In Poland, in natural conditions, we will meet Campanula bells in many places: along roads, on the edges of forests, forest clearings, meadows, mountain slopes. The eye-catching flowers are blue, purple, and sometimes white and pink. We have 19 species of bluebells, but there are as many as 300 in the world. Most of them are perennials.
Bluebells grow best in fertile, humus, slightly clay soil rich in calcium, although some are content with weaker soil. Most of them are sunny and moderately humid. Others prefer partial shade, dry places, tolerating even periodic droughts.They bloom from June to September and, after pruning, also in the fall. We propagate them by dividing in spring or after flowering, and also from seeds.
High bells
•Cream bellflowerC. lactiflora is one of the tallest species, reaching a height of 1.5 m, comes from the Caucasus. Violet, lilac, pink or white broad bell-shaped flowers, gathered in sumptuous loose inflorescences, develop from June to August. Likes fertile, well-drained, moderately moist soil and the sun. It looks effective in flower beds and as a solitary, e.g. between shrubs or tall grass.
•BellflowerC. latifolia is a native species. It has straight, unbranched inflorescence shoots up to 120 cm and ovate, pointed leaves, from the corners of which grow purple or white flowers 5 cm long. It blooms in June - July. The species is tolerant to fertility and soil type. Only dry sands, wet and acidic soils do not suit him.It looks good in flower beds and between shrubs.
•Peach-leaved bellflowerC. persicifolia - a native species with straight, unbranched stems 30-100 cm high, at the end of which blue or white bell-shaped flowers develop in summer. Leaves are smooth, narrowly lanceolate, like a peach. He likes the sun, tolerates partial shade well and does not require a lot of water. Satisfies with average garden soil. Easy to grow. It can be recommended for flower beds, cut flowers and flower meadows.
•Concentrated bellC. glomerata is a native species. It grows up to 80 cm and is very decorative. It creates butt (heart-shaped) and stem leaves (narrower, shorter and tailless) and flowers 2 cm long, gathered in apical spherical inflorescences, which can be purple, blue or white depending on the variety. Most varieties flower in June. Immediately after that, the shoots should be trimmed. It is reliable in cultivation, it grows well on any soil (provided that it is not acidified) in sunny and slightly shaded places.It looks nice in the company of many other perennials, e.g. those with yellow flowers or leaves.
Low bells
•Carpathian bellflowerC. carpatica is grown in varieties that differ in height (20-40 cm), habit (straight or overlapping shoots) and flower color (various shades of blue and white) and their fullness (usually single, but there are already full varieties). Forms rough, heart-ovate leaves. Flowers 2-4 cm in diameter develop in June - July, sometimes flowering repeats itself in the fall. It looks great in rock gardens, on low walls and flower slopes. It grows well in sunny places, in soil rich in calcium and not too wet.
•Poszarski BellflowerC. poscharskyana forms long (70 cm), overlapping shoots and heart-shaped, coarsely serrated leaves at the edge. It blooms with blue-violet flowers with a slightly lighter center from June to August.It grows quite strongly, so in the rockery we need to provide it with a lot of space and the vicinity of appropriate plants. Usually it does not freeze.
•Dalmatian bellflowerC. portenschlagiana has short (10 cm) branchy shoots with heart-shaped and kidney-shaped leaves with irregularly serrated edges. Its 2 cm long blue-violet flowers are gathered in short clusters. Blooms profusely in June and, after pruning, again in September. This bell creates stolons that push deep into rock crevices. It tolerates drought well. Suitable for sunny and semi-shaded places. It looks picturesque among light stones and on flower walls and slopes. This plant tolerates wintering well.
Finally, it must be said that perennial low bells are abundant and all of them deserve to be popularized. Maybe it would be worthwhile for them to settle in for good in our gardens?
Species and varieties
Low types of bells are suitable for rockeries and walls, and tall ones for flower beds, flower meadows and naturalistic gardens.Before we make a selection of species and varieties, let's check not only their height, but also their origin. The varieties of native species are the most useful for gardens, as they are frost-resistant and resistant to winters such as the one that recently visited us. Species from warmer regions require a light winter cover, but this treatment should not cause us problems.
