Колокольчики. Секреты ухода и посадки

Today I want to talk about bellflowers. We all know what they look like, but there are many varieties. Heights range from 5 to 150 cm. Some bellflowers are delicate, while others are unkillable aggressive plants. Bellflowers begin their growth in the spring at varying times. New leaves begin to grow in most species in late April to early May. Bellflowers also bloom at different times. With rare exceptions, all of them belong to the spring-summer group. Low-growing bellflowers for rock gardens bloom first, followed gradually by taller ones. Bellflowers can be annuals, biennials, or perennials. I'm only interested in the latter because I don't want to bother with sowing, seedlings, etc. every year. I prefer the stability of perennial species. However, some species are biennials that require cuttings, reseeding, etc. Moisture is of paramount importance to plants. Species that grow naturally in temperate climates with abundant rainfall require adequate moisture in cultivation. Heat. Bellflowers grown in our region are quite cold-hardy, as most originate from temperate climates or from mountainous regions of the Caucasus, Europe, and the Balkans, where winter temperatures are relatively low. They overwinter well without shelter, but I do not grow species from the subtropical Mediterranean zone. Light. Most bellflowers are sun-loving. Shade-tolerant species are significantly fewer. These are primarily forest species: nettle-leaved bellflower, broadleaf bellflower, dotted bellflower, and others. They tolerate dense shade and grow well in partial shade. Most shade-tolerant species have broad, dark green leaves. Soil. Soil conditions greatly influence plant development. Soil reactivity, nutrient regimen, and its physical and mechanical composition are all important. Many bellflowers are propagated by seed, but not the double varieties. They should be propagated by cuttings in summer. Some can also be propagated by dividing the bush or by planting young rosettes in nurseries for further growth. Hybrid Campanula 'Pink Octopus' This hybrid bellflower, 45-60 cm tall, gets its name from its unusual flowers, reminiscent of Japanese lanterns. They are pink with narrow, linear petals, and large on erect stems. Each plant can produce up to 50 flowers per season. Hybrid Campanula 'Sarasto' This hybrid bellflower is distinguished by its strikingly bright purple bell-shaped flowers. The bush grows from 40 to 60 cm tall and 30-45 cm wide. It grows similarly to its parent, Campanula punctata, but is less aggressive and quite compact. The flowers are large, up to 5-7 cm long, and appear over a long period; unfortunately, by the end of flowering, they are smaller than at the beginning. The sturdy flower stalks do not require staking. Takeshima Campanula — Native to the rocky mountains of the Iranian Plateau and Korea. A perennial plant, reaching 60 cm in height, forms groups of basal rosettes of leaves. In loose soil, it produces numerous lateral shoots. Bellflower Broadleaf Grows wild in the European part of Russia, the Caucasus, Western Siberia, Southern and Central Europe, and Asia Minor. Height 100 cm. Large flowers, borne singly in the axils of the upper leaves, form a narrow, almost spike-shaped, sparsely flowered raceme. Peach-leaved Campanula Grows wild in the European part of Russia, the Caucasus, Western Siberia, and Western Europe, and is also found in the forests near Moscow. The species name comes from the Latin words persica, meaning "peach," and folium, meaning "leaf," because the leaves of this bellflower resemble peach leaves. Double forms do not reproduce by seed, but only vegetatively. We currently have two varieties growing: La Bello (pale blue) and La Belle Bleu (blue). The flowers are double and quite large. I like them. Campanula Clusterata Naturally grows in the European part of Russia, Siberia, Central Asia, Western Europe, and Scandinavia. It grows in meadows, forest clearings, shrubs, and mountains. Campanula Rapunzelata Common in the European part of Russia. Up to 100 cm tall. It grows as a bush, although it can also sprout roots. The leaves are smooth, the bush has many shoots, and the flowering period lasts for a long time, beginning around June 20th. Campanula lactiflora This is my favorite campanula! It grows wild in the Caucasus and Asia Minor. It grows up to 150 cm tall. It's not aggressive, grows as a bush, and doesn't spread. They say it sows, but for some reason I haven't. Maybe it's because of the mulch. I've grown several varieties: Border Blues – a brighter version of Pritchard's Variety, 90 cm tall. Pritchard's Variety – a lilac-blue variety, 120 cm tall. Loddon Anna – 100-130 cm tall. The flowers are a delicate, very light pinkish-lavender hue. Two more varieties are Puff – lavender, and White Puff – white. They are low-growing. They grow 25-45 cm tall. The blooms are dense and spectacular. You can see our bells here: https://sadfloxov.ru/kolokolchiki.html #bells