-30 cm, depending on the variety.

Growing seedlings

To get flowering in the first year of life, it is better to grow seedlings. The seeds are very small; they need to be spread on the surface of light, loose, permeable soil. Before sowing, the soil must be moistened. You can use the following soil mixture: humus, turf land, and coarse sand in a ratio of 3:6:1. Crops need to be covered with film and the temperature maintained at 18-20 ºC. Shoots will appear in a couple of weeks.

After germination, the container should be moved to a bright place, but protected from direct sunlight. The film is removed and cared for in this way: water when the top layer of soil dries out, loosen the soil around the seedlings. After a month and with the appearance of true 2-4 leaves, drop the seedlings into a large container, maintaining a distance of 10 cm between plants, or into separate cups.

A couple of weeks after diving, apply a low-concentration liquid fertilizer complex.

Planting bells in the ground

At the end of May and beginning of July, bluebells can be planted in open ground. Most of the cultivated species are light-loving; a few shade lovers can be recognized by the dark green color of the leaves. The bell does not like drafts. Choose a place away from trees and bushes so that there is no lack of moisture and nutrients.

Plant low-growing species at a distance of 10-15 cm between plants, medium height – 20-30 cm, tall – 40-50 cm. After planting, the soil around the flower should be trampled down and watered well.

Caring for bluebells in the garden

The bell is easy to care for.

• Water moderately when dry, hot weather sets in.
• Regularly loosen the soil and remove weeds.
• Tall species may need supports or a garter.
• The first time you need it is in the spring with nitrogen fertilizer. The second feeding is needed in mid-summer for abundant flowering: Apply complex fertilizer. Wilted flowers need to be removed so that new ones can appear.

Propagation of perennial bells by cuttings

Annual bells are grown by seed, biennials are grown by seeds and cuttings. The perennial can be propagated by cuttings and dividing the rhizome; during seed propagation, it can be lost varietal characteristics. In addition, terry species do not set seeds; they can only be propagated vegetatively.

• In March-April, cut cuttings from young stems or root shoots.
• Plant them in a loose, light substrate and place them under a hood made of plastic bottle, the lower leaves need to be plucked off, and the remaining ones should be cut by a third.
• Within two to three weeks, roots will appear.
• After growing, plant the seedlings in a permanent place.

Reproduction by dividing the bush

• You can divide the bush in the 3-5th year of the bell's life; only some species can be divided in the first year.
• Dig up a large bush in early May or late summer.
• Trim the stems, using a sterile sharp knife, divide the rhizome into parts so that each has a developed root and growth buds.
• Sections must be treated with crushed wood or activated carbon and immediately plant it in a permanent place.

Bellflower pests and diseases

Blooming bells look beautiful, but the main advantage is ease of care and resistance to pests and diseases. At long-term cultivation the soil accumulates harmful microorganisms that cause diseases. To prevent this from happening, in spring and autumn it is recommended to treat the soil with a 0.2% solution of Fundazol.

Wet weather can provoke the appearance of slobbering pennies, which can be easily defeated with garlic infusion. Slugs may appear on low-growing bells - spray the foliage with a decoction of hot pepper, and sprinkle superphosphate granules on the soil.

Perennial bells after flowering

How to collect seeds?

To collect seeds, do not wait until the seed pods are opened. As soon as the testes turn brown, cut off the inflorescences with seeds and leave to ripen in a dry, ventilated place.

Preparing for winter

Perennial plants need to be prepared for wintering. In late September-early October, cut the stems to the root. Many varieties can overwinter without shelter, but southern, heat-loving species need to be covered with natural materials: foliage, pine needles, branches. Tall species need to be covered with humus or dry peat to a height of 15-20 cm.

Types and varieties of bells with photos and names

Campanula erinus

A low-growing plant (up to 10 cm in height) with bright blue flowers. Homeland - Caucasus, Balkans, Mediterranean, Asia Minor. Looks good in borders and rock gardens.

Campanula dichotoma

A native of the Western Caucasus. The plant is 15-20 cm high, the leaves are ovoid, wide, the flowers are colored light purple.

Kashmir bluebell Campanula cashmeriana

Found in the Pamirs and Himalayas. Low growing - only up to 8 cm in height. The flowers are small - up to 1.5 cm in length, purple in color, but there are many of them and the flowering period is long.

Campanula longistyla

Campanula longistyla ‘Isabella’ photo

Grows on gravelly soil, in rock cracks in the Caucasus. It branches strongly, reaches a height of up to half a meter. The inflorescence is paniculate, consisting of fifty purple flowers, the diameter of the flower is up to 4 cm, it has a swollen base, and the edges of the calyx are covered with sharp, deflected teeth.

Bell Mirror of Venus

It lives in the Mediterranean mountains, Holland and Great Britain. Got its name thanks to the legend about broken mirror of the goddess Venus, the fragments of which turned into exquisite flowers. The height of the plant is 15-30 cm. The flowers are saucer-shaped, up to 2 cm in diameter, collected in paniculate inflorescences, the flowers are blue with a purple tint, the center of the flower is white. There are varieties with pure white flowers. They bloom all summer.

Campanula betulifolia

The white varieties are very beautiful with many flowers in racemose inflorescences hanging on curly stems.

Biennial bluebells

Campanula barbata

I preferred the subalpine zone of the Mediterranean. Reaches a height of up to 30 cm. The flowers are drooping, goblet-bell-shaped, up to 3 cm long, pale blue in color. Blooms during the first two summer months.

Hoffmann's bell Campanula hofmannii

Its homeland is the Balkans and the Adriatic. The bell is highly branched, reaching a height of 30 cm to half a meter. There are many flowers, they are large, drooping, white or cream-colored, and open in June-July.

Campanula thyrsoides

The inflorescences are funnel-shaped, the funnel-shaped bell has a light yellow color of the flowers, and the thyrso-shaped one has bright purple flowers.

Campanula macrostachya

Places of distribution in nature are the Balkans, Europe, Asia Minor. The flowers are tubular, collected in whorls of 6-7 pieces, the corolla is colored pale purple. They bloom from early summer to August.

Campanula medium Campanula medium

Distributed in Asia and South- Western Europe. Biennial, but sometimes grown as an annual plant. The stem is erect, from half a meter to a meter high. The shape of the corolla is goblet-bell-shaped, up to 7 cm long, the flowers are simple and double, white, blue or pink, collected in pyramidal inflorescences.

Campanula cervicaria

Lives in Siberia and Europe. Reaches a height of 70-100 cm, the stems and leaves are densely pubescent, the flowers are small, sessile, collected in capitate inflorescences from above and whorled inflorescences from below.

Other biennial bells are also known: Siberian, Moesian. Pyramidal, spreading, radiating, spatulate, Formaneca, Sartori and Orphanedia.

Low-growing species of perennial bells

Carpathian bluebell Campanula carpatica

Widespread in the Carpathian Mountains and Central Europe. Reaches a height of up to 30 cm. Ovate leaves on long petioles are collected in basal rosettes, and the stems are covered with ovate leaves on short petioles. The flowers are funnel-bell-shaped, up to 5 cm in diameter, solitary, colored blue, purple or White color. They bloom in June and bloom until almost mid-August.

Most famous garden forms Carpathian bellflower are:

• Alba, White Star - have white flowers;
• Isabel, Tseostina – sky-blue color of the corolla;
• Centon Joy, Blaumeise, Riversleigh - blue color of flowers;
• Karpatenkrone – purple flowers;
• Clip - only 20 cm high, flower with a diameter of 5 cm, grown in gardens and at home.

Campanula garganica

Campanula garganica variety Dickson's gold care photo

Low (up to 15 cm) perennial, fragile, creeping, erect stems, rounded leaves with teeth, star-shaped flowers, about 4 cm in diameter, blue.

The best varieties of this species:

• Major - has pale blue flowers;
• W.H. Paine is a light lavender flower with a white center.

Campanula cochleariifolia

Distributed in the Alps and Carpathians. Grows up to 15 cm in height, the stems creep. The flowers are drooping, up to 1 cm in diameter, blue, blue or white, collected in small inflorescences.

Popular varieties:

• Alba - white bells;
• Loder - double blue flowers;
• Miss Wilmott - has blue flowers;

Chamisso Campanula chamissonis

Its homeland is the Far East. The flowers are solitary, about 3 cm in diameter, violet-blue in color, sometimes white, with a shaggy corolla along the edge.

There are many others low-growing species: soddy, daisy-leaved, hairy-fruitful, single-flowered, borderline, warlike, ciliated, dusky, dark, three-toothed, Ortana, Oshe, Rainer, Radde, Uemura.

Medium-height perennial bells

Komarov's bell Campanula komarovii

Endemic to the Caucasus. About 45 cm high, branching stems. There are many flowers, they are large, of a bright light purple hue, about 3 cm long, and have sharp, turned-away lobes.

Campanula punctata

Campanula punctata ‘Rubriflora’ photo

From the Far East and Siberia. Reaches a height of up to half a meter. The stems are thin. The leaves are numerous, collected in a basal rosette on petioles of a reddish hue, the leaf shape is ovoid, lanceolate or acute. The flowers are large, goblet-bell-shaped, mounted on a long stalk, the corolla is off-white, covered with purple specks. Sets, leaves and flowers are pubescent.

• Rubra – has bright flowers;
• Alba nana - up to 20 cm high, white flowers.

Also widespread in Korea, on the Iranian Plateau. This perennial bell grows up to 60 cm in height. The leaves are collected in basal rosettes. There are many stems, they are creeping, creeping, erect. The flowers are double and simple, painted white, blue, and pink. Flowers bloom in early summer.

The best varieties are also:

• Beautyful Trust – large white flowers, arachnid shape;
• Wedding Bells are white double bell-shaped flowers.

Campanula Sarastro

Hybrid of dotted bell. Large flowers (up to 7 cm in length) are painted bright purple. The bush reaches a height of 60 cm and a diameter of up to 45 cm.

Other medium-sized bells: polymorphic, rhomboidal, Tatra, Moravian, Spanish, flax-leaved, remarkable, perforated, round-leaved, Marchesetti, Karnika, Turchaninova, Grossec, garlic-leaved, Sarmatian, pale ocher, hybrids Pink Octupus and Kent Belle.

Tall types of bellflower

Distributed in Siberia, Southern and Central Europe, Asia Minor, the Caucasus, and the European parts of Ukraine and Russia. Prefers broad-leaved, dark-coniferous, mixed forests and river banks. The stem is straight, bare, up to 1 meter in height. The leaves are double-serrate, 12 cm long and 6 cm wide. The flowers are large, axillary, collected in a narrow, sparsely flowered spike-shaped raceme. The flowers are funnel-shaped, up to 6 cm long, colored blue, white, light blue, the flower blades are slightly bent. They bloom all summer.

• Alba - has white flowers;
• Bruntwood – purple flowers; variety with purple flowers;
• Macrantha - flowers are large, large purple in color.

Campanula persicifolia

Distributed in Western Siberia, Western Europe, the European part of Russia, Ukraine and the Caucasus. Height from 50 cm to 1 meter. The stem is erect, covered with leaves. The leaves are similar to peach foliage: smooth, serrated at the edges. The flowers are large, broadly bell-shaped, up to 5 cm in length, collected in several pieces in a paniculate inflorescence, and have a blue or lilac-blue color. There are terry and crown forms. Blooms from mid-June to mid-July.

Popular varieties:

• Bernice – blue, double flowers;
• Tetam Beauty - large flowers of a light blue hue;
• Exmouth - dusty blue double flowers;
• Snowdrift - white bells.
• New Giant Hybrids - grows up to 75 cm in height, the flowers are large, white and all shades of blue.

Campanula lactiflora

They are native to Asia Minor and the Caucasus. Height 50-150 cm. Tap root, allowing growth in heavy loamy soils. The flowers have a milky white hue, up to 4 cm in diameter, and are collected in racemose inflorescences. They will open in June and will delight you until the end of summer.

The main varieties are:

• Cerulea - blue tint of flowers;
• Alba - white flowers;
• Pritchard Veraiety - 1.5 m tall, lavender-blue flowers.

Other tall species: Bolognese, rapunzel, crowded, noble-large-flowered and nettle-leaved.