Perennial bells: planting and caring for flowers

Description

Bellflower is a herbaceous plant of the Kolokolchikov family. The genus has more than 300 species, less than 100 of them are cultivated. In the wild, it grows in Europe and Siberia, Asia and the Caucasus. It is found in fields, meadows, forests, mountains, even on desert rocks.

A perennial plant with alternate leaves and a bell-shaped flower of white, blue, purple or lilac flowers of different shades. Inflorescences are most often paniculate, less often racemose, sometimes solitary. There are one-year and two-year-olds, but summer residents love to grow perennial bells, which can decorate courtyards from 3 to 10 years. Their seeds ripen in boxes with 4 or 6 special alkalis, which are closed in wet weather, but open in dry weather, so that ripe seeds are carried by the wind.

Varieties

With a wide variety of species, up to 10 known perennials of this genus remain the most popular. All species are conventionally divided into 2 groups: tall, which grow freely in meadows, fields and forest glades, and undersized, which huddle on rocks. Tall ones form bushes over 40 cm tall.

The nettle bellflower grows up to 100 cm, forms many straight stems, covered with rough toothed leaves. It blooms for 15 - 20 days with blue-violet flowers, collected in a long (up to 45 cm) brush. Prefers partial shade, fertile soil and regular watering. After the flowers wither, the shoots dry out, if not cut off, the seeds are quickly sown.

The milk-flowered bell grows even higher, from 80 to 120 cm, blooms with white, lilac, purple flowers, collected in wide-pyramidal inflorescences. Each inflorescence contains up to 100 flowers with a delicate aroma. The most popular variety is Loddon Anna.

The peach-leaved bell grows on sandy soil up to 100 cm high. Wedge-shaped basal leaves are collected in a rosette, lanceolate ones grow on the stems. Large (up to 5 cm long) flowers, white, blue, lilac, are collected in paniculate inflorescences of 5 - 6 pieces. It blooms for 40 days, starting in the second half of July. Every 2 to 3 years, you need to repot the plant and divide the bush (or thin out). Popular varieties: "Celestina", "Dead", "Marginata".

The crowded bell grows up to 60 cm tall, the oblong jagged leaves at the root are on long cuttings, and at the top of the stem there are no cuttings at all. Large white, blue, purple flowers reach 2 cm in diameter, gather in 20 pieces in capitate inflorescences, bloom up to 35 days in mid-summer. They love sunny lawns, but grow well in partial shade, the bush grows very quickly. Famous varieties: "Alba", "Superba", "Captivity".

Of the undersized species, the Carpathian is especially famous: it grows up to 30 cm, white, blue, purple single flowers up to 5 cm in diameter look like a wide bell. Blooms for more than 2 months, starting in June. It grows on loose loam, loves sunlight, almost does not need watering. Propagated by sowing, blooms no earlier than the third year. Popular varieties: White Pearl, Samantha, Blaue Clips.

Pozharsky's bell spreads along the ground, rising to a height of 20 cm. Its flowers are like stars, lilac, pink, blue of different shades, they gather in small inflorescences. Loves partial shade, blooms for up to 40 days in the middle of summer.

The bell of Portenschlag (we grow the Birch Hybrid variety) grows no higher than 15 cm. It grows into a lush evergreen pillow with purple or reddish star-shaped flowers. In the sun and in the shade, it grows on light nutritious soils.

Video "Garden bell"

Video recommendations for growing a garden bell in flower beds, plant care, fertilization and feeding.

Growing

Almost all types of perennial bells reproduce by cutting, dividing a bush or rhizome. Exceptions are species in which the taproot does not divide, they reproduce only with the help of seeds. You can sow directly into the ground in spring or autumn, or you can grow seedlings and strong plants in the phase of 3 real leaves and plant them on garden beds with the onset of warmth.

With vegetative propagation, the bush can be divided in the third year of the plant's life, and some varieties even earlier. It is necessary to root a divided bush or parts of the root in the fall before the onset of cold weather, that is, it is better to plant it in August or May. Root suckers or parts of rhizomes with buds should be planted so that the renewal bud is above the ground.

INYou need to grow bells in a sunny meadow, where groundwater does not come close to the surface. They will be satisfied with light, nutritious soil, sandy loam or loamy neutral, even slightly alkaline. If the soil is dense, you need to add sand and humus, if a little acidified, it is better to add wood ash. It is better to prepare the place in advance - dig it up thoroughly, add superphosphate and rotted manure. These flowers do not like peat or fresh manure, they can get sick with fungal infections.

Caring for flowers involves moderate watering (it is better to dry than to pour), top dressing, weeding and loosening of the soil around the roots. In the spring, nitrogen fertilizers are applied, then you can mulch with compost or rotted manure. Before flowering, it is recommended to apply mineral fertilizers of low concentration.

To prolong flowering, you need to remove faded peduncles in time. It is advisable to remove weeds in a timely manner, loosen the soil to provide oxygen access. This is such an unpretentious plant that it pleases summer residents who appear in the garden only for the weekend - you can not fertilize it, do not water it (the main thing is, at least sometimes weed and loosen it), it will still bloom beautifully.

Worst of all for a bell is waterlogged earth and stagnant water, this can lead to the appearance of slugs, fungi, winter freezing. This is the case when it is better not to pay too much attention, because in the wild they live well even on bare rocks. Seed pods (if seeds are needed) must be picked and dried separately from the plant so that they do not have time to spill out by self-sowing.

Landscape use

Perennial bells are often used in mixborders, tall species look great in mixed flower beds in the background. No matter how long they bloom, then a not very beautiful plant still remains, so it is better to remove it from the foreground. They look best when planted in small groups of the same color.

Low-growing species are planted in rockeries, they look spectacular next to stones. Very beautiful decorative borders are created from various undersized species. Most varieties take root well in shaded garden areas, so they are planted in shady flower beds. Cut flowers keep well for 10 - 15 days and are often used in bouquets.

Video "Carpathian bell"

In this video, you will learn how to plant a perennial bell on seedlings.