Content
- 1 Description of the Carpathian bell
- 2 Carpathian bell varieties
- 3 Carpathian bell in landscape design + photo
- 4 Breeding methods of the Carpathian bell
- 5 Planting and caring for the Carpathian bell in the open field
- 6 Cultivation of a Carpathian bell
- 7 Diseases and pests
- 8 Conclusion
- 9 Reviews of the Carpathian bell
Carpathian bell is a perennial undersized shrub that adorns the garden and does not require special watering and feeding. Flowers ranging from white to purple, graceful, bell-shaped. Flowering lasts a long time - about two months.
Description of the Carpathian bell
Carpathian bell (Campanula carpatica) is a perennial plant from the Bellflower family. Differs in graceful, numerous flowers and luscious greenery. In natural conditions, it is found in the foothills of the Carpathians, which is why it got its name. Basal leaves are combined into a rosette, 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, resemble a bowl in shape. At the Carpathian bell (pictured), the petals are painted in white, pale lilac and purple.
Thanks to its delicate color and bright greenery, the bell attracts attention and cheers up
Main characteristics:
- The plant prefers light partial shade, while growing well both in an open area and in a significantly shaded area.
- The height of the Carpathian bell is up to 30 cm. The bush is compact, undersized, therefore it looks very elegant.
- High winter hardiness - 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 take up space 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 the fruit is formed - a box with seeds.
- Flowers are solitary, do not combine into inflorescences. At the same time, they densely cover the bush.
Carpathian bell varieties
The Carpathian bell is a type of herbaceous perennial plants, which has several varieties. The most popular ones that can be successfully bred in Russia are discussed below.
Blue Clips
Blue Clips (Blue Clips) - one of the most popular varieties of bright blue and lilac color. Flowers in the form of bells, according to legend, their ringing can be heard on the day of Ivan Kupala, i.e. July 7th, when the plant begins to bloom (in the third season after planting). It needs only moderate watering, prefers light loams, as well as fertile soils with a high humus content.
Bell Carpathian Blue clips attracts attention with very delicate rounded flowers
Gnome
The Gnome variety produces small, light lilac flowers. Well suited for decorating rockeries, rock gardens, borders and mixborders.
The Gnome variety perfectly fills the space and enlivens the flower garden
Celestine
Celestine graces 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 that separates the garden areas
Alba
Alba is a white flowered species. Alba bushes are miniature, graceful in shape. They are decorated with rockeries, mixborders and other compositions.
White flowers look harmonious against a background of rich greenery
Isabel
Another blue-flowered variety 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 the lush, graceful flowers that literally cover the entire bush. They decorate the garden for 8-10 weeks in a row. They are used in single plantings, as well as in combination with other annuals and perennials: rock alyssum, aubrietta, daisies, lobelia.
Compositions from different varieties of bells look good. Also, flowers are often planted next to manicured lawns.
The photo shows who the Carpathian bells can be planted in a flower bed or used in various compositions:
- Floral border.
- Natural fencing along the path.
- In the remote corners of the garden.
- In a single flowerbed.
- Flowers look good against the background of stones, so they are often used in rockeries, rock gardens.
Do not forget that the campanula quickly takes up all the space provided. It is better to prune withered stalks to avoid spontaneous self-seeding.
Breeding methods of the Carpathian bell
This plant can be propagated in two main ways:
- Growing from seeds.
- By dividing the bush.
Seeds for seedlings are planted in early March. Grown in greenhouse conditions, must be supplemented. Then the temperature is lowered to 20-22 degrees and at the beginning of May the grown bushes are transferred to open ground. A detailed video instruction on growing a Carpathian bell from seeds will help to cultivate this plant in any personal plot.
Carpathian bell seedlings can be grown in ordinary containers
Only adult bushes (over three years old) can be divided. The procedure starts at the beginning of May or at the end of August. The bush is dug out with a sharp shovel, then the rhizome is cut with a knife into several parts. Each division must have healthy buds and a sufficiently developed root.
Planting and caring for the Carpathian bell in the open field
The bell is an undemanding plant. The culture actively reproduces in almost any conditions and resembles a weed. Therefore, any gardener can cope with its cultivation.
Timing
For sowing the Carpathian bell, 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, the seeds of the plant 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, well-drained, light. It is undesirable to plant bells in lowlands - moisture stagnation can lead to the death of the bush.
The preparation of the soil is very simple - it is dug into half of the bayonet of a shovel and 50-60 g of complex mineral fertilizer is applied. If the soil is fertile, it is not necessary to do this - 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.
- Put some small stones on the bottom.
- Install rhizome with shoots.
- Sprinkle with earth.
- Water abundantly.
- Mulch with peat, sawdust, straw.
Carpathian bell seeds are also sown in open ground.Then you need to pick up a mixture of ripe peat, turf and sand (in equal quantities). The seeds are spread over the surface and lightly sprinkled with sand, after which they are sprayed from a spray bottle.
Cultivation of a Carpathian bell
The culture is undemanding to care. In fact, plants only need to be watered occasionally and fed 2 times per season.
Watering and feeding schedule
If it rains periodically and the soil remains at least slightly damp, watering the bell is not required at all. It needs additional moisture only when it is exposed to 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 maintenance
Top dressing is applied twice per season:
- In March - nitrogen fertilization is needed for rapid growth in early spring.
- In June (during the formation of buds) - complex fertilization or top dressing with potassium salt and superphosphates is required for lush flowering.
Pruning
Dried inflorescences of the Carpathian bell are always cut off. This helps to increase the flowering period. In addition, the seeds do not have time to form, which excludes self-seeding.
Preparing for winter
In the middle lane 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 to the root and insulated with a layer of dry leaves, spruce, straw (about a week before the onset of the first frost). It is not necessary to specially cover with agrofibre and carry out autumn feeding.
Diseases and pests
Bells rarely suffer from diseases, but sometimes they can be infected with Fusarium or Botrytis infection.
In April and October, it is recommended to carry out treatment with any fungicide.
Suitable for spraying:
- Fundazol;
- Fitosporin;
- "Ordan";
- "Speed" or by other means.
Among insects, a slobbering penny sometimes appears on the bushes. Onion or garlic infusions help to cope with it. You can also use special drugs - "Aktara", "Fufanon", "Iskra", "Confidor". It is better to spray the bushes in the evening, in the absence of wind and rain.
Conclusion
The Carpathian bell is one of the undemanding perennial plants that any gardener can cultivate. The graceful numerous flowers perfectly fill the space and allow you to create a huge number of combinations with other ornamental plants.
