Since ancient times, bell flowers, growing freely in the wild conditions of nature, have attracted everyone's attention, as a result, breeders came up with the idea to use this beautiful, modest and touching plant to decorate gardens and suburban areas. In addition, bells are perennial flowers, so growing them is not only beautiful, but also practical.

In Russia, such plants are loved local residents so much so that they came up with various affectionate names such as doves, bells, bells, chebotki, chenilles.

Legends were made about gentle bells, and according to one of the legends, these flowers appeared in those days when people began to ride three horses to the cheerful ringing of bells.

Where these chimes sounded, bells grew, which also made a quiet ringing, but it could only be heard the night before on the night of Ivan Kupala.

Beneficial properties of perennial bells

After a certain period of time, villagers began to plant bells in their front gardens, but they used these flowers not only as decoration, but also to treat certain ailments. It was believed that these modest flowers helped cope with ulcers, sore throats, erysipelas, mastitis and epilepsy.

In addition, there are many types of bells, and among them there are edible and melliferous plants, the roots and leaves of which can be used in cooking for pickling, stewing, preparing soups, salads.

How to grow bluebells in the garden. General rules for planting and care.

You need to choose a place for planting that is sunny or lightly shaded. The soil will be suitable any, well drained.

Drained soil is soil brought to normal water balance. This is most often achieved by constructing active or passive removal of excess moisture. Active removal is used, for example, on modern football fields. Passive - sandy or rocky layer in the soil.

You cannot plant garden bells:

• to areas where water stagnates;
• in lowlands with loamy or clayey soil;
• places that are flooded with water.

In any other places you can grow bells and they will feel great. In the event that groundwater located close to the surface, you can create a tall, raised flower bed and provide good drainage.

How to plant perennial garden bellflower.

The soil for planting should be loose, with sufficient nutrients. To do this, add peat, humus, and turf soil to heavy soils (loam or clay soil).

Bluebells reproduce best by bushes. You can also grow your own bellflower seedlings from seeds.

The time when to plant garden bells is very convenient. This can be done twice per season in autumn and spring. Namely:

• perennial bells for rock gardens (these include Carpathian bell, spoon-leaved, wall, Pozharsky, Gargan) are propagated by dividing bushes and nests in the spring;
• these same low-growing bells for the rock garden are planted by cuttings for propagation in an unheated greenhouse at the beginning of summer;
• flower bed bells, which are grown as biennials, are planted with seeds in May - June, seedlings are planted on permanent place in the fall. Growing bells from seeds is a very simple task, even a novice gardener can do it.

Flowers are planted in holes, which are watered abundantly before planting. Lay the bush, straighten the roots and sprinkle with earth. Planting flowers in the fall must be done so that they take root before the onset of frost.

Feeding perennial bluebells

In order for flowers to delight us with their blooming, they must be fertilized and the necessary fertilizing must be applied.

• In the spring, you need to add nitrogen or any nitrogen-containing fertilizers to the soil that promote the growth of green mass of plants.
• In summer, complex and phosphorus fertilizers are used to garden flowers.
• In the fall, add potassium, it will increase the plants' resistance to frost.

Perennial bells planting and care

The main care for flowers is in summer. They need to be periodically loosened, weeds removed, and fertilized, especially before flowering.

Propagation of perennial garden bells

1. Growing from seeds. Most species of these flowers can be propagated by seeds; they repeat the properties of the parent plants. Only some varieties, for example terry ones, may differ from their parents. In this case, they are propagated vegetatively.

The bell seeds are very small, so they are laid out on the soil and sprinkled with a thin layer of sand.

When to plant bluebells with seeds? In the 2nd half of October or May, the seeds are sown in the ground. Through seedlings at home, flower seeds are planted for seedlings, starting in March.

The first shoots appear approximately 2 weeks after planting. When 3 true leaves appear, the seedlings dive after 10 cm. The flowers are transplanted into flower beds and flower beds in early June. Garden bells bloom within a year.

2. Propagation by cuttings. Young shoots are cut into cuttings and planted in an unheated greenhouse.

Bells are perennial flowers - popular varieties and species.

Bell flowers have long been cultivated, but some gardeners prefer to decorate their gardens with wild species, as they see zest and grace in them.

In most cases, cultivated varieties specially bred by breeders are planted in private gardens.

There are now more than four hundred different varieties such plants, and the flowers on many of them have long ceased to have the traditional blue or bluish color. So, in gardens you can find bells of violet, light lilac, soft pink, ocher-yellow, fawn and white corolla colors. Naturally, all varieties differ from each other not only in color, but also in the timing of flowering, as well as in the size of the leaves.

That is why every gardener has a great opportunity to choose the most suitable varieties of bells for decorating gardens, rockeries, borders, and vertical flower arrangements.

Bluebell Carpathian

The most popular type. The Carpathian bell is actively used to create alpine slides and rockeries. In nature, it grows in the mountains, so it looks great among the stones, very quickly forming a large fluffy ball of flowers from small seedlings.

Bell-shaped or star-shaped flowers are white or blue. Plant height 25 cm. Flowering lasts from June to September. Refers to perennial flowers that bloom all summer. It is worth noting that this is an unpretentious plant. In spring it is necessary to protect the plant from slugs. During drought, water regularly.

Bell dotted

It gets its name from the crimson speckles on the white petal visible from inside the flower. The peculiarity of the flower’s shape is that it resembles a blown barrel and tapers to petal blades. Incredibly beautiful. It will be a wonderful decoration for your suburban area.

The flower consists of 5 connected petals, forming a bell-like corolla. The bell also has 10 green cloves at the flower stem. 5 of them are raised up, and the rest are lowered down.

Hanging flowers reach 4 centimeters and are collected in lush inflorescences. The lower leaves are on cuttings. The upper ones do not have this part, so they are classified as sessile. They have very hard fluff, which is very noticeable when you touch it.

Varieties of this bell are bred in different colors:

• pink
• blue
• burgundy
• white
• deep blue

The popularity of the dotted bell is increased due to its diversity.

1. For example, the Otello variety is rich in color pigments. That's why even its sheets are painted. They are characterized by a brown color. 'Kent Bell' has very large bright blue flowers and a stem that grows over 70cm.
2. IN lately The “Cherry Bells” variety is highly sought after, with milky petal tips, a pink base and lots of red flecks throughout the flower. He is short, only about half a meter. Breeders promise to soon release terry variations of this variety.
3. Many gardeners like the double dotted bell, the so-called double bell. In this form, additional petals are formed from the stamens.

Terry like characteristic feature This bell is not very durable. Its availability may vary due to climate, weather and growing conditions. And the age of the plant and very hot weather contribute to the preservation of terry. Young plants are least likely to produce double flowers.

Of course, some of the varieties of this bell are capricious. But among them there are sure to be many resistant plants, which can decorate any garden, wherever it is. Growing bellflower is not the most carefree activity. After all, this flower needs scrupulous care.

Bellflower peach leaf.

Belongs to border perennials. Peach bell planting and care is possible in garden beds and a flower garden. Plant height 75 cm. Flower color - white or blue. The flowers are cup-shaped, large. A very popular plant among gardeners.

Planting peach bell on sandy, clay or loamy soils is possible with drainage and a large amount of humus. The flower is not afraid of shade; it loves soil with a neutral or slightly acidic reaction.

You should not add a lot of fertilizers, as this will negatively affect the durability of plants in winter and lead to their rapid aging.

The peach-leaf bell is propagated by seeds. They are sown in small greenhouses starting in mid-spring. You should not collect peach bell seeds yourself - they do not inherit parental characteristics. In July, the seedlings are harvested, and in August they are planted in a permanent place. For the winter, the plant is covered with peat or a 15-20 cm layer of dry leaves. With proper care, next year the bluebell may bloom. If you delay planting or picking, the buds will appear only in the third year.

Peach-leaved species are not long-lived plants, although they are perennial bluebells. Planting and care during propagation by division make it possible to inherit parental characteristics. The transplant is done at the beginning or end of summer, and the roots should be covered with clods of earth. Cuttings are also often used and are done in sand. For effective flowering, you need to periodically feed the bell. Growing will be effective if fertilizers are applied correctly. Nitrogen is used in spring, and before flowering - various complex mineral fertilizers. In addition, faded shoots are pruned so that the blooming bells will delight the eye longer.

Flowering is long, from June to August. Removing spent flowers prolongs flowering.

You can use bells of different colors and types not only in group settings, but also single landings Moreover, such compositions will not seem boring at all.

Tell:

All bells have a varied appearance and grow in middle lane Russia and in the south of its country. Flowers tolerate heat, low temperatures and various diseases . Description of the most the best varieties And brief information information about the birthplace is given below.

IN modern world There are many bells that are grown in garden conditions and delight the gardener with their flowers. Now let's look in more detail at the varieties of this plant.

Peach leaf ( Campanula Persicifolia)

This is not perennial variety lives only 2-3 years, after which it dies. It is called Peachleaf because of its leaf blades that resemble peach leaves. The height of the bush is 100 cm. Flowering continues all summer long if drying shoots are pruned in a timely manner. Flowers have different shades:

• Blue;
• Purple-blue;
• White double flowers.

The seed pods ripen at the end of August. Prefers sunny places.

If groundwater lies close to the soil surface in the garden, then there is a need for a drainage pad made of fine gravel 10 cm high.

Field or Meadow

Field bells are found, as the name suggests, in the wild in the fields and meadows of our country. The bush is not high altitude 40 cm. Bloom meadow plant lasts all June with flowers lilac color.

Perennial varieties

All varieties are perennial. And therefore, when choosing a place for them in the garden, you should take this into account.

Garden

A separate type No garden variety, but any wild or varietal flower can grow in the garden.

Roundleaf (Campanula rotundifolia)

The plant is tall and grows to a height of 60 cm. The leaf blades die off during flowering. Blue flowers bloom in June. This type of Bluebell is considered medicinal.

Spreading (Campanula patula)

The Caucasus Mountains are considered the birthplace of this plant. This is a two-year-old plant with a herbaceous straight stem, highly branched, due to which it grows as a very spreading bush. The leaf blades are arranged spirally on the stem, have an oblong shape, pointed towards the end of the plate.

The flowers are collected in a panicle and have a lilac color and, depending on the soil and lighting, sometimes acquire a light purple tint. Each individual flower has the shape of a funnel consisting of five equal parts. Flowering begins in early June and lasts all summer. It easily propagates by self-sowing, but if there is a desire to collect seeds, then you need to catch the moment of their maturation and shake them out of the flower.

Crowded (Campanula glomerata)

The tall plant has a straight, slightly pubescent stem. The leaf blades change as they grow; young ones have the shape of a pointed heart. In an adult plant, in the second year of its life, egg-like leaf plates grow up to 7 cm long and 3 cm wide..

Most flowers are bright blue in color and have a standard bell shape.

The plant is winter-hardy and easily tolerates winters in Russia.

The plant does not tolerate seasonally prolonged rains, and as a result, it is watered only during times of prolonged drought.

Flowering lasts only one month, but if you cut flowers into bouquets, flowering continues throughout the summer.

Altai (Campanula altaika)

A perennial only 25 cm high, the leaf blades are elongated and green. Blue bells small size . Flowering occurs at the end of June and lasts about a month.

Siberian (Campanula sibirika)

The plant is not tall up to 20 cm. With green leaves and lilac bells. Flowering lasts all summer and September.

Bolognese (Campanula bononiensis)

Possesses healing properties, a tall stem up to 70 cm is crowned with pink Bells. The leaves at the bottom are rounded; the leaves at the top are straight and narrow.. Flowering lasts throughout June.

Rapunculoides (Campanula rapunculoides)

Long stems can grow up to a meter in height. The flower arrow is long and all dotted with blue, pink and white bells. This variety blooms all summer.

Broadleaf (Campanula latifolia)

This tall plant grows up to 130 cm and has tight stems. The lower leaf plates have a rounded shape with small teeth along the edge of the plate. The upper leaves are elongated with a pointed end. Flowers grow from the axils of the upper leaves and are up to 4 cm long.. The flower brush itself is 20 cm high. The flowering of the species lasts two months, starting in early July. Depending on the variety, the flowers are:

• Violet;
• Lilac.

Loves the lacy shade of trees and does not tolerate stagnant moisture.

Nettle leaf (Campanula trachelium)

This perennial has a bush height of 55 cm. The leaf blades are similar to nettle leaves, which is why it got its name. Its flowers come in both double and simple forms.. Flowering occurs all summer. It reproduces poorly when dividing the mother bush and has strong frost-resistant qualities.

Almost only reproduces by seed method.

Rough-haired Deer (Campanula cervicaria)

It is also popularly called St. John's wort. The plant grows to a height of one meter and has stiff stems. The foliage is gray-green, the lower leaf blades are more rounded than the upper ones. It blooms with small blue bells in May and June.

Growing

This plant can easily be grown on Moorish lawns and garden beds, as it does not cause any trouble in caring for itself.

Planting in open ground

Choosing places in open ground you need to choose a place where there is a lacy shadow of a tree and there is no stagnation of water. Seedlings are planted in early May or June when the threat of return of frost has passed.. There should be plenty of space since bluebell bushes usually grow well.

Bluebell grows well on eastern slopes.

If there is poor soil in the area, add a handful of humus to each hole. A seedling is placed in the center of the hole and earth is poured around it and compacted with hands.

After planting, water the seedlings well.

Care

To prolong the flowering of bluebells, promptly remove faded flowers.

Any variety of bells responds poorly to increased watering, as this can lead to rotting of the plant's root system. The lighting can be quite sunny, but bells also tolerate light partial shade from trees..

Fertilize the plant annually in April with mullein infusion or any nitrogen fertilizer.

Apply all fertilizing to moist soil.

Reproduction

The easiest way to propagate bells of any variety is using seeds.

Seed propagation in spring

In early March, seeds are planted in containers with bottom drainage holes to drain water. Soil is purchased for seedlings or made up yourself, taking in equal proportions:

• Sod land;
• Leaf soil;
• Peat;
• Sand.

The seeds are watered and covered with glass or a transparent bag to improve seed germination. When most of the seeds show their noses from the ground, the cover is removed, placed in a brighter place, but without direct sun rays so that the tender seedlings do not burn. Further care consists of timely watering and rotating the seedlings relative to the sun.

Support good lighting and moderate humidity, otherwise the “black leg” disease may appear.

Seed propagation in open ground

Seeds are sown in early November or spring in May in previously prepared soil. There is no need to soak the seeds; they are mixed with sand and poured evenly onto the ground. The first shoots appear after 15 days. Further care is carried out with the help of watering and timely weeding.

If the weather is cold in the spring in May, the bellflower crops are covered with any shelter.

Dividing the bush

This breeding is carried out at the end of May or at the beginning of September, when the intense heat subsides. The old mother bush is dug up and divided with the tip of a shovel so that each part has growing points and root system. Then they are planted in prepared holes with the addition of nitrogen fertilizer and well watered. After all the manipulations, the soil around the seedling is compacted by hand and mulched with straw.

Carry out the entire procedure of dividing the bush quickly so that the fibrous root system of the plant does not dry out.

Homeland and where it grows now

The homeland is considered to be areas with a temperate climate. IN at the moment you can meet him:

• In Siberia;
• In the Caucasus;
• In Asia;
• In Ukraine.

Prefers to grow on rocky surfaces and mountain slopes. Digitalis

Growing in the garden and in natural conditions

In the garden Bluebell of any variety receives more care than the wild variety, and therefore its flowers can be larger and brighter when grown in garden conditions. Also, the flowering time of the Garden Bluebell is one month longer.

History and cultural use

This plant began to be cultivated in gardening in the 16th century. At first, wild species were planted in the garden, but eventually, botanists developed plants that were more decorative than their wild relatives.

At the moment it is planted very often, decorating various landscape compositions. Blooming bells look very cute, but this is not the only advantage of flowers. It looks very beautiful planted as part of the Moorish lawn.

The bell amazes with its large number of varieties with which you can decorate your garden. And at the same time, it requires absolutely no complicated care.

The delicate bell is one of the most popular plants among gardeners. They love him for his charm, democracy, ability to coexist with complex flowers and unpretentiousness. This flower has been known since ancient times; it is surrounded by many myths and legends. Gradually, it moved from the forests and fields to personal plots.

The flower belongs to the bellflower family and has about three hundred species. The shape is similar to the dome of a bell (the flower was named after musical instrument or vice versa - the issue is still controversial, it was so long ago) with the edges curved outward.

By external signs bells vary in:

• size (up to seven cm);
• color (except for traditional white and blue - pink, purple, crimson, lilac, multi-color);
• inflorescence variant (racemose or single);
• height (up to 20 cm, up to a meter and above a meter).

Sowing from seeds

Most the best option is growing flowers from seeds. It must be taken into account that for annuals this is the only possible way.

If you decide to sow directly into the ground, the most suitable time is the end of October or already the month of May. Bells are usually sown for seedlings in March. It is best to use light, breathable soil. The soil should consist of turf, sand and weathered peat. There is no need to add organic matter.

Campanulaceae the seeds are very small, so they are simply scattered on the surface of the earth, you can sprinkle a little sand, but you should not cover it with earth. If the seeds are planted in the fall, the first shoots will appear two weeks after the ground thaws, if in the spring - two weeks after sowing.

Picking and further care

As soon as three good leaves appear, it is necessary to pick with an interval of ten by ten centimeters. Bells are transplanted to their permanent place of residence in early June. Flowers will appear on the plants in the second year. Next, you just need to form a flower garden - the crop self-sows.

Bell at the dacha

Florist's opinion

“Bells are my lifesaver. Cute, unobtrusive, they complement even the most complex flowers well. The experiment of planting roses of original colors together was also a success. For example, the “Abracadabra” variety could not coexist harmoniously with anyone, but the bells were very appropriate. I often use them in the background along with lavender.”

From many types garden bells(pointed, peach-leaved, rotundifolia, Pozharsky, twisted, milky-flowered, Carpathian, pyramidal, round-leaved and others) is not the least of interest bell medium (Campanula medium L). Its height is up to 1 m, the flowers have a characteristic shape - inverted glasses with a skirt, about 7 cm long, in a cold range of colors (white, blue, lilac, pink, purple). The flowers are double. There can be up to 50 flowers on one stem, which makes this type of bell look like luxurious candelabra.

The plant is elegant, delicate, expressive, solemn, with its own bright image, easily tolerates partial shade, like all bells, looks great in a flowerbed and in a bouquet, it is not surprising that it is popular and if you study the stores, it will be obvious that there are more varieties of the average bell than others (except that sometimes it is inferior to Carpathian and peach-leaved).

In the West, the plant is called Canterbury Bells - similar bells Pilgrims tied their horses on their way to Canterbury, the place where the main Anglican church in Britain is located - Canterbury Cathedral.

Varieties

Cup and saucer is the name not so much of a variety as of a variety group. Under this name, many agricultural companies, including foreign ones, produce seeds, most often mixtures of various colors (in English “Cup & Sauser”). All cups and saucers and Chinese sets (as the Gavrish agricultural company chose to call the plant for its “Lucky Seeds” brand) have double flowers with two skirts, as if nested one inside the other. It really does look like an upside down cup and saucer. The shape of the flowers is very harmonious and beautiful.

Other varieties or mixtures of medium bluebell that can now be found on sale: Raspberry Ring - double, mixture of colors (Russian Ogorod), Cottage - simple, mixture of colors (Johnsons, England), Dream - simple, pink (Sedek), Carminrose - simple juicy carmine pink (Gavrish), Gramophone - simple carmine pink (Plasma). Apart from the colors and degree of flower terry, they have no fundamental differences, so all the recommendations in this article can be safely applied to any seeds whose packaging says medium bell.

Growing from seeds

There are two options for growing: seedlings or non-seedlings. In the second case, the plant will bloom only next year.

Seeds for seedlings are sown in March-early April, distributed over the surface of the soil. The plant has good germination, and the procedure for growing seedlings does not differ in any special aspects, except that young seedlings require shading from direct sun.

Sowing in open ground is carried out at the end of May; the seeds are not large, so they are not buried, but mixed with sand, which is distributed over the surface, or a shift is distributed over the surface of the soil, and then sprinkled with a thin layer of sand. The seeds germinate quite quickly; after 2-3 weeks from the moment of sowing, the young plants can be planted in another place at a distance of 10-15 cm. But this is not the final planting location. It is customary to carry out such a transplant to seed beds, planting the plants in a permanent place only in August (every 30 cm from each other).

Mature plants are used as “donors”. Growing spring shoots can be rooted, producing new plants.

It is a biennial, but is often grown as a perennial.

Landing and seat selection

The bell is a fairly unpretentious plant, but you should know some planting features. The plant is considered light-loving, but it tolerates partial shade very well; very often it can be seen along western or eastern walls where there is no direct daytime sun. And such semi-shaded places can really be considered ideal. The fact is that the lighting parameter is closely related to two other characteristics environment: temperature and humidity. And here everything is clear - the bell loves moisture and feels great in the cool. Therefore, if you are looking for a plant to plant under a tree, near a shady gazebo, or a front garden on the east side, it makes sense to consider the middle bell.

The soil must have a neutral reaction ( acidic soils absolutely not suitable), well-drained (dampness leads to dampening of the bushes), light, nutritious.

In one place, the average bell grows from 3 to 5 years.

Care

The plant is unpretentious; you will need to perform a number of very simple measures:

1. Sufficient watering in dry summers. Bluebells do not like lack of moisture. The plant will not die, but will significantly lose its decorative properties: the flowers will become small, or the plant will stop blooming altogether.
2. Removing faded flowers.
3. Lime is periodically added to the soil.
4. By the autumn of the first year of planting seeds, the plant forms a rosette of leaves; it should be mulched with a sufficiently thick layer of covering (if these are fallen leaves, then at least 10 cm).

Collecting your own seeds

Seeds are collected in early autumn, choosing the healthiest and most lush specimens. Unfortunately, varietal varieties (hybrids) do not pass on 100% of their characteristics by inheritance, so some seedlings grown from seeds from their own collection “go wild” - they will be a classic blue color.

Application in the garden

“Cup and saucer” is good in borders, flower beds, mass plantings, and mixborders. It will look great near the lawn or in small groups.

What is the middle bell combined with?

It looks great with many cultures:

1. Garden geranium.
2. Carnation.
3. Cuff.
4. Looks amazing in combination with, especially pink shades. The photo below does not convey the beauty of the combination of delicate bell-shaped “cups” and lush buds.

Pairs well with grains and herbs. Can be grown in container culture: pots, tubs, vases.

Bell (from Latin Campanula) – herbaceous plant family Campanulaceae. 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. Flower shape - bell-shaped, white, blue and various shades purple flowers collected in racemes or paniculate inflorescences. Flowers can also be single. After flowering, seed boxes with 4-6 slits appear.

Growing bells from seeds When to plant

Sowing in the ground

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

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

Growing seedlings

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

After germination, the container should be moved to a bright place, but protected from direct sunlight. The film is removed and cared for in this way: water when it dries out. top layer soil, 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: enter 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 hood made of plastic bottle, the lower leaves need to be plucked off, and the remaining ones should be cut by a third.
• Within two to three weeks, roots will appear.
• After growing, plant the seedlings in a permanent place.

Reproduction by dividing the bush

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

Bellflower pests and diseases

Flowering bells look beautiful, but the main advantage is ease of care and resistance to pests and diseases. At long-term cultivation the soil accumulates harmful microorganisms, causing 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 species can overwinter without shelter, but southern, heat-loving species need to be covered natural materials: foliage, pine needles, branches. Tall species need to be covered with humus or dry peat to a height of 15-20 cm.

Types and varieties of bells with photos and names

Campanula erinus

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

Campanula dichotoma

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

Kashmir bluebell Campanula cashmeriana

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

Campanula longistyla

Campanula longistyla ‘Isabella’ photo

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

Bell Mirror of Venus

It lives in the Mediterranean mountains, Holland and Great Britain. Got its name thanks to the legend about broken mirror goddess Venus, whose fragments 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 colored blue with a purple undertone, the center of the flower is white. There are varieties with pure white flowers. They bloom all summer.

Campanula betulifolia

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

Biennial bluebells

Campanula barbata

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

Hoffmann's bell Campanula hofmannii

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

Campanula thyrsoides

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

Campanula macrostachya

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

Campanula medium Campanula medium

Distributed in Asia and South- Western Europe. Biennial, but sometimes grown as 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 others low-growing species: soddy, daisy-leaved, hairy-fruitful, single-flowered, borderline, warlike, ciliated, dusky, dark, three-toothed, Ortana, Oshe, Rainer, Radde, Uemura.

Medium-height perennial bells

Komarov's bell Campanula komarovii

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

Campanula punctata

Campanula punctata ‘Rubriflora’ photo

From 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 peduncle, the corolla is painted 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 bluebell 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, 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;
• Macranta - 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 several times 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.