Perennial garden bells (lat. Campanula) have a simple flower shape, not overloaded with complex combinations of petals and stamens. They are popular among gardeners due to their bright and long-lasting blooms. Bells resemble church bells, which is where they got their name; they are also popularly called flowers of faith and hope.

Types of bells and their names

There are approximately 300 species of bells in the world. Let's look at the most popular varieties among gardeners.

Broadleaf bell (lat. Campanula latifolia)

One of the tallest types of bells, the stems of which reach one and a half meters in height. Large serrate leaves are unevenly distributed along the stems; in their axils there are clusters of blue, white or purple bells up to 6 cm long.

Prefers moist soils and partial shade and is found in the wild. Transplantation of an adult plant does not tolerate well. In gardens you can find double forms of the flower. The most common varieties in Russia are Alba and Bruntwood.

Campanula lactiflora (lat. Campanula lactiflora)

A tall plant (up to 150 cm), found in the mountains of the Caucasus and Asia. The stem is powerful, highly branched in its upper part. The flowers are white or purple, 3-4 cm in diameter, collected in large inflorescences.

Prefers sunny places and reproduces by sowing seeds. The most popular varieties are Coerulea and Loddon Anne.

Nettle-leaved bell (lat. Campanula trachelium)

The stem is reddish in color, up to one meter high, and covered with hairs. Single flowers of white, blue or purple are located in the axils of the upper leaves on short stalks.

The plant prefers shady, damp soils of forests and ravines. The variety is undemanding to soil composition, winter-hardy, and moisture-loving. Does not tolerate transplantation, but easily propagates by self-sowing.

Carpathian bellflower (lat. Campanula carpatica)

It got its name from the mountains, at the foot of which it is often found in nature. Plant height 30-35 cm; branching, herbaceous stems and large, up to 5cm flowers distinguish this species.

The easiest way to propagate the Carpathian bell is by growing from seeds, but you can also use cuttings and dividing the bush. The most popular variety is White Star.

Pointed bell (lat. Campanula punctata)

(6. Bell dotted Elizabeth)

In our country it occurs naturally on the banks of forest rivers in the Far East. Compact, branching plant up to 50 cm tall with large (5-6 cm) white, blue, lilac flowers. The corolla of the flower is pubescent, covered with burgundy dots.

The dotted bell, planting and caring for which does not require much effort, is perfect for alpine slides and flower beds in a natural style.

Choosing a location and planting bells

Perennial bells can become a real decoration for a garden in a landscape style; the varieties, photos and descriptions of which are presented in our material are the most suitable for growing in Russia - unpretentious and do not require special care. We will consider in detail their planting in open ground using seed and seedling methods.

Choosing a planting site and soil

Numerous bellflower species are similar in their soil preferences: loose, well-drained areas with light partial shade. In open sun, flowering will be short-lived. Plants do not tolerate stagnant moisture well, so wetlands are not suitable for them.

Propagation of bells by seeds

Bluebells reproduce well by seeds, but wild species should be limited due to active self-seeding. Bell seeds are planted in October in soil dug to a depth of 30-40 cm and cleared of weeds.

In heavy loamy soils, it is advisable to add sand, peat and compost. The distance between the seedlings is maintained at 2 cm, without deepening them, but only lightly sprinkling them with earth. With this method, the seeds germinate three weeks after the snow melts. After 2-3 months, the plants are transplanted to a permanent place.

You can propagate bells by seedlings by sowing them in boxes in March. They are covered with glass or polyethylene on top, periodically ventilating and spraying the shoots with a spray bottle. After a couple of weeks, the shelter can be removed and the seedlings can be dived. At the beginning of June, you can plant seedlings in flower beds.

Reproduction of bells by root division

Propagation of bells by dividing the root is usually carried out in August, after the above-ground part of the plant is cut off after flowering. The bush is dug up, the rhizome is cut into pieces with a shovel and the plots are planted in a permanent place, at a distance of at least 50 cm from each other.

Caring for perennial bells

Watering bells should be done as the soil dries; in rainy weather it is not carried out at all to avoid moisture stagnation.

Feeding perennial bells

Bluebells do not require complex fertilization schedules; It is enough to feed them with nitrogen fertilizers in April, and before flowering (in mid-July) add complex mineral fertilizers. Nitrophoska works well at the rate of 70 grams per 1 sq. m ridges. After flowering, you can replenish the soil composition with superphosphate.

Garter and trimming

Tall types of bells need a garter or supports, since abundant flowering and green mass contribute to lodging of the plant. During flowering, it is advisable to remove old peduncles if there is no need to collect seeds.

Cleaning the inflorescences will save the plant’s strength and extend the overall flowering period. After the bells have faded, the bush loses its decorative appearance and is completely pruned. During the cold season, in regions with particularly harsh winters, the bells are covered with spruce branches; in its absence, the pruned bush is sprinkled with compost.

Bottom line

Bluebells go well with lush garden plants and rarely act as the main crops in flower beds. They are used to fill space, they are indispensable companions in creating decorations and highlighting design elements of the garden and paths. The main feature of bells is their abundant flowering and ease of propagation with virtually no care.

In the language of florists, the bell sounds quite unusual - “Campanula”. This name comes from the Latin and Italian word "campana", which means "bell". This is exactly the shape of the bell's corolla. This explains why it is known in our country under this name, which is officially enshrined in the domestic botanical nomenclature.

Throughout history, bells have been treated with love in Russia. This is once again proven by the affectionate names that were used when mentioning campanula in different places: pichuzhnitsy, chebotki, bells, chenilles... And, if you believe the old belief, a person can hear the ringing of a bell only once a year - on the magical night before Ivan Kupala .

Description

The perennial bell plant develops a simple or branched stem of small size, reaching a height of 5-150 cm. The leaves have a regular arrangement; in some species they are presented in the form of a rosette. Most bellflower species have paniculate flowers, and in more rare cases they are racemose; there are also plants with solitary inflorescences.

Growing

Basically perennial flowers bluebells can grow on any soil, however, even here they have their own preferences. It is recommended to plant them on well-treated soils that provide high-quality drainage, have a neutral or slightly alkaline reaction and are provided with the necessary nutrition. Typically, drainage channels or drainage pipes are installed to solve the drainage problem. This must be done, since stagnation of moisture in winter has an extremely negative effect on the plant, as there is a danger of root rotting and freezing. Areas where moisture accumulates after rain or during snow melt are unsuitable for growing garden bells.

When planting perennial bell flowers, you must keep in mind that the plant can grow well on them only with neutral and slightly alkaline soil reaction.

• to plant bearded and cut-out bells, you will have to prepare an area where soil with a slightly acidic reaction should predominate;
• mountain wild species of bells, whose natural habitat is limestone rocks, will feel better in slightly alkaline soils. Therefore, before you start planting a plant, you need to add a small amount of lime to the soil.

Kinds

The bell genus includes many diverse species that differ not only in their habitat, but also in other features.

Bluebell Carpathian

This species is most often found on calcareous rocks and in the upper mountain belt of Europe. Among the morphological characteristics it is worth highlighting presence of fibrous whitish root. The plant forms many stems 20-40 cm high, usually having a straight, branched shape, thanks to which the bush acquires its characteristic spherical shape. Heart-shaped leaves are located on long petioles. The largest are the basal leaves, reaching a length of 5 cm; the leaves located on the stems are smaller.

The inflorescences grow solitary and are large, reaching a length and width of 3 cm. The characteristic color is blue. The flowering of this type of bell begins in June-early July, but already begins to fade in mid-September. Throughout the entire period, the flowers retain a bright, rich color. Between August and October, seeds begin to ripen and retain high germination rate (up to 90%). If collection is delayed, seeds can reproduce by self-sowing.

This view predominates in shady, mixed forests. The usual habitat is Europe, Western Siberia, North Africa. Many people know this plant as bellweed, hogweed, gooseneck, throat grass and lotion grass, which can be explained by its healing properties, since it helps with inflammation of the throat. You can make a salad from the leaves and roots of this bell, and the young leaves are used as an additive to cabbage soup.

Bellflower

The favorite habitats of this species are the limestone mountains of Europe. It grows in the form of a low-growing creeping perennial, which produces thread-like stems 10-18 cm high. Adult specimens often form a dense turf. The characteristic color of the leaves is light green. Bell flowers have a white and blue tint, grow drooping, not exceed 1 cm in diameter, are presented in the form of loose inflorescences. The flowering time begins in mid-June and continues until the end of August. Throughout the entire phase they demonstrate abundant flowering and fruiting. They reproduce easily by self-seeding. They do not lose their attractiveness until late autumn.

Campanula lactiflora

Most often, this plant can be found in the upper, forest and subalpine zones of the Caucasus and Asia Minor mountains. It is a tall plant, reaching a height of 60-100 cm, and has a large number of brushes that decorate the branched stem in the upper part.

The flowers are quite small and their diameter does not exceed 3 cm; they can have different colors within from milky white to purple color, presented in the form of wide pyramidal inflorescences, include up to 100 different shades. It begins to bloom in June-July, when many flowers open at the same time. Fruiting is also abundant in August, when many seeds begin to ripen.

This variety of bell is most abundant in the forests and forest edges of Europe, the Caucasus and Western Siberia. Before the growing season, they look like a rosette of basal leaves, from which by mid-summer a slender, strong stem 60 cm high grows. It is decorated with miniature linear-lanceolate leaves that are dark green in color. Clusters of blue or white flowers hang at the very top of the stem. The flower forms a corolla with a broad bell-shaped shape, reaches a width of 3-3.5 cm. There are garden species that are decorated with double flowers. The first flowers open in June and decorate the area until the end of summer.

After wilting, the shoots begin to bear fruits that look like capsules containing many seeds, which reach maturity in August-September. Some species are capable of reproduction by self-seeding. If necessary, you can prolong the flowering of this species and preserve its decorative properties. To do this, it is important to avoid the ripening of seeds, for which it is necessary to promptly remove faded flowers. To obtain seeds, it is recommended to leave individual tender specimens of the peach bell. The photo of the plant is almost no different from the original.

Pozharsky's bell

This member of the family most often lives on the calcareous rocks of Southern Europe and the Balkans. During the growing season forms a dense pillow 15-20 cm high, which consists of heart-shaped petioled leaves combined with a large number of peduncles. The characteristic shape of the inflorescences is broadly bell-shaped, almost star-shaped. The flowers of the Pozharsky bell have a light plum-blue color.

Conclusion

Bluebell is one of those ornamental plants that even beginning gardeners have heard of. This plant has inflorescences that do not stand out in any way, but this does not reduce interest in it. You can also grow bells in your summer cottage, but it is advisable to choose suitable place to plant it. Although this plant is undemanding to the soil, the presence of a fertile composition benefits the bellflower. It is very important to take care of the presence of high-quality drainage, since in swampy soil conditions this plant can easily die.

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.

Bluebells are one of the most versatile flowers for the garden. They have many varieties, and winter hardiness is excellent. I consider them universal because there is no garden where a curtain of bells would not come in handy. They are unpretentious to soils and easy to care for. And with them you can create an endless number of design options for flower beds, flower beds and borders in the garden.

Planting a bluebell

As a rule, planting material is purchased during flowering. Therefore, when planting, all flowers of bells need to be trimmed. If the bells are planted on hot days, they are watered every other day and shaded.

It is better to choose a place for planting low-growing bells in the sun, otherwise the bushes will be loose and elongated. It is better to place other types of bells in partial shade.

Soil for planting bells

1. Bells are undemanding to soil composition. In my garden, I mix regular soil with coarse sand and add bone meal.
2. Any soil with the addition of fine gravel is suitable for bells - rocky soil.
3. They do not like too fertile soil; on them, plants grow an impressive mass of leaves, and then die off after the first winter.
4. Acidity is not important for bluebells. They work a little better on peat bogs.
5. They cannot tolerate stagnant water. When planting bells in areas where water stagnates, drainage is necessary.

Planting dates for bluebells

It is better to plant bells in spring, in the first half of summer or at the end of summer. It is important to have time to plant before the end of the first ten days of September.

Caring for bluebells

Bluebells are easy to care for. In my garden, I don’t feed the bells, I just weed them in a timely manner and add soil around the bush in the spring.

• On dry days they need moderate watering.
• Species such as Carpathian bell and Pozharsky bell need pruning. After flowering, the bushes are shortened by half.
• It happens that bells disappear after particularly harsh winters. To avoid this, plants need to be divided and replanted approximately every 3-4 years. Then the center of the bush will not be exposed and the plant will not freeze.
• Bluebells are best propagated by seeds. The plant has a taproot and does not tolerate transplantation very well.

Types and varieties of bells

Today there are about 300 types of bells. All of them grow in the northern hemisphere, so they are excellent for growing in the Moscow region. Most types and varieties of bells can withstand all the surprises of winter.

• There are tall bells, and there are very small ones - no higher than 10 cm.
• Perennial and biennial species are known.
• The color of the flowers ranges from snow-white, pink, pale blue to rich blue or even purple.

In a word, bells can please the most demanding gardener.

However, not all varieties are suitable for growing in harsh climatic zones. The following types of bellflowers do not overwinter in my garden in the northern Moscow region:

1. Gargan bell,
2. crowded bell,
3. saxifrag bell,
4. cushion-shaped bell,
5. alpine bell.

Tall bluebells

Some tall bluebells grow up to 1.5 m tall. The tallest are varieties with simple flowers. For example, the peach-leaved bell with blue flowers and the broad-leaved Alba bell with white flowers. The tallest growth is the Campanula lactiflora.

In my garden, the most resistant variety was Cerulea with pale blue flowers. There is a variety called Alba with white inflorescences and Loddon Anna with soft pink ones.

Campanula latifolia

• Grows up to 1 m tall.
• It overwinters well and grows quickly.
• Propagates by self-sowing.
• Loves moist soils.

Looks impressive in group plantings. Interesting are its elongated flowers, white in the Alba variety and purple in the Makranta variety.

Bellflower peach

• Got its name from the similarity of the leaves to peach foliage
• The plant is distinguished by wide-open flowers that are raised upward.
• All terry varieties of the group reach a height of about 40 cm.

An interesting variety is Flore Pleno with double lilac flowers, La Belle with double pale blue inflorescences and Snow White with double white bells.

Campanula nettlefolia

• It is distinguished by small flowers, but abundant flowering.
• The plant's foliage dies off at the end of June, so you need to remember the planting location so as not to accidentally damage the bell.

Its variety “Bernice” with double dark blue flowers is interesting.

Campanula lactiflora

• The tallest of the group.
• Characterized by long-lasting (up to 1 month) flowering.
• The plant can reach 1.5 – 1.8 m.

From approximately the middle of the height of the stem at the time of budding, additional shoots with buds emerge, so that during flowering even one bell bush looks like an air cloud.

Photo: Campanula lactiflora Cerulea

Medium-sized bluebells

1. The Rubra variety is interesting. It has the darkest, almost purple, flowers.
2. An attractive variety is “Pantalons” with a dark pink color on the outer petals and a white stripe along each petal; the plant height is about half a meter.
3. Bellflower dotted and Campanula Takeshima have been popular with gardeners in recent years. They have very large flowers that “look” down. However, over time, I abandoned these species in my garden due to excessive aggressiveness.

“Aggressive” bells should be planted separately from other perennials. After a couple of years, the creeping root system will make the bells the only inhabitants in the flowerbed, crowding out the rest of the plants.

Low growing bluebells

Bluebell Carpathian

1. The most famous low bell.
2. Reaches about 20 cm in height.
3. The plants form a neat rosette, the leaves of which are not visible during flowering.

Varieties Alba and White Star have white flowers. The popular variety Isabelle is distinguished by its heavenly-toned flowers. The Yulaumeise variety has blue flowers. The purple color distinguishes the Karpatenkrone variety.

Pozharsky's bell

1. The most unpretentious of bells.
2. Withstands even snowless winters.
3. Propagated by shoots, seeds and division of the bush. The easiest way to propagate is to take cuttings from pruned shoots in the spring.

Known varieties are Frost with white flowers and Stella with large blue flowers.

Portenschlag's bell

1. Somewhat similar in inflorescences to the previous species, but the bush is more compact, without creeping shoots.
2. Presented with blue flowers.
3. Looks great on alpine slides.

Campanula Spoonfolia

1. The smallest one.
2. Possible freezing in harsh winters.

A beautiful variety with double flowers is Powder Poof, with white simple flowers Alba and with blue flowers - Miss Wilmot.

Campanula Platycodon

The incomparable Platycodons also belong to the Bellflower family, although they stand somewhat apart. This is a Japanese bell, its second name is wide bell.

• The plants are distinguished by widely spaced petals; they are located almost in a horizontal plane. Veins are clearly visible on each of the petals.
• It is interesting to observe Platycodon during the budding period: its buds are inflated, like square envelopes.
• It is better to propagate by seeds, because the presence of a single long taproot does not serve the plant well when transplanted.
• The plants are not easy to care for: they do not tolerate stagnant water and may fall out in some winters.
• There are dwarf and tall varieties up to half a meter in height, with white, pink and blue flowers.

Photo: Platycodon

Bells in garden design

Bells are such diverse and amazing flowers that you can collect them in your garden for a long time, creating an interesting collection and various compositions.

1. Bells indispensable in a natural garden, next to wildflowers or surrounded by gorgeous roses.

2. The combination turns out to be interesting. bell with various grains.

3. Campanula lactiflora can become the center of attention in the garden as a tapeworm or represent the background of a mixborder.

4. Pozharsky's bell will become indispensable near a pond, and various varieties of low-growing bells will refresh a rock garden or alpine hill.

5. Good medium height or short bells There will also be miniature conifers in the garden.

6. Bluebell Carpathian , for example, you can plant them along the border of any flower garden.

The bell flower is known to many gardeners because of its unpretentiousness and beautiful appearance. These flowers can be found in the wild, but very often they are planted in the garden. An unpretentious and beautiful flower grows in the temperate climates of Asia, Europe and America. The bell flower feels great in our climate too.

Many varieties of bluebells are perennials, but there are also annuals.

Description of perennial bells

People also call the bell a chebotok, bell or chenille. Bell flowers belong to perennials, but there are also annual plants.

What does a bell look like:

1. The leaves of the flower are arranged alternately. Flower in the form of a bell. Depending on the variety, the color of the inflorescences can be either white or purple.
2. Usually the flowers are collected in tassels, but there are also varieties with single large flowers.
3. Perennial seeds can be of different sizes. For planting, you need to select only the largest seeds without any stains or signs of rot.
4. The height of the flower, depending on the variety, may vary. There are low-growing, medium-growing and tall-growing flowers.

Varieties of garden flowers

In nature there is a large number of varieties of bells, each of which has decorative value for gardeners. All varieties can be divided into several classes. Most often they are divided according to growth time into:

• Annuals;
• Two-year-olds;
• Perennial.

Perennials are the most numerous in terms of the number of species. They are divided according to the height of the plant into low-growing, medium-growing and tall-growing.

Annuals include:

1. The bluebell is low-growing. It is perfect for decorating borders or alpine slides. The height is usually no more than 10 centimeters. The inflorescences have a soft blue tint.
2. Long-columnar. The tallest of the annuals, its height can reach 0.5 m. The inflorescences are large, on one stem there can be up to 50 turquoise flowers, up to 4 centimeters in diameter.
3. Mirror of Venus. A very common type of bell. The height of the plant is no more than 30 centimeters. The flowers are saucer-shaped in blue or lilac. On one panicle there are many flowers with a diameter of up to two centimeters. The flowering period is from June to September.

Varieties of biennial varieties:

1. Hoffman's bell. The height of the flower can be half a meter, the flowers are drooping type, white or cream in color.
2. Large bell. The height of the plant can be more than a meter, the flowers are collected in panicles of several pieces on one inflorescence, most often have a light purple hue. The flowering period occurs in June and July.
3. Middle bell. This flower variety is usually grown as an annual. Its stem is straight. Flowers are collected in inflorescences in the shape of a pyramid. The color of the inflorescences is most often white, blue or pink.

Tall varieties of bells include flowers that form bushes more than 40 centimeters high.

Tall varieties include peach bell. It got its name because of the shape of its leaves, which are very similar to a peach.

The diameter of the flowers can reach five centimeters, they are collected in panicles. The height of the plant reaches a meter. The bluebell blooms all summer.

The most common varieties:

• Bell. Its height is from 40 to 80 centimeters, the flowers are collected in tassels of white or purple shade.
• Campanula lactiflora. Height is about a meter. The flowers are collected in the shape of a pyramid; one inflorescence can contain up to 100 flowers of purple, lilac or white shades.
• Bored. Can be either short or tall. Flowers are collected in multi-level inflorescences of white, blue or purple shades.

Varieties of low-growing perennials:

• Carpathian. The most popular variety of perennials. Height no more than 30 centimeters. The flowers are solitary, funnel-bell-shaped, white, blue or purple.
• Gargansky. A low perennial flower with star-shaped blue flowers.
• Major. Perennial plant with blue flowers.
• Shamiso. A small variety of bells, height - about 10 centimeters. Flowers are most often purple, blue, and white.
• Spoonleaf leaf. It grows in height no more than 12 centimeters, the flowers are small, drooping, white, purple or blue.
• Pozharsky's bell. Forms cushion-shaped bushes no more than 20 centimeters high. The flowers are star-shaped and wide open. Most often, the inflorescences have a blue, lilac hue.
• Portenschlag. A low-growing plant no more than 10 centimeters high with blue or purple flowers.
• Spot. The height of the flower is no more than 25 cm, the plant has sparse tassels of pink flowers with black dots inside.

Medium-sized varieties of bells include:

• Takeshima. The height of the plant stems is 60 cm. It blooms in June. The flowers are simple, double, blue, pink or white.
• Spot. It has a thin fibrous stem no more than half a meter high. The goblet-shaped flowers are creamy with purple dots.
• Sarasto. Externally similar to a dotted one. The height of the plant reaches 60 centimeters, the flowers are bright purple with a diameter of 7 centimeters.

How to plant perennials correctly

Not many gardeners know how plant flowers correctly. There are several simple rules for planting this crop.

Rules for planting perennial bells:

1. It is necessary to prepare the soil for planting. The planting container is filled with nutritious soil, which should contain manure and turf soil, and the seeds are planted in it. Before planting, the soil must be loosened and watered. The seeds are planted to a depth of no more than 2 centimeters and sprinkled with soil. It is necessary to prepare seeds in early spring.
2. The container with the seeds is placed in a bright place where the air temperature is at least 18 degrees plus. As soon as the seedlings appear, you need to loosen the seedlings, water them and remove diseased leaves. Flowers should grow in a planting container for no more than 3 weeks.
3. Plants are transplanted into open ground in May or June. You need to determine an area where there is enough sunlight. This place should be protected from the wind. The soil must be drained and slightly alkaline.
4. Before planting seedlings, the soil is dug up to a depth of at least 20 centimeters.
5. Then they add fertilizer, preferably manure.
6. Make small holes and plant plants in them. The distance between the holes must be at least 15 cm.

Plant care

Caring for plants does not require much effort and is no different from caring for other flowers. Unpretentiousness of bells to the ground, watering and fertilizing will allow you to get excellent results with little expense:

• Plants do not need to be watered regularly. Watering is carried out only in hot weather.
• Water the flowers at the root, while preventing water from getting on the foliage and inflorescences. After watering, the soil needs to be loosened and weeds removed.
• Feeding is carried out twice a season. First, nitrogen fertilizers are applied in the spring, as soon as the snow has melted. Then complex fertilizers are used as top dressing. They are introduced during the period when the plant is gaining color.
• To bloom for a long time, you need to remove dried inflorescences.

Plant propagation

Reproduction is a separate issue. It is possible to breed a culture in several ways.

You can propagate perennials using:

1. Semyon. This technique is quite difficult, because when propagated from seeds, bells may lose their varietal characteristics. This breeding technique begins with preparing and planting seeds in special containers with soil. When the plants grow up, they are planted in open ground.
2. Cuttings. This breeding technique should begin with the preparation of shoots. This is done in early spring. The shoots are cut from healthy young stems. They are planted in a container with prepared soil. As soon as the seedlings take root, they can be planted in open ground.
3. Bush divisions. This breeding technique can be used when the plant is more than 3 years old. To do this, you need to dig up an adult bush and cut it into sections, which are then planted in other places on the site.

The bell grows quite quickly, so it has to be replanted regularly. The plant looks very beautiful in a flower bed, in particular, if several varieties of flowers of different shades are planted together.