Garden bells are an absolutely inimitable family of touching perennial plants that never cease to charm gardeners with their modest simplicity and cheerful character. The bellflower has a huge number of both the largest and smallest species; they can easily decorate different corners of the garden from rock gardens and supporting walls to lush flower beds. Inimitable flowering is the main feature of all representatives of the genus. But even among the huge number of varieties and species, there are favorites. After all, not all bells combine hardiness and frost resistance with true abundance of flowers and ease of care.
Carpathian bluebell (Campanula carpatica). © Michael Steven
Let's take a closer look at the 3 best varieties of garden bells, different in character, but equally perfect.
Content:
Pozharsky's bell ( Campanula poscharskyana), variety ‘Silberregen’
This is the undisputed leader among modern hybrids of this species. For Campanula Pozharsky, the variety is truly unique, because it not only blooms tirelessly without the slightest stimulation in the form of pruning, from May to September, but is also distinguished by its amazing profusion of flowers. Its height is limited to 20 cm.
The unique sparkling silvery white of the charming small flowers is only enhanced by the fact that the plant's lush mats of dark greenery are literally hidden beneath the incredible number of blooms on this summer star. But the shape of the flower also deserves attention: thanks to the elongated, pointed lobes, each individual bell on the plant seems like a star, which only enhances the charm of the variety.
Pozharsky's bell, variety ‘Silberregen’. © AllgäuStauden ‘Silberregen’ is highly valued by both professionals and amateur gardeners around the world. This variety is rightfully considered one of the best abundantly flowering plants for decorating supporting walls, rockeries, rock gardens and gardens on a slope. And it is certainly the brightest white bell. For all its unearthly beauty, “Silberregen”, which looks like a scattering of silver, fully retains the advantages of its more modest brothers in terms of endurance, winter hardiness and durability.
Bellflower peach ( Campanula persicifolia), variety ‘Grandiflora Alba’
This snow-white bell is truly the leading variety of its species. It is distinguished by the perfect shape of its flowers, as if floating weightlessly on thin branched peduncles. The elegance and beauty of the lines of this perennial, whose height during flowering reaches 70 cm, and in favorable conditions even 1 m, is emphasized by a dark cushion of greenery at the base of the graceful shoots. The leaves are bright, graceful, with beautiful teeth along the edges.
The flowers are large, up to 5 cm in diameter, exemplary in shape, pure white in color. They are collected in graceful brushes and charmingly droop. The variety continues to bloom throughout the summer, from the beginning of June to the end of August.
Bluebell peach leaf variety ‘Grandiflora Alba’. © sadevalja The variety “Grandiflora Alba” is considered truly royal, because the pure snow-white color of its elegant flowers creates one of the strongest effects of inner radiance in the garden palette. The number and beauty of blooming flowers create a shining veil, airy and weightless, over the flowerbeds and flower beds.
It is one of the most profusely flowering plants for complex arrangements, creating bright, solid splashes of color in summer. All he needs for a bright parade is loose loam and bright lighting.
Bluebell Carpathian ( Campanula carpatica), variety ‘Blaue Clips’
Of course, the best variety of Carpathian bellflower in terms of abundance of color and purely practical characteristics. The modest height of the plant, never exceeding 25 cm, is fully compensated by surprisingly large graceful flowers with a diameter of up to 3 cm with a beautiful transition from light to dark bright blue color. But even the size of the flowers cannot compete with their number: the green bell is almost invisible under the constantly blooming new flowers.
Their shape is charming: wide, cup-like, they sparkle with freshness and cheerful “eyes”. In addition, this variety blooms tirelessly from June to August, much longer than other Carpathian bells. The bell of this variety grows in the form of dense, compact hemispheres; the leaves are very bright, heart-shaped and pleasant to the touch.
Carpathian bluebell, variety ‘Blaue Clips’. © Ben Rushbrooke One of the advantages of Blau Clips is its unpretentiousness. It will bloom profusely in both sun and partial shade and requires virtually no care. But the plant will be comfortable only on calcareous soils, which are loose and eliminate the risk of moisture stagnation.
I'm ringing you with a bell.
The heart is beating, and there is anxiety in the soul.
My beauty, I love you.
Reciprocate my feelings, touchy-feely!
Description and features of bells
Since childhood, people know that a bell is cute. Bluebell flowers lovely forest bells, reminiscent of a ringing bell in miniature.
The bluebell received the official name “campanula”, which sounds like a bell in Latin. A long time ago, people said that on the holiday of Ivan Kupala, those chosen could hear a small flower making a melodic sound.
Bluebell flower color It can be of traditional blue shades, as well as rare white, pink, lilac tones, and even have a completely rare shade of red.
The bell can be seen in sunny meadows and fields, on forest edges. This is where you can actually find bluebell meadows. When you see such a simple plant, you want to put your ear to it and listen to what it is singing about.
Thanks to the science of breeding, it is able to please the human eye not only in the meadow, but also in the home garden. The bell has become a favorite plant in the northern hemisphere of the planet, as well as in regions with moderate climatic conditions. In the Russian Federation, the bell flower has traditionally been considered the Russian national flower; girls use it to weave wreaths and collect field bouquets.
The bell flower belongs to the genus Campanaceae. This perennial flower has gained popularity among amateurs and professionals. It can be found not only in fields and meadows, but also in the mountains. Bell flowers are like little fairies that came to us from good old wives' tales.
Breeders have been carefully doing this for many years, thereby creating more and more new varieties. Thanks to them, there are unique varieties of terry, edible and healing (medicinal) bells.
Photo of bell flower cannot be left without close attention. It has an incomparable inflorescence shape. It can be in the form of a brush or a kind of whisk.
Bells vary in color and peduncle height. Low-growing selection bells will look ideal near ponds and borders. Tall bell flowers can create a bright melody and harmony in any flower bed.
It should be noted that there are completely unique varieties of bells. Large bell flower- will become a real master and treasure in any flowerbed or front garden, it is he who will notify his owner about arriving guests or about an approaching thunderstorm. With the onset of precipitation, drops of dew appear on its leaves.
Always a priority perennial bluebell flowers plants. Once you plant them in your garden plot, you can forget about everything for a long time and just enjoy their crystal ringing. I would like to note that there are some bells listed in Red Russia.
In modern landscape design, small and large bells have become fashionable. Both pair wonderfully with daisies and low-growing phlox. In the language of flowers, a bell symbolizes humility and peace; such a bouquet is appropriate to give to a young and innocent girl as a sign of purity and fidelity of feelings.
Types of bells
In fact, in nature there is not one, but many types of bell flowers.
Nettle-leaved - peduncle of a plant up to about 0.8 meters. The inflorescence can be soft white, blue, purple. Flowers are always collected with a brush. Distributed throughout Eurasia. It is called so because of its special leaves, similar to nettles.
Milky-flowered - peduncle 1.2 meters high. The flowers are white, lilac and purple. Distributed in the sunny Caucasus.
In the photo is a milky bell
Peach-leaved - reaches 0.9 meters. The inflorescences are usually large. The flowers are white, bluish, rarely double. Distributed throughout Eurasia.
Bluebell crowded is a tall beautiful flower that grows up to 1 meter. The flowers are white, blue and purple. Distributed throughout Eurasia.
broadleaf bellflower– tall flower 1.5 meters. The flowers are large, 6 cm in diameter. They grow in the territory of Eurasia, Altai and the Caucasus Mountains.
broadleaf bellflower
White bell- a very rare phenomenon. Thanks to the efforts of breeders, this variety was developed. Bluebell white flower- a unique, very original, perennial plant that gets along well in the garden and on alpine hills.
The photo shows a white bell
The red bell is a completely rare variety of plant; outstanding breeders have been working on its appearance for many years. Their efforts were crowned with victorious success. Red bell flower has shades of crimson, purple and lilac tones.
Red bell flower
Bluebell is a common flower. Bluebell flower grows in forests and mountains, in garden plots. It varies in height of the peduncle and size of the flower itself. Considered an undoubted classic. Sung by many songs and poems.
The photo shows a blue bell
Varieties of bells
Carpathian is a very fashionable, low-growing bellflower. Its flowers can be white or blue. Loves rocky slopes.
Bluebell Carpathian
Gargansky - grows up to 15 cm. The flowers are pale blue, they have the shape of tiny stars.
Gargan Bell
Spoon-leaved - reaches 12 cm in height. The inflorescences are whitish and purple, small. Lives in Europe.
In the photo there is a spoon-leaved bell
Pozharsky's bell is a bush plant 20 cm tall. The flowers are shaped like star clusters. The color scheme is lavender. It is common in southern Europe.
Pozharsky's bell
Portenschlag's bell is a cute, low-growing flower, bluish-purple in color. Grows mainly in Europe.
Portenschlag bell
Pointed bell – 25 cm high. Has pink flowers. It grows geographically in the Middle and Far East.
In the photo there is a dotted bell
Home bell– such a plant will decorate any southern window. It is an ampelous plant. It comes in both white and lilac shades.
Home bell
Planting and propagation of bells
For proper planting of bells, it is advisable to follow some recommendations and rules.
All bells require maximum sunlight and moderate watering, as excess moisture can lead to the death of the flower. They have absolutely enough precipitation.
Properly selected soil is the key to good flowering. Bells love lighter soils; clay soils are not suitable for such a cute flower. If the soil is heavy, then humus or sand can be added to it. Complex soils must be added to poor soils.
The location for the flowers must be selected before planting. The soil needs to be thoroughly dug up and wood ash added. We must ensure that there is no stagnation of water. Fresh manure can damage the roots (burn them), so you shouldn’t get carried away with it, but light compost will be just right.
Bells are propagated by dividing a large mother bush or by ordinary seeds. The rhizomes of an adult bellflower can be called a huge kindergarten; thanks to them, many new ones are created from the existing root. Each gardener chooses the method that suits him.
Growing from seeds is a more labor-intensive, but most budget-friendly method. Flowering of the bell with this method occurs in the second or third years of life. Such seeds are not planted for seedlings.
They can be safely sown in open ground in late spring, if there is no threat of frost. There is a recommendation for sowing bell seeds before winter, but here you will need to cover the sowing sites with leaves, sawdust or coniferous spruce branches. Next year the flower will grow hardened, healthy and blooming profusely.
Caring for bluebells
Each variety and type of bell is not at all demanding in terms of care. It can be safely called a simple plant. Moderate moisture and sunlight are all that nature calls for from a person.
Even a novice amateur will be able to keep this cute flower on his plot. Undoubtedly, the flower will be happy with timely weeding and will gratefully respond to the nutritional treatments with brighter and more abundant flowers.
The bell is considered a healthy flower and is not susceptible to any complex diseases. For the winter, bells are trimmed with pruning shears, leaving 5-10 cm from the root; they do not require shelter (exceptions are very rare and non-frost-resistant varieties).
You can buy the bell flower in the form of seeds in a regular retail or online store, and the rhizome of this flower is actively sold at flower markets and gardening exhibitions.
The price of 1 packet of seeds starts from 35 rubles, the price of 1 small root depends on the variety, quality and ranges from 150-250 rubles. Plant a cheerful bell in your summer cottage and be happy!
I associate this amazing plant with my childhood. We often collected bouquets of bells. Therefore, I really wanted to plant several varieties in my flower garden and now in the summer I admire these delicate flowers.
Campanula - (lat. Campanula) - a plant of the Campanula family. The name itself comes as a diminutive from the Italian campana - bell.
It was given because of its characteristic shape, reminiscent of an elongated bowl, really similar to a dome. In Russia, this name has also stuck, as well as several “folk” ones: bell, chenille, chebotok.
The habitats of the perennial bell in nature are meadows, steppes, forest edges, even rocky areas. Basically, these are territories with a temperate climate: all of Eurasia, Russia, Ukraine and even some territories of North America.
In total, scientists have identified about 400 species of this plant (as of 2016 - 440), in central Russia - only 15, and throughout the country and including neighboring ones - about 150 species.
Bluebell is a perennial, less often annual, herb with whole alternate leaf blades on the stem. The corolla is elongated, reminiscent of a glass, and the color ranges from blue to lilac. There are also white and purple inflorescences.
Sometimes there is one flower on the stem, but mostly these are inflorescences - brush-shaped panicles. The seeds ripen in flowers in a kind of box, with slots in the amount of 4 to 6 pieces.
In some species, the flower bowl is tubular, with five petals pointed upward; there are large bells. The leaves of some varieties are round at the base of the stem, and have lance-shaped, pointed leaves on the trunk.
Flowering of bells usually begins in the first half of May and continues until mid-July, from two weeks to one and a half months. In some varieties, active color begins in late summer and ends in September. There are varieties that delight with multi-colored “tassels” for up to 90 days.
This plant has been gaining popularity lately among gardeners who love wildflowers and the style of a meadow flowerbed. Therefore, breeders even breed hybrids with double inflorescences.
Classification and main types
All bells are divided into two basic categories based on their growth period.
- Perennial.
- Annuals.
The most planted are those that bloom for more than one year, much less than annual ones. Since all these plants can live in different places and, accordingly, the conditions for caring for them differ, there is another classification:
- Field.
- Forest.
- Mountain.
These flowers are also divided into groups according to the height of the bushes:
- Miniature (stem length up to 10 - 20 cm).
- Medium (20 - 40).
- Tall (the stem extends upward from 40 cm).
These classifications are based on where they grow in the natural environment and on the external differences of the bells. Let's look at the most common types and varieties of these beautiful delicate flowers.
Annual species
They are most often comfortable in the southern regions, but in the middle zone they grow much less frequently. These species are not as popular among gardeners as perennials, but there are very spectacular ones among them:
Average
Flowering begins in June and continues until September and comes in white, pink, blue, and blue shades. Sometimes the flower shape is double, and the height of the variety is about 1 meter.
Kashmiri
The bush of bells is very short - no more than 10 - 12 cm. The flowering of this variety is lilac-blue, numerous, but small in size.
Long-columnar
This plant belongs to varieties that creep and are endowed with a large number of shoots. The flowers are up to 4 cm in circumference, quite large, purple in color. If pruning is done in time, the bush may bloom a second time.
Also classified as annual plants is the dichotomous (forked) bell, which grows only up to 20 cm. The flowering is very abundant, pinkish-lilac in color.
Caring for annuals is the same as for perennial flowers. It is advisable to add sand and peat to the soil, since the bluebell does not really like heavy compositions. Also, it does not like soil that is too wet and soggy. Propagated by seed. Nitrogen fertilizers are recommended as top dressing.
Perennial bluebells
They are the most common and popular. Let's look at some varieties that are planted most often.
Campanula nettlefolia
This plant is tall - the stem length is about one meter. It is easy to care for and tolerates frost well. The root system has a branched structure, and the trunk is ribbed in structure, has small villi, rigid in structure.
The petioles are short, the leaf blades are triangular or oval in shape. The flowers are located in a number of several pieces in the axils of the leaf blades in the upper part of the stem. The structure of the inflorescence is not dense, length - 40 - 50 cm. The flowers are fluffy, often purple, sometimes snow-white.
Roundleaf bellflower
The name of this perennial plant is given because of the rounded shape of the basal leaves collected in a rosette. This variety is low - from 40 to 60 cm. Distributed in central Russia, Siberia and the Caucasus.
The bell has one or more shoots. The root is creeping and branched. The leaves near the root dry out and fall off early, but those on the stem remain deep green for a long time.
Inflorescences - panicles have many small blue flowers, located in the upper part of the shoots. The most popular varieties are: arctic, garden, velvety.
Spot
It has a small height - only up to 25 cm. Interesting elongated shape of the petals, a glass-shaped inflorescence with burgundy specks on a white and pink background. The pedicels are elongated, large, pubescent, the inflorescences are lowered down.
Thanks to their noble color and elongated shape, they are much loved by gardeners. They look original against the background of other garden and ornamental plants.
Spiral-leaved (spoon-leaved)
Belongs to the low-growing species. Homeland - Alps and Carpathians. The inflorescences consist of small, 1 cm in diameter, blue, blue or white flowers, drooping in shape. The shoots are creeping, the bush is spreading. Main varieties: Loder, Alba, Miss Wilmott.
broadleaf
Refers to the tall types of bell. The stem is more than 100 cm, straight and strong. Leaves with pointed tips are 12 cm long and 6 cm wide. The inflorescences are large, axillary, the raceme is narrow, reminiscent of a spikelet.
Flowers are medium in size - up to 6 cm. Funnel-shaped, blooms from June to August. Famous varieties: Alba, Bruntwood, Maranta.
Landing rules
The bell is not at all capricious, but there are still a number of rules that must be followed when planting. Then this plant will delight you with its delicate inflorescences all season long.
- The landing site should be spacious and sunny. The plant does not like excess moisture and nearby groundwater. To prevent the root system from freezing, there should be no stagnation of moisture near it.
- The soil for planting should be light, loamy is allowed. You can dilute it with humus, sand, if heavy, poor soil is fed with turf soil.
- Before planting plants, it is recommended to dig up the soil well, it is advisable to add superphosphate and manure that has been rotted. There is no need to mix peat into the soil to avoid fungal diseases. Fresh manure is also not introduced. This is a fairly aggressive feeding for bluebells.
- The composition of the soil recommended for planting is neutral or slightly alkaline; if there is acidity, then you need to add a little wood ash.
- In an open place, under the scorching rays of the sun, without at least brief partial shade, the bells quickly fade.
So, choosing a place to plant is not difficult, you just need to follow some simple rules. The main thing is that you do not choose a swampy and damp area for planting.
Caring for bluebells
It is advisable not to water the bushes very often to avoid excess moisture. During the growth period, before flowering, you can fertilize the bells with nitrogen. It is useful to sprinkle the soil with wood ash, which will protect the plant from various diseases.
Mineral fertilizers are applied before the bushes budding. They should not be too concentrated. Also, the soil near the stem needs to be loosened and weeded, because bluebells do not really accept the dominance of weeds and the heavy, overly compacted soil structure.
You should also carefully remove dried flowers so as not to give them nutrients. Then the bell will bloom much longer. When the seed pods become dark brown in color, they are cut off.
Bells are propagated by seeds from those very boxes. The process takes place in the spring. Dividing the bush is also one of the types of propagation, carried out in spring and August.
In May, root shoots are used for planting adult plants. For one square meter, tall bells are distributed in the amount of 5 pieces, medium and small - 12 pieces.
Bells can be planted along garden paths, in a group with other garden and ornamental plants in flower beds and mixborders.
Of the many types of garden bells (pointed, peach-leaved, rotundifolia, Pozharsky, twisted, milky-flowered, Carpathian, pyramidal, round-leaved and others), not the least of interest is 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 were tied to their horses by pilgrims 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 a light-loving plant, but it tolerates partial shade well; very often it can be seen along western or eastern walls, where direct daytime sun does not reach. And such semi-shaded places can really be considered ideal. The fact is that the lighting parameter is closely related to two other environmental characteristics: 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 are absolutely not suitable), well-drained (dampness leads to damping off of the bushes), light, and 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:
- 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.
- Removing faded flowers.
- Lime is periodically added to the soil.
- 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 inherit 100% of their characteristics, so some of the seedlings grown from seeds from their own collection “go wild” - they will have 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:
- Garden geranium.
- Carnation.
- Cuff.
- 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.
