Bluebells got their name for the corresponding shape of the flower. Due to a number of biological features of this plant, both its genus and family have the same name. Usually this is characteristic of some rare and rare species, of which there are only one or two in the family. But, the case with bluebells is special: only their genus unites more than 300 species, and, despite the external similarity and partial gene compatibility, these are still different plants that have not only different areas, but often different physiology. However, in addition to appearance, bells have one more feature - their truly fantastic survival and adaptability. Planting and caring for bluebells do not pose a serious problem for the owner, since both in natural conditions and in the garden, this plant reproduces well by self-sowing.
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Plant features
white bell
In nature, these plants are distributed almost everywhere: the only place that did not submit to them is Central Africa. In all other parts of the world, these plants feel great and are not threatened. The main diversity of species occurs in Europe, both Western and Eastern.
These plants can be either annuals or biennials or perennials. Most often in gardens and on flowerbeds how they are grown perennials. This choice is far from random. The fact is that all perennials have one unpleasant feature: in terms of brightness and attractiveness, their flowers are usually less bright and flashy than those of annuals.
On the other hand, the duration of perennial flowering also does not always satisfy many gardeners. Therefore, in some cases, perennials are abandoned, each year updating the assortment of plants in the flower beds, sowing annually on the same areas of different temporary inhabitants.
Bells of such shortcomings are deprived. Their flowering is always bright and memorable. It lasts, as a rule, not less than 1.5 months, and the flowers of the bell in their decorative properties are practically not inferior (if not superior) to many annual crops.
Portenschlag bell
In addition, there is currently a huge selection of bells.
This includes the ability to select from the following options:
- by height: from dwarfs, 12-15 cm high to giants 1.75 m
- flower size: 1 to 8 cm in diameter
- by color: modern hybrids include almost all colors from bright white to black and blue
- inflorescence shape
- stem shape: from creeping species to upright
- according to the duration of flowering and the time of its onset - from the beginning of May to the end of September
Such huge possibilities of choice allow you to always find a use for the bell in almost any garden plot or in any composition. And, of course, lovers of “every year to tinker in the ground” did not stand aside: for them, there are annual varieties of bluebells, which also have almost all of the listed options for choice.
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The seeds of this plant have fantastic germination and retain it for several years.. They do not require any preparation before sowing. They should not be treated with potassium permanganate or fungicides. The bell does not need any of this, its immunity copes well with these problems without human help.
If you are not in a hurry, you can simply plant the seeds directly in open ground in October or the next year in May. But, if the goal is to get flowering this year, you can use seedling way cultivation.
Seeds for seedlings are planted in late February - early March. Bell seeds are very small, so they must be evenly distributed over the surface of the substrate, lightly pressed into the ground and watered with a spray bottle. After that, the resulting structure is covered with a film.
Peony (left) and bluebell (right) seeds compared to a pinhead
Now let's take a closer look at this design: for seedlings of a bell, a box about 4-5 cm deep is needed, into which any substrate for flower seedlings must be poured.
If such soil is not at hand, it can be easily made according to the following recipe:
- humus or compost - 3 parts
- sod land - 6 parts
- coarse river sand - 1 part
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seedling care
After covering with a film, the box with seedlings is installed in a warm and sunny place with a temperature of at least + 18 ° C. Within 15-20 days, the first shoots will appear. As soon as 75% of the crop rises, the film must be removed. Bells are distinguished by a kind of "discipline": usually, this happens on the second day after the first shoots appear.
bluebell seedling
It is necessary to keep a box with germinating seedlings on the south window of the house, providing young plants with diffused sunlight. If diffusers are not available, partial shading can be used with curtains, tulle or other plants. It should be remembered that both adult bells and their seedlings do not like direct sunlight.
Watering should be carried out as the top layer of the substrate dries. In order not to wash the plants out of the soil, it is necessary to use a watering can with a very thin nose, almost like an oil can, or water the plants using the same spray gun. But, it is advisable to do this procedure either in the evening or on a cloudy day.
In no case should young seedlings be allowed to fall under drafts. Adult bluebells or seedlings outdoors are not afraid of winds, however, the contrast of indoor temperatures can kill young seedlings.
Approximately 20 days after germination, the plants have a sufficient number of leaves and they can dive. Picking is made in any container. You can use an individual one, but many prefer to use larger boxes. Usually picking is done in increments of about 10 cm between seedlings.
Picking seedlings into individual pots
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seedlings bluebells should be planted in open ground in the third decade of May or the first decade of June. Most bluebells prefer partial shade. In principle, if the choice is very sharp: where to plant the plant in the shade or in the light, it is better, of course, to choose an area with light - in extreme cases, it can be shaded artificially. Shade-loving plants can be easily identified by the darker shade of the foliage.
Seedlings ready for planting
Most of the bells are unpretentious to the ground, but among them there are also lovers of stony soils. Some species prefer slightly alkaline, and sometimes frankly calcareous soils. In any case, the most compromise option for bluebell is slightly alkaline and well-drained loam, preferably with a slight southern slope.
Despite the unpretentiousness of the plant, so that in the first years it pleases the owner with its appearance, it is advisable to apply organic fertilizers to the soil before planting it. They will not only help the plant quickly adapt after transplantation, but also provide it with nutrition for the next year or two.
To do this, it is advisable to add the following components to the soil under digging:
- for heavy soil: sand and humus;
- for light soil: sod land and compost.
In no case should fresh manure or peat be brought under the bells.. Firstly, it increases the acidity of the soil, which the bell, although slightly, does not like, and secondly, fungal infections can always come with such fertilizers, which seedlings may not be ready to fight immediately after transplantation.
Usually, undersized bells are seated in a checkerboard pattern with a step of 10 to 15 cm. Medium-sized bells can be seated either in a checkerboard pattern or in rows, but with a step of at least 30-40 cm (spacing up to 30 cm). Tall plants require a step of 40 to 60 cm, depending on the spreading of the bush. The distance between rows for tall bells is also selected in the range of 40-60 cm.
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plant care
Caring for bluebells is not much different from caring for any other unpretentious flowers. The only thing that can pose a serious problem for these plants is too long periods of hot weather or long periods of lack of rainfall.
You can deal with these problems in the simplest ways: on especially hot days, plants can be shaded with nets or trellises, and the lack of natural moisture can be compensated for with irrigation.
The criterion for the need for watering is the same as for seedlings - as the crust appears on the top layer of soil. After watering, the soil must be loosened to a depth of about 5-7 cm.
Bellflower spoon-leaved
If the tall stems of the bluebell bend too much under the influence of the wind or the weight of their own leaves and flowers, they must be tied to special vertical supports.
Feeding the bell in the first year is not required. After fertilizing before planting in the ground, the second top dressing is carried out in the spring of next year in the already melting snow. Usually, any nitrogenous fertilizer (ammonium nitrate or urea) is used at a concentration of 30-40 g per 1 sq. m.
The second top dressing in the same season (in fact, the next after landing in the ground) is carried out in the first half of summer, as soon as budding begins. For it, either a complex fertilizer for flowers is used, or a mixture of phosphorus and potassium fertilizers in the amount of 15-20 g per 1 sq. m.
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Annual bluebells reproduce exclusively by seeds, and two-year-olds can be propagated both by seeds and cuttings obtained from new shoots of the second year of life. Perennial plants can reproduce by any means - both by seeds and cuttings, dividing the bush, root processes, and so on.
However, there is one exception to this rule: terry species do not form seeds, so they can reproduce exclusively by vegetative means.
The seed propagation method, which is so complicated and time-consuming for many other plants, is very simple for bluebells. As noted earlier, if there is no desire to mess with seedlings, you can simply plant the seeds in October and the next year they will all germinate together and it remains just to plant them. And in a year they will bloom profusely and produce seeds of the next generation.
Bluebell variety Border Blues
Cuttings are traditionally made in the spring and for it young basal shoots that have grown this year are used. After that, they are germinated either in water or in a special substrate until roots appear. When the first roots appear (usually, this is the end of May), the petiole is planted in open ground.
Bellflower long-column
The division of the bush in bluebells is possible only at 3-4 years of their life., since the tap root system “in breadth” grows for a long time, however, there are species capable of this method of reproduction already in the second year after planting or transplanting. Usually, a similar procedure is done in May.
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Basically, bells are classified by height, and already within the boundaries of a particular height, there may be all kinds of classifications according to the color and size of flowers, the number of seasons that a plant can live in or by habitat.
undersized bluebells
Carpathian bell
It is even considered a "dwarf species", although in suitable conditions it can grow quite high. The plant was specially bred about 300 years ago for use as a border or for flower beds with a "undersized" population.
Perennial plant, up to 15 cm high (sometimes it can be up to 25 cm) with a bush diameter of about 30-40 cm. The shape of the leaves is ovoid. The closer to the root, the larger and thicker the leaves; in fact, at ground level, the plant forms many leaf rosettes.
The flowers are blue or purple, up to 5 cm in diameter. The flowering is plentiful and long - its duration is 4 months (June - the end of September). It has many varieties that differ in the color of the petals.
These include:
- Alba and White Star - have white color
- Celestine and Isabelle - bluish white
- Chanton Joy - bright blue
- Karpaten Krone - deep purple
Gargan bellflower
This herbaceous plant, like the Carpathian bell, belongs to the ground cover. It is a bush of a spherical shape, with a diameter of about 30 cm. The flowering of this plant is so abundant that sometimes the leaves are completely invisible on the bushes.
The shape of the petals of this variety is very peculiar - they are elongated to the outer edge and slightly pointed. The diameter of the flowers is about 3-4 cm.Flowering lasts from mid-June to late August.
This species often finds use in alpine hills or in places where it is necessary to create a flower cover on poor or generally stony soils. The high unpretentiousness of the plant allows you to do this without problems. The use of phosphorus-potassium fertilizers stimulates the growth of the plant so much that the bushes begin to grow in width and acquire a flattened shape up to 60 cm in diameter.
The plant has several varieties, the most popular are:
- Variety Major - pale blue;
- Variety Discon Gold - light purple hue.
spiral leaf bell
spiral-leaved variety
Perennial plant, having a height of about 15 cm. The stems, despite the seeming fragile and painful appearance, are very strong and long, often creeping along the ground. The flowers are small, about 1 cm in diameter, the predominant colors are light blue or white. The variety was bred at the end of the 18th century.
They are mainly used in rockeries, because they are able to grow without any special conditions and at the same time maintain excellent decorative effect. For the winter, the plant can not even be covered, since its frost resistance is about -40 ° C.
Varieties of this variety are:
- Alba White (the color is clear from the name)
- Loader - Terry flowering parts that have a blue or bluish-white color
- Wilmott - deep blue
Chamisso
The appearance of the Shamisso variety
The plant was bred about 100 years ago specifically for the northern regions. Extremely hardy and unpretentious. Outwardly, it is a low integumentary bush, rarely exceeding a height of 12-15 cm. At the same time, its flowers are simply gigantic for such growth - from 3.5 to 5 cm in diameter. The elongated funnel of the flower always makes a good impression on the audience.
The number of flowers per plant is small, usually the number of peduncles rarely exceeds 4-5. And on the vast majority of plants, it is generally alone. Flowering time - from July to August, however, about 2 out of 10 bushes can bloom for up to three months - until the end of September inclusive.
Over several years, it covers the available space extremely densely. At the same time, despite the small number of flowers on one bush, their total number is so large that the foliage is not visible at all. Propagated by both seeds and vegetative methods. Having "torn" in its expansion to fertile land, it can turn into a weed, and it will be very problematic to remove it.
Medium-sized bluebells
Komarov's bell
Komarov's bell
The plant comes from the Caucasus, where it is endemic, that is, it is not found in its natural form anywhere else. Listed in the Red Book of Russia and Georgia. It was discovered about 80 years ago. It is a perennial with a height of about 50 cm. On the bush there may be several fairly strong, almost stiff stems covered with wax hairs.
The leaves are oblong, up to 4-5 cm long. The flowers have a funnel length of about 4 cm in length, and its diameter is about 3 cm. The color is light purple.
Flowering occurs at the end of spring - the beginning of summer. Duration from 1.5 to 2 months. It reproduces well by seeds, but there are certain problems with dividing the bush: the root system of the plant is pronounced taproot and its division is very poor, therefore, in order not to destroy the plant, it is better not to use this method.
Takeshima
Srednerosly grade Takeshima; early flowering phase
Another name is Pink Octopus. The natural range of this plant is the Korean Peninsula and Japan. A plant up to 60 cm high with an interesting shape of petals: in mature flowers, they are long and narrow, resembling octopus tentacles.
The stems of the plant are creeping and well branched. The plant is profusely hung with flowers. Their number on one bush can reach 50-60 pieces. Flowering lasts 2 months: from early June to late July. The perennial tolerates winters with frosts down to -30°C.
Currently, there are several varieties of Takeshima:
- Beautyful Trust - flowers that look like spiders, white
- Wedding Bells - white double flowers with a wide funnel
- Marble - pink flowers that have a marble color
Bell dotted
The natural range is the Far East and Siberia. The stem is relatively thin, however, strong due to the fibrous structure. Plant height reaches 50 cm, on nutrient soils in garden conditions - up to 70 cm. The leaves are numerous, ovate, but pointed towards the outer end.
The flowers have a diameter of up to 5 cm. On one peduncle there are from 1 to 5 flowers that bloom with slight delays. The length of the corolla can reach up to 6 cm. Flowering begins in July and lasts about a month. Usually, flowering begins in the second year of life, or the next year after transplantation.
Propagated by dividing the bush every 3-4 years and by seed. Cut flowers last long in bouquets or vases. In areas it is used as a filler for mixborders, single plants in open ground or a flowerpot.
It has many different varieties, the most popular of which are:
- Alba nana is actually a low-growing shrub, up to 20 cm tall, but with dot-shaped flowers; White colour
- Rubra - the flower part is bright yellow
Sarastro
A rare case of successful hybridization. It is a hybrid of a dotted bell with beautiful and large flowers up to 7 cm long and about 5 cm in diameter. A perennial plant that has an almost spherical shape of a bush: its height can reach 60 cm and a diameter of 50 cm.
Prefers partial shade, in the sun gives abundant foliage and small flowers. From soils prefers alkaline or neutral. Requires good hydration. Flowering lasts up to 2 months, begins in July, the number of flowers on one bush exceeds 50 pieces.
A versatile plant. It is used both in group and in single landings. Well fills the background in mixborders. Also used in rock gardens and rockeries. Once cut, it sits in a vase for several weeks.
tall bluebells
broad-leaved
broadleaf bellflower
This is a classic, so to speak, typical plant species; The first mention of this species in literature dates back to the 15th century. The distribution of this species is quite wide - from the Atlantic Ocean to Central Siberia. The height of the stems of this giant reaches 1.2 meters, its leaves are huge - up to 12 cm long and 6 wide. The flowers are also rather big - up to 6 cm long corolla and up to 7 cm diameter.
This species blooms for two months - July and August. Mainly used for group plantings. Since there are several dozen flowers in racemose inflorescences, the flowers are ideal for making bouquets.
The most famous varieties of broadleaf bell include the following varieties:
- Alba - a similar variety, but with traditional white flowers
- Brantwood - the color of this variety is purple
- MakrRanta - flowers of especially large sizes, up to 8 cm in diameter; rich color, dark purple
peach-leaved
peach bellflower
The range is approximately the same as that of the broad-leaved, but in the east it is limited to Western Siberia. The plant has a height of up to 1 meter, the stems are straight, densely hung with leaves. The leaves themselves are shaped like peach - hence the name.
The flowers are large, the length of the corolla is up to 5 cm. Their color can be white, blue or lilac-blue. Panicle-type inflorescences gather from 5 to 10 flowers. The duration of flowering is approximately 1.5 months, it begins in June. The plant has also been known for a long time - the first mention of it dates back to 1554.
It was the peach-leaved bell that turned out to be the most interesting plant in terms of obtaining new varieties and species.
Currently, there are many varieties of it, the most popular of which are presented below:
- Bernis - terry petals in flowers, in inflorescences 3-5 pieces; blue color
- Beauty - large flowers, diameter up to 7 cm, in inflorescences up to 7 pieces, color - white-blue
- Ex Mouse - the flowers are a little double, as if sprinkled with bluish dust
- Snow Drift - large, up to 7 cm, white flowers; up to 5 pieces in an inflorescence
There are also many hybrids recently bred under the New Hybrids brand, they are represented by plants growing from 70 to 100 cm with flowers in almost all possible shades.
lactiflora
Campanula lactiflora
Its natural range is Turkey and the Caucasus. The species first appears in literature at the beginning of the 19th century, perhaps it was then that it was cultivated. The height of this species can reach up to one and a half meters. It has a tap root system, which allows it to grow in poor soils. The leaves are oblong, with short petioles.
Inflorescence racemes, 4-6 flowers. The flowers themselves are white, about 4 cm in diameter. The plant blooms in June and blooms until the end of August. Flowers have a pleasant aroma.
Varieties of milky-flowered species:
- Alba - traditional white color, height up to 100 cm, require relatively dense planting, up to 5 bushes per 1 sq. m
- Border Blues - height up to 90 cm, color - purple
- Pouf - medium-sized plants, lilac flower, a large number of flowers on the stems
- White pouf - similar to the previous ones, but the color is white
- Signor - medium-sized plants with light blue flowers
bluebell Carpathian sowing, first shoots
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