Content
- 1 Description of the Carpathian bell
- 2 Varieties of Carpathian bellflower
- 3 Carpathian bell in landscape design + photo
- 4 Methods of propagation of the Carpathian bell
- 5 Planting and caring for the Carpathian bell in the open ground
- 6 Growing Carpathian bellflower
- 7 Diseases and pests
- 8 Conclusion
- 9 Reviews of the Carpathian bell
Carpathian bellflower is a perennial low-growing shrub that decorates the garden and does not require special watering or fertilizing. The flowers are from white to purple, elegant, bell-shaped. Flowering lasts a long time - about two months.
Description of the Carpathian bell
Carpathian bellflower (Campanula carpatica) is a perennial plant from the Campanula family. It is distinguished by elegant, numerous flowers and lush greenery. Under natural conditions it is found in the foothills of the Carpathians, which is how it got its name. The basal leaves are united into a rosette, the stem leaves are small in size, up to 1-1.5 cm in length.
The flowers are relatively large (up to 5 cm in diameter), consist of five fused petals, and are shaped like a bowl. The Carpathian bell (pictured) has petals painted in white, soft lilac and purple.
Thanks to its delicate color and bright greenery, the bell attracts attention and lifts the mood.
Main characteristics:
- The plant prefers light partial shade, and grows well both in open areas and in significantly shaded areas.
- The height of the Carpathian bell is up to 30 cm. The bush is compact, low-growing, so it looks very elegant.
- Winter hardiness is high - up to -35-40 ° C (depending on the specific variety).
- Can be grown everywhere, including in the regions of the Urals, Siberia and the Far East.
- In favorable conditions (warm weather, good care), the bushes grow quite quickly and occupy a space of up to 50-60 cm.
- Flowering lasts 2-2.5 months (in the second half of summer and early autumn or a little later). Then a fruit is formed - a capsule with seeds.
- The flowers are solitary, not combined into inflorescences. At the same time, they densely cover the bush.
Varieties of Carpathian bellflower
Carpathian bellflower is a type of herbaceous perennial plant, which has several varieties. The most popular of them, which can be successfully bred in Russia, are discussed below.
Blue Clips
Blue Clips is one of the most popular varieties with a bright blue and lilac color. The flowers are shaped like bells; according to legend, their ringing can be heard on the day of Ivan Kupala, i.e. July 7, when the plant begins to bloom (in the third season after planting). It requires only moderate watering, prefers light loams, as well as fertile soils with a high humus content.
Carpathian bell Blue clips attracts attention with very delicate round-shaped flowers
Dwarf
The Gnome variety produces small light lilac flowers. Well suited for decorating rockeries, rock gardens, borders and mixborders.
The Gnome variety perfectly fills space and enlivens the flower garden
Celestine
The Celestine variety decorates the garden with blue petals. The bushes look good in compositions with white, orange and yellow flowers.
From the Celestina bell you can create a natural fence separating garden areas
Alba
Alba is a representative of the species with white flowers. Alba bushes are miniature and graceful in shape. They decorate rockeries, mixborders and other compositions.
White flowers look harmonious against the background of rich greenery
Isabelle
Another variety with blue flowers is Isabel. Such Carpathian bells are used in the garden in single and group plantings, in flower beds. The Isabelle variety is suitable for ground cover plantings.
Carpathian bell in landscape design + photo
The Carpathian bell, also called campanula, is decorative thanks to its lush, graceful flowers that literally cover the entire bush. They decorate the garden for 8-10 weeks at a time. They are used in single plantings, as well as in combination with other annuals and perennials: rock alyssum, aubrietta, daisies, lobelias.
Compositions made from different varieties of bluebells look good. Flowers are also often planted next to well-kept lawns.
The photo shows that Carpathian bluebells can be planted in a flowerbed or used in various compositions:
- Flower border.
- Natural fencing along the path.
- In remote corners of the garden.
- In a single flower bed.
- Flowers look good against the background of stones, so they are often used in rockeries and rock gardens.
Do not forget that the campanula quickly takes up all the available space. It is better to trim off faded flower stalks to avoid spontaneous self-seeding.
Methods of propagation of the Carpathian bell
This plant can be propagated in two main ways:
- Growing from seeds.
- Dividing the bush.
Seeds for seedlings are planted in early March. They are grown in greenhouse conditions and must be provided with additional lighting. Then the temperature is reduced to 20-22 degrees and in early May the grown bushes are transferred to open ground. Detailed video instructions for growing Carpathian bellflower from seeds will help you cultivate this plant in any garden plot.
Carpathian bell seedlings can be grown in ordinary containers
Only mature bushes (over three years old) can be divided. The procedure begins in early May or late August. The bush is dug up with a sharp shovel, then the rhizome is cut into several parts with a knife. Each division should have healthy buds and a sufficiently developed root.
Planting and caring for the Carpathian bell in the open ground
Bluebell is an undemanding plant. The crop actively reproduces in almost any conditions and resembles a weed. Therefore, any gardener can cope with its cultivation.
Deadlines
For sowing Carpathian bellflower, it is better to choose the beginning of May or the end of August. In the south, seeds can be sown directly into the ground in mid-October. Then the first shoots will appear in April. Also, in all regions, plant seeds can be immediately planted in open ground closer to mid-May. The sprouts will begin to hatch in 2 weeks.
Site selection and soil preparation
The place should be completely open or semi-shaded. The soil is moderately fertile, drained, light. It is not advisable to plant bells in lowlands - stagnation of moisture can lead to the death of the bush.
Preparing the soil is very simple - dig it up using half a spade and add 50-60 g of complex mineral fertilizer. If the soil is fertile, this is not necessary - you just need to clear the area and dig up the ground.
Landing algorithm
To grow good specimens, you must adhere to some rules. The sequence of actions is as follows:
- Form several holes at a distance of 15-20 cm from each other.
- Place some small stones on the bottom.
- Install the rhizome with shoots.
- Sprinkle with soil.
- Water generously.
- Mulch with peat, sawdust, straw.
Carpathian bellflower seeds are also sown in open ground. Then you need to select a mixture of ripened peat, turf soil and sand (in equal quantities). The seeds are laid out on the surface and lightly sprinkled with sand, after which they are sprayed with a sprayer.
Growing Carpathian bellflower
The culture is undemanding to care. In fact, the plants only need to be watered occasionally and fed twice a season.
Watering and fertilizing schedule
If it rains periodically and the soil remains at least a little moist, there is no need to water the bluebell at all. It needs additional moisture only during prolonged heat.Then the plants are watered with warm, settled water, preferably in the late evening or early morning. Consumption rate – up to 10 liters per adult plant.
Carpathian bell grows well even with minimal care
Feeding is applied twice per season:
- In March – nitrogen fertilizers for rapid growth are needed in early spring.
- In June (during the formation of buds), complex fertilizer or fertilizing with potassium salt and superphosphates is required for lush flowering.
Trimming
Dried inflorescences of the Carpathian bellflower are always cut off. This helps to increase the flowering period. In addition, the seeds do not have time to form, which eliminates self-seeding.
Preparing for winter
In the middle zone and in the southern regions, the bell is not prepared for wintering - it does not even need to be covered. In other areas, the plant must be cut at the root and insulated with a layer of dry leaves, spruce wood, and straw (about a week before the first frost). It is not necessary to specially cover it with agrofibre and carry out autumn fertilizing.
Diseases and pests
Bluebells rarely suffer from disease, but they can sometimes be affected by Fusarium or Botrytis infection.
In April and October it is recommended to treat with any fungicide
Suitable for spraying:
- "Fundazol";
- "Fitosporin";
- "Ordan";
- "Skor" or other means.
Among the insects, the slobbering pennice sometimes appears on the bushes. Onion or garlic infusions help to cope with it. You can also use special preparations - “Aktara”, “Fufanon”, “Iskra”, “Confidor”. It is better to spray the bushes in the evening, in the absence of wind and rain.
Conclusion
Carpathian bellflower is one of the undemanding perennial plants that any gardener can cultivate. Graceful numerous flowers perfectly fill the space and allow you to create a huge number of combinations with other ornamental plants.
