There is a popular belief that the bell grows exclusively in the fields and meadows, but today there are a huge number of garden bells that can easily be grown on your site and enjoy their beautiful view.
Bells - Representatives of the Bellflower family (Campanulaceae). This plant is exclusively herbaceous, most actively growing in temperate climates.
Very often, the bell is characterized as a rock plant, because it adapts well enough to different conditions of life.
Bells can be divided into three groups, each of which includes a large number of species, subspecies, as well as hybrid varieties. In this way, secrete short, medium tall and tall groups of bluebells. You will learn more about the most common representatives of each of these groups in this article.
Undersized groups of bells
The undersized groups of bells are also called dwarf. At the right place of planting, these flowers can grow for several years. Such a place should be well lit, with sandy ground.
Low-growing species of bluebells grow in the form of a bush up to 30 cm high and of the same diameter. The shape of the flower is funnel-shaped, the plants grow one by one. Flowers are blue, purple, white. Their color may vary depending on the type.
Bell Carpathian
Bell carpathian (Campanula carpatica) - plant with a thin stalk up to 30 cm high. Stalk without leaves. These bells are perennial. The shoots of this plant are collected in a bush that reaches a diameter of 30 cm.
The leaves are egg-shaped, flowers - funnel-shaped, small, up to 5 cm in diameter. It blooms for 60-70 days in blue, purple or white. Flowering begins in June, and the seeds can be collected from July to August. For the first time this species was discovered in 1770.
The most famous subspecies of this variety:
- Celestine blooms in blue.
- "Karpatenkrone" - purple flowers.
- "Centon Joy" - flowers of saturated blue color.
This type of bell requires a loose soil and a sufficient amount of moisture. Be sure to water the plant with prolonged heat. Flowers need to be cut, because otherwise the bush just "fall" and die. The bush grows very slowly, flowering begins only in the third year.
It is possible to plant this plant vegetatively or by the seed method. If you decide to plant the plant with seeds, it is worth remembering that it requires picking during sprouting and, possibly, not one. This look is very beautiful, and its decorative "appearance" will decorate any garden.
The hand bell is birch
Campanula betulifolia - representative of stunted bells. This species is not afraid of heights and grows in Turkey at the level of 200-300 meters. It got its name due to the similarity of the leaves of a flower with birch leaves.
The stem of the plant is upright, small (10-15 cm). The leaves have a glossy shine, rich green color. On the stem is from 1 to 4 flowers, often white, with a pubescent tip. The flowering of this species begins in May and lasts until the end of July - beginning of August.
Did you know? This species is popularly called the “cup and saucer”.The flower is unpretentious, it grows in well-drained soils with a pH level of 5.6 to 7.5%. It is advisable to protect this species for the winter.
The birchwood bell is often used by landscape designers in the design of avenues, borders, flower beds. Incredibly beautiful flower looks in group plantings next to other ornamental plants.
Gargan bell
Gargan bell (Campanula Garganica) - very fragile perennial plant. The stem of this representative bellflower thin, creeping. The plant is found in the form of a small bush, reaching a height of 15 cm.
The leaves are rather small, rounded, three-toothed. The flowers reach the size of 4 mm in diameter, are in the form of an asterisk, blue. This species has several subspecies whose color is different. For example, in "Major" the flowers are pale blue; "W.H.Pain" is distinguished by a light lavender color with a bluish tinge and white center.
Gargan's bell bloom is so abundant that neither stem nor leaf is visible behind the flowers. The flower was first discovered in 1832.
For comfortable growth, it needs to provide a semi-shady place with sour, loamy soil with good drainage. For the Gargan bell it is necessary to ensure a good drainage of water, because due to its stagnation the plant may die.
You should also think about how to cover the plant for the winter, especially young bushes. This species is propagated vegetatively or by seeds. It is used in most cases for the decoration of sidewalks, rocky gardens, and is also widely known as pot culture.
The bell is spiral-leaf
The bell is spiral-leaf has another name - spike bell - Campanula cochlearifolia. The plant prefers limestones and is most often found in the Alps and the Carpathians.
The stems of this flower form a dense derninka, they are thin and spread along the ground. The size of the bush is very small - 15 cm. At the very base, the leaves are semi-oval, very decorative: elongated, small, with denticles at the edges.
Flowers can be white, blue or blue. Their maximum size is 1 cm in diameter. The rim is 1.2 cm long, the petals are sharp at the tips, short. Flowering bush begins in June and July.
This species has several varieties that differ in color:
- "Alba" - the color is white.
- "Miss Wilmot" - blooms in blue.
- "R. B. Lodder" - blue flowers with a "terry" coating.
This species has been known to gardeners since 1783.
Plant this flower stands at a great distance from other plants, as the root grows very quickly. The place is better to choose a well-lit, warm and protected from cold winds and drafts. The soil must be used with good drainage, calcareous and not too nutritious.
Important! The plant does not tolerate clay, moist soil!
It is possible to propagate a shrub vegetatively (by processes and division of shrubs), as well as seeds that are grown according to the principle of growing seedlings. It is necessary to propagate the plant in February-March.
The plant is good to use in stone gardens, as the root easily grows under stones or paving slabs. Sometimes this species grows very strongly and forms a “living carpet” of green leaves and beautiful flowers.
Mid-group groups of bluebells
Srednerosly groups of bluebells differ from stunted ones primarily in their size. These are bushes from 30 to 80 cm in height. The flowers of bluebells are medium large, gathered in racemes.
The corolla of the bell-shaped form reaches a size up to 3 cm and can be of different colors: white, pale yellow, blue with a lilac shade. Flowering begins in June and ends at the end of July. The species in garden cultures has been widely used since 1803.
Bluebell bell
The flowering of this species begins in June and lasts until August. The mountains of the Caucasus are considered the birthplace of the flower, it grows a greater degree on the rocks. The plant is quite high - from 50 to 70 cm, there are many stalks in the bush, they are pubescent. The plant blooms in ocher-yellow flowers up to 3 cm in size. The inflorescence is collected in a spike-shaped brush.
Bush prefers slightly alkaline soils. For growing it is better to choose a well-lit place. The plant propagates with seeds that ripen in August-September. A pale-bell bell is used for mixborders, as well as for the design of stony gardens, monuments and memorials. Active use of this bush in the culture began in 1803.
Bell Grosssek
Bell Grosseki (Campanula Grosseki) - a perennial herb that reaches a height of 70 cm. The Balkans are the homeland of this bush. Plant hard-toed, with red-brown numerous stems.
On the branches there are a lot of flowers of blue-violet or lilac shades up to 3 cm in size. Flowering begins in June-July. The leaves of this bush are rough, green in color. The plant propagates with seeds that ripen in August.
For growing Grossek's bell, you can choose any place in the garden, but it is better if it is lit. Since in natural conditions the plant grows on alkaline, rocky soils, it is not particularly demanding to the ground. Designers use this look to design borders, mixborders or rocky gardens.
Bell holed
Bell Holed (Campanula Fenestrellata) - perennial plant, rather low. It grows up to 30 cm in height. The leaves are heart-shaped, egg-shaped, with a serrated edge.
Asterisk flower corolla, spreading, with well-dissected lobes. Inflorescences loose. The flowers are large, up to 3 cm in diameter, blue in the form of asterisks. The plant blooms very plentifully and for quite a long time - from June to September.
Did you know? For the winter, the bell bell-hole needs shelter.The flower is used to decorate alpine slides, mixborders, borders and rocky gardens.
Bell Komarova
This species is found exclusively in the mountains of the Caucasus. Bell Komarova - perennial herb. Its height reaches 45 cm, the stems are very curly, pubescent with white stiff hairs. In one bush there are up to 10 stems.
The lower leaflets on the stems are oblong, the upper ones are lanceolate. The plant blooms very abundantly, the flowers are quite large - up to 3 cm in diameter. Corolla tube, with the upper lobes, "tucked" upward, bright light purple color.
It blooms not very long: the first color appears in mid-June and ends in late July. Used by designers in the design of mixborders, borders and rock gardens.
Dotted bell
Dotted bell grows on the banks of forest rivers in Eastern Siberia and the Far East. This plant is a perennial. The stem reaches a height of 50 cm, at the base and in the middle part it is straight, it branches out towards the apex, the texture is rough.
The leaves of this species are pubescent, basal with red pubescent petioles. The leaf itself is in the shape of a heart, egg-shaped. The leaves are rather large, about 7.4 cm. On one branch there can be up to five flowers of rather large size, pubescent. The flower corolla is a goblet of white color, in the middle of a convex shape.
The plant tolerates winter quite well, although it is desirable to cover it. If there is a lot of snow in winter, flowering may deteriorate in the next season. Depending on the species, the color or size of the plant may change.
Bell Takeshima
Campanula Takesimana - perennial plant up to 60 cm. It grows in the form of groups of basal rosettes, thus forming a rather dense bush. Stems slightly pubescent, thin, creeping.
The leaves are heart-shaped, with a wavy edge. Flowers in racemes slightly pubescent, may be white, purple or pink flowers. The size of the flowers - 6-7 cm, they appear throughout the summer.
The plant is frost-resistant, not demanding on soils and lighting, but it is better to choose light places for planting.
Important! If you plant a flower in loose soil, you can observe the emergence of numerous shoots, which are then used for the reproduction of the bush.This type of bell is very similar to a bell bell, but differs in leaf color: dot leaf has a less saturated green color, close to bluish because of strong pubescence, while Takeshima has a rich, bright, glossy green color.
Spreading bell
The homeland of this species is the Caucasus Mountains. The plant is two years old, grassy. Stem straight, branched. The leaves are arranged in a spiral, oblong, egg-shaped bottom and narrow, lanceolate in the upper part of the stem.
Flowers are arranged with a panicle, purple, may have a purple hue. Calyx of the flower is separate, lanceolate, the funnel-shaped corolla is divided into five parts. This plant begins its flowering in early summer and lasts until mid-August. Propagated by seeds that can be collected from the bushes after flowering.
Used in culture for decoration mixborders, but it looks best in natural gardens and chaotic plantings.
Tall groups of bells
Tall groups of bluebells differ in height over 150 cm, and flowers have a more intense smell than in other species. There are more than 300 species of representatives of tall bells. Note only the most popular ones.
Bluebell flower
Campanula Lactiflora - one of the largest representatives of this species. The adult plant grows up to 2 meters, and the youngest specimens have a height of 50-80 cm. The stem of this plant is branched, leafy, straight.
Upper leaves oblong, ovate, lower - petiolate, short petioles. Flowers curved, bell-shaped, up to 3 cm in diameter, white in color, collected in inflorescences. Flowering begins in June and ends in late August.
The flower grows on subalpine meadows, in the Caucasus and in Asia Minor. Place for landing is better to choose the sun.
Did you know? This species reproduces only by seeds, which are sown in open ground and then planted.This species has several subspecies, which differ in color:
- "Alba" - flowers of snow-white color.
- "Pritchard's Variety" - lavender-blue. This flower is the lowest and does not grow above 50 cm.
- "Cerulea" - bloom sky blue bright color.
- "Pouffe" - blue flowers.
Bluebell
Campanula Glomerata, or the bell crowded, - perennial herb with fibrous root system. Plant stem is upright, slightly pubescent.
Its leaves change as it grows: for example, a young bush has a heart-shaped leaf with a slightly pointed tip, the immature bushes have lower leaves more than the leaves of a young plant, and the upper ones have an oblong, ovoid shape, and in adult plants all leaves are oblong, egg-shaped, ranging in size from 4 to 8 cm in length and 2.5-3 cm in width.
Usually flowers of bright blue color, bell-shaped, 2-3 cm in size, are collected in a spherical inflorescence, which grows up to 5 cm in length.
The plant tolerates the winter well, but to be sure you can make a preventive shelter. The crowded bell does not like very moist soil, so watering should be carried out only in case of a strong protracted drought. The plant can be propagated vegetatively (by dividing the bush) or seed method.
The flower looks very beautiful in the decorative garden composition "Moorish lawn", and is also widely used in decorating rabatok.
Important! The flowering of this species is short - 30-35 days, usually from June to July. However, if the flowers are cut, flowering can last until the end of summer.
Hand bell peach
Bellflower persikolistny (Campanula Persicifolia) - the plant is short-lived, and usually dies off for 2-3 years. It is found in Europe, the Caucasus and Siberia. Received widespread in 1554. Its name is due to the similarity of the leaves with a leaf of peach: wide, lanceolate, dark green with small teeth on the edges.
Stems are fleshy, straight, up to 100 cm high. This species blooms from June to the end of August, if you cut off the flowering buds. Depending on the type of color can vary: blue, purple-blue, white flowers terry texture. Boxes with seeds are formed in late August - early September.
The place for cultivation is better to choose a well-lit, with loose soil enriched with humus. Good drainage also does not hurt, because due to stagnant water the flower may die.
In the garden, the bell looks good in company with carnations, ferns. The peach bell has a large amount of pollen and therefore looks good between hives.
Broadlea bell
Broadlea, or Campanula Latifolia, - 130 cm tall plant with tight straight stems. The lower leaves are round, heart-shaped, dentate along the edge, the upper ones are lanceolate.
The flowers are located in the axils of the upper leaves, funnel-shaped, reach 3.5 cm, fold into a brush that resembles an ear, 20 cm long. The flowering begins in July and lasts until the end of August. Depending on the variety, the color may be different: purple, lilac.
Place for planting is better to choose not very shaded, with no wet soil.
Typically, the flower is found in the woods, but in the garden culture looks very nice next to the daisies and carnations. It is used both for decorating alleys, and as a separate single or group plant on a flower bed.
As you can see, the bell is striking in its diversity, and everyone can find something to their liking. The main thing - the right care and a little love invested in each flower.
