Campanula (from the Latin Campanula) is a herbaceous plant of the Campanula family. There are more than 300 types of bells. The plant prefers a temperate climate and is 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 soil, 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, varietal characteristics may be lost. 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 cap made of a plastic bottle, pinch off the lower leaves and cut off the remaining ones 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.
- The sections must be treated with crushed charcoal or activated carbon and immediately planted 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. When grown for many years, 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. It got its name thanks to the legend about the 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 Southwestern 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. They bloom in June and bloom until almost mid-August.
The most famous garden forms of the 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, sometimes white, with a shaggy corolla along the edge.
There are many other low-growing species: soddy, daisy-leaved, hairy, single-flowered, border, 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.
The bell flower blooms attractively and for a long time, thanks to which it has become widespread in garden cultivation. Despite their rather simple structure, any bell-like flowers are actively used in landscape decoration.
Bellflower: what the flower looks like and its botanical description
The Latin name is Campanula. Belongs to the genus of herbaceous plants and the family Campanulaceae from the dicotyledonous class. Under natural conditions it grows in the Caucasus and Siberia, Asia and Europe. Information on the habitat is very extensive, as is the distribution area.
Field and meadow species are distributed almost everywhere in our country. The plant also inhabits alpine, desert and rocky areas, as well as mountain belts. Perennial herbs have entire alternate leaves, as well as a bell-shaped blue or purple corolla. Some varieties bloom producing purple or white flowers. The seeds are formed in a box-shaped fruit.
Description of popular types of bells (perennial garden campanula)
In total, today there are about four hundred different species, which may differ slightly in their main external characteristics. However, the most popular indoor and garden crops are not so numerous.
The ampelous culture has thin shoots, rounded and finely toothed leaves. The base of the shoot is heart-shaped. Flowers of light blue color are formed in spring or summer.
Photo gallery
Bellflower peach
Campanula persicifolia is a herbaceous perennial with a spindle-shaped, oblique, fibrous root and an erect, simple, sparsely branched, glabrous, slightly ribbed stem part. The foliage is alternate, narrow, linear or lanceolate, dark green and shiny. Blue, blue-violet or light purple flowers are located on short stalks and collected in a one-sided apical inflorescence. The period of mass flowering occurs in mid-summer.
A herbaceous plant no more than 25-30 cm high, with thin and hanging shoots. Most often it is grown as an ampel crop in pots. The foliage is green, round in shape, slightly carved at the edges, located on long cuttings. The flowers are numerous, up to 40 mm in diameter, white and blue.
Campanula latifolia
Campanula latifolia is a herbaceous crop up to 1.2 in height with a powerful and well-developed rhizome and spindle-shaped thickened lateral roots. The stem part is bare, cylindrical, with oblong-ovate foliage, characterized by sparse and soft, bilateral pubescence. Racemose inflorescences are represented by large, purple flowers. After flowering, capsule fruits with ovoid light brown seeds are formed.
The perennial is distinguished by a thin stem part no more than 25-30 cm high. The stem part is without foliage. The shoots are bush-shaped, up to 30 cm in diameter. The foliage is ovoid. The flowers are funnel-shaped, medium-sized, up to 50 mm in diameter, blue, purple or white. Flowering is long and abundant.
Decorative perennial with straight and well-leafed, branched stems up to one and a half meters high. It has a taproot system. The upper foliage is sessile, ovate-oblong, double-toothed. The lower leaves are located on short petioles. Large racemose inflorescences are represented by fragrant milky-white flowers, up to 40 mm in diameter.
Portenschlag's bell is one of the most popular species among amateur gardeners, which does not require special care and is distinguished by its high decorative properties. A very common perennial crop, it has heart-shaped foliage with characteristic jagged edges. It blooms for a long time, from May to September.
Bell dotted
Campanula punstata is a perennial crop with a rather thin and fibrous rhizome. The stem part is erect, slightly more than half a meter high, pubescent, simple, paniculate-branched in the upper part, rough and cylindrical. The foliage is hairy, paler at the bottom. The leaves are numerous.
The basal ovoid foliage is characterized by the presence of red hairy petioles. Stem foliage with short petioles or sessile type, ovate in shape. The flowers are large in size, drooping, located on long stalks, with pubescence. Flowering is abundant and occurs in mid-summer.
Double bell is a very widespread variety of decorative crop in home gardening. It is a variety of Capmanula equifolia. The hybrid form was obtained by crossing the Carpathian species (C.carpatica) with the spoon-leaved species (C.cochlearifolia). The bush-like plant is strewn with double flowers of different colors. The shades of the petals can vary from white to purple. The stem part is thin and flexible, with numerous carved leaves.
Other varieties
There are others, less common, but no less attractive varieties of decorative bells:
- hybrid form "Sarastro" with a bush height of 40-60 cm and a width of no more than 30-45 cm. A fairly compact crop is distinguished by large, numerous flowers of bright purple color. There is no need to tie up strong flower stalks;
- the pyramidal species is known to many under the name "Venus Belt". This perennial plant, up to one and a half meters high, has a smooth and hairless stem part with green foliage and numerous flowers;
- variety "Bernise" It is distinguished by strongly double flowers with an interesting and quite intense color. The height and width of the bush does not exceed half a meter. The flowers are a rich lilac color with petals that very effectively bend on the outside, towards the stem. The flower stalks are durable, and the carved dark green leaves have a slightly rough surface;
Bells: varieties (video)
- variety "Pozharsky"– the plant is very unpretentious, blooms profusely and for a long time, and is relatively tall. The above-ground part is represented by long shoots. The flowers are numerous, star-shaped;
- variety "Thyrsoid" or "Spike" often used in bouquets and is characterized by an erect, powerful, simple, grooved, reddish, densely and short bristly-hairy stem. The basal foliage gathers into a dense and lying rosette. The stem leaves are very closely spaced, numerous, linear-lanceolate, pointed and entire. The flowers are numerous, sessile, collected in dense, cylindrical or pyramidal-shaped spikes no more than a quarter of a meter high;
- variety "Pantaloons" refers to perennial plants with an aboveground part no more than half a meter high. A distinctive feature is represented by double flowers of quite large sizes;
- Caucasian variety "Sarmatian" little-known, but very highly decorative. Grows up to 0.4 m or a little more. Numerous attractive flowers have a very delicate honey scent;
- bell(C.saxifrāga) is a compact herbaceous plant with a height of the aboveground part of no more than 50 mm, slightly pubescent, serrated leaves and bell-shaped flowers of a dark bluish-violet hue;
- variety "Long-columnar"– the plant has an average height, no more than 30 cm in height. The leaves are very attractive heart-shaped. The flowers form a long and narrow, spike-shaped raceme, of a dense bluish-purple or deep blue color. Flowering occurs from May to the end of June. The culture is widely used in the design of rocky hills, and is also planted on borders and used for cutting to make miniature bouquets.
Features of growing bells (video)
Also very well known to flower growers "Chilean bell" or Lapageria with axillary single flowers and wire-like, bluish-green, highly branched branches up to ten meters high. The crowded bell or Freya plant also looks very beautiful.
Growing bells from seeds: technology and timing
The seed material of bells does not need to provide mandatory preliminary pre-sowing preparation. Seeds can be sown directly in flower beds in open ground around May or October. However, to obtain abundant and lush flowering in the year of sowing, it is recommended to grow the decorative perennial crop using the standard seedling method. For this purpose, the seeds are sown in March in planting containers filled with loose and nutritious, permeable soil mixture.
The best nutritious planting substrate based on humus and turf soil, as well as coarse-grained clean sand, mixed in a ratio of 3:6:1, has proven itself. The seed material is lightly pressed against the surface of well-moistened soil. Crops must be covered with transparent plastic film to create a greenhouse effect. Under temperature conditions of 18-20ºC and regular spraying, mass shoots appear in about a couple of weeks.
After the emergence of mass shoots, remove the film cover and place the container with seedling material in a bright and warm place, which must be protected from direct sunlight. Standard care for flower seedlings consists of regular watering with settled water at room temperature, as well as shallow loosening of the soil.
After the first true leaves appear, Seedlings of decorative crops need to be picked into separate seedling pots with a diameter of 10-12 cm. About a couple of weeks after diving, it is recommended to feed the flower seedlings with a special solution based on complex fertilizer.
Planting of seedlings in a permanent place is carried out in the last ten days of May or at the very beginning of summer. A significant part of the varieties belongs to the category of very light-loving ornamental perennials, Therefore, for planting you need to choose areas well lit by sunlight. The composition of the soil suitable for growing crops may also vary depending on the species and varietal characteristics.
Pre-planting preparation for heavy soils involves the addition of sand and humus, and for areas depleted of nutrients it is necessary to apply turf soil and basic fertilizers. It is strictly forbidden to introduce fresh manure and large amounts of peat during the digging process., since in this case the risk of damage to the ornamental perennial by fungal infections increases significantly.
Caring for a beautifully flowering plant is not difficult even for novice amateur gardeners. It is enough to systematically carry out irrigation measures, regularly loosen the soil and remove weeds, and also provide double fertilizing with basic complex fertilizers.
How to care for bluebells (video)
Garden bell is a favorite flowering plant not only for children, but also for many adults. This very unpretentious and decorative crop is perfect not only for decorating the local area, but has also been grown with great success in indoor floriculture for many years.
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 a characteristic feature for identifying the species.
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 large amounts of pollen and nectar, which 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. Several of the most decorative types of bells are suitable for garden cultivation.
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 increasingly lighter in color to a 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 of 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. It blooms with white, blue, blue flowers, the size of the flowers is 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 the site has clay soil, you need to add sand and humus to make the soil moisture- and breathable.
Portenschlag's bell is propagated by seeds and vegetatively, preferably in spring, by 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, does not tolerate stagnation of melt and waste water, and 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 a 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 are round in 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) is a perennial herbaceous 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, the bellflower 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 promptly remove faded flowers 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.
It grows very well in open areas 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 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, parsley, alpine aster, matricaria, cineraria.
Campanula nettlefolia (Campanula trachelium) - a plant up to 1 m high. It has a white, cord-like, deep-lying rhizome, spreading in different directions. 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. The lower leaves are ovate, 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 cornflower, cornflowers, delphinium, poppy, low ornamental grasses, 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
Bells are popularly considered garden flowers, with the only exception being Campanula equifolia, which is widespread in the culture of indoor plants, the main representatives of which are the popular varieties Mayi and Alba with white and bluish flowers, which are popularly referred to as the bride and groom.
But recently, compact and low-growing bells, which are intended for growing in open ground, are beginning to gain positions in indoor floriculture. The champions among these plants are the terry variety of bells.
Varieties and types of bells
It grows on the edges of bushes or on slopes. It is a perennial with a spindle-like root system and a straight or slightly branched stem. The leaves are ovoid, pointed, rough and pubescent underneath.
Depending on weather conditions, the bell grows up to one and a half meters. The flowers are not large, light blue in color, solitary or collected in groups in the axils of the leaves, creating racemose inflorescences.
Forms buds in June, the flowering period occurs from July to early August. Flowering lasts about two weeks, some plants continue their flowering period due to lateral stems. The number of flowers is very large, up to about a hundred, and sometimes more.
The seeds are collected in August. The bell flower reproduces very well by self-sowing. If you want to plant these flowers in your garden, you should sow the seeds before winter. This species is very dry-resistant. I have it growing on a rocky hill.
It is also a resident of forests, bushes and slopes. The flowers are solitary or collected in groups of two or four in the axil of the leaves, creating racemose inflorescences. The height of the plant does not exceed one meter. Flowering occurs a little earlier than Bolognese, but the flowering period is longer.
In favorable conditions, repeated flowering is possible. The seeds ripen in August. The boxes are collected before drying. These bells in the garden are not picky about the soil, but love wetter and quieter places. They look very good near bodies of water.
Distributed in pine forests, on slopes among bushes. The height of the stem is from ten to fifty centimeters. The flowers are solitary or placed in groups of two or three on the tops of spacious stems.
These garden bells begin the growing season earlier than other species; the flowering period occurs in June. Flowering lasts throughout the summer. The boxes need to be collected several times, because the presence of ripe fruits stops the flowering period of the plant.
It is better to sow the seeds of round-leaved bells in winter. Try scattering the seeds randomly and the plantings will surprise you with thick, spreading and thin stems that will form a green feather bed, equipped with small leaves and exquisite flowers.
It grows in forests, but the most favorite habitats are forest onions. It is possible to find them on poor soils of pine forests, but they do not create clumps here, but grow singly with two or three flowers on weak stems. And in the groves, next to the mighty oaks, the bells are especially luxurious.
They awaken later than other species, but their flowering period begins earlier. At the end of June, the seeds are already ripening, which can be easily poured out through the holes located in the upper part of the fruit. This species gives very good self-seeding. Flowering occurs in the second year. They differ from other species in the size of their flowers and drought resistance.
This perennial plant has a straight, simple stem with a milky sap. The leaves are bare, toothed, and the basal leaves are elongated and sessile. The flowers are large, single or collected in racemes, blue and sometimes white.
Loves forests, bushes and slopes, limestone outcrops, as well as wastelands and roadsides. This perennial with a thick branched stem up to a meter high. The entire plant is covered with rough short hairs. The basal and lower stem leaves are located on long petioles, heart-shaped-ovate, the upper lanceolate, serrated. Forms up to ten flowers on short stalks in a violet racemose inflorescence. Calyxes are hairy with curved teeth. The corolla is larger than the calyx, funnel-shaped.
In the garden, the height of this plant can reach two meters; the inflorescence can contain up to one hundred and fifty flowers. The bell plant grows at the end of March and blooms in June–July. It can be propagated by dividing the bush or by seeds. The seeds ripen in July August.
It is better to sow in winter. The plant self-sows. The seeds have a high germination rate, but require a period of rest. In the first year, a rosette with several leaves and a taproot appears. The next year, a stem and creeping underground shoots appear from this rosette, which give rise to new plants. Vegetative propagation continues from year to year, and over time the bells cover a very large area.
It grows in forests, on the edges, and lives well on dry onions. A perennial plant with a thick, almost tree-like rhizome and a straight, simple stem, often reddish and pubescent. The upper leaves are narrow, and the lower ones are ovate-elongated. Dark purple flowers collected in the inflorescence of the head in the axil of the upper leaves. The height of the plant is twenty-fifty centimeters, sometimes higher. They appear in early spring, flowering occurs in June, and the seeds ripen in August.
The crowded bell loves dry places, they look very beautiful in groups. Young root leaves contain milky juice; they are used together with sauerkraut to make soups. An infusion of leaves is used in folk medicine for sore throats and as a lotion for skin diseases. A good honey plant.
An unpretentious perennial. These are the most decorative bells. The flowers are large, light purple, collected in inflorescences. The height of the plant is from seventy to one hundred and fifty centimeters.
Flowering occurs in the second year. It begins to grow in early April. The budding phase occurs from the beginning of June, and at the end of the same month the flowering period begins. The stems are straight. The flowers are bell-shaped, which are located in the axils of the upper leaves and collected in a densely spike-shaped cluster.
Flowering occurs until the end of July. The seeds ripen in September. Autumn sowings produce good seedlings in the spring. Blooms densely in open sunny places. It is better to use sandy and loamy soil.
Perennial root-like plant. Very decorative, with large blue flowers, which can be found in gardeners’ flower beds, and white ones, which look like glasses, with a pyramidal inflorescence. The flowers are solitary, located at the top of the flower stalks. The heart-shaped leaves are mainly basal, the stems reach a height of up to forty centimeters.
Propagated by seeds, which are scattered on the surface of the soil and lightly compacted. Entire clumps are formed on dry soils. Loves sunny areas with fertile, well-drained soil. Used in landscaping flower beds and border design. These bells look good in rock gardens and on rocky hills, in any composition. It creates a particularly amazing contrast of shape and color with poppies.
The plant is biennial. Perhaps there is not a single flower lover who would not be delighted by the beauty of these amazingly beautiful flowers, collected in pyramidal inflorescences. Very decorative plants with colorful flowers.
Growing does not require much effort. They are planted in mixborders, in groups in flower beds and in mixed plantings. The ridges will be decorated with their delicate flowers. Since these flowers have tall, spreading stems, they are best planted in an area protected from the wind.
General information about house bells
Houseplants already include varieties of Carpathian bellflower, such as Thorpedo with purple flowers, as well as its white-flowered variety Alba. And recently, the analogy of a bride and groom with densely double pink flowers has appeared on the flower market.
These new items are represented by the blue and white form of the hybrid bell, obtained by crossing the bells of the spoon-leaved and Carpathian bells, which are known as dwarf ground cover plants intended for open ground.
One should make a reservation about the compactness of the bells. Since almost all plants that go on sale in flower shops are treated with retardants, these are substances that slow down plant growth. As a result, the plants have the appearance of a fairly thick and dense turf, while forming their shoots with shortened internodes, and flowering occurs in a cap. At the end of the effect of the drug, the plant returns to its natural growth form, after which it becomes looser.
In my opinion, there is nothing wrong with this. Since the bride and groom grow, even without chemical treatment, like hanging plants. Terry bells have approximately the same appearance, which look very beautiful in hanging flowerpots. Flowering occurs very abundantly. And individual flowers last for about five to seven days, but if you take into account the entire flowering period as a whole, it lasts quite a long time, which occurs from June to August.
It is advisable to remove wilted flowers, as well as shoots that have already completed their flowering period. This simple technique gives the plant an incentive to form new buds, and also helps to prolong the flowering period.
Carpathian bell planting and care at home
When cultivated, the requirements of terry varieties are approximately the same as those of the bellflower. You need to choose a fairly bright place with sufficiently bright, but at the same time diffused sunlight. This variety tolerates only light shading; with a lack of lighting, the shoots of the bells are stretched, and the flowering of the plant is greatly deteriorated or stops altogether.
Plants should be watered regularly to maintain soil moisture and there should be good drainage. Even if the earthen clod dries out for a short time, the buds may dry out. Excessive moisture is also not advisable, as it often causes root rot. Also, terry bells do not tolerate very dry air, which causes the leaves to dry out at the edges.
Feeding Carpathian bellflower
The plant needs regular fertilizing with organic and mineral fertilizers for abundant flowering, which should be done every couple of weeks.
An important condition for these plants, in indoor conditions, is wintering with cool conditions at a sufficiently high level of lighting. A glazed loggia with a low, but still positive temperature is optimal.
Carpathian bell propagation by cuttings
If the bell has become elongated during the winter, then in the spring it can be cut very short. All cut stems can be used for cuttings. The plant is quite resistant to diseases and pests.
The interspecific hybrid of the bell is sterile, and for this reason cannot form seeds, so the plant is propagated only by vegetative means. The optimal time for this is spring. New plants can most easily be obtained by dividing a bush into several parts, or from stem cuttings with three to four internodes.
It should be taken into account that damaged bell tissue secretes milky juice; for this reason, the cuttings are first placed in water to release the juice, and only after that they are planted in a moist substrate consisting of sand and peat, perlite or vermiculite.
To create greenhouse conditions with high humidity, you can cover the cuttings with a plastic bag, after which they must be placed in a bright place, but without direct sunlight. Rooting will occur over a period of several weeks.
