Plant ID card |
|
|---|---|
Botanical name |
Campanula. |
Common name |
Bellflower, bell. |
Family |
Campanulaceae. |
Origin |
Croatia. |
Dimensions |
From 15 cm to 2 meters in height. |
Foliage |
Evergreen or deciduous, depending on the variety of the bellflower. |
Bloom |
Evergreen or deciduous, depending on the variety of the bellflower. |
Exposure |
Sunny and partial shade, sheltered from strong winds. |
Ground |
Fertile, fresh, light, drained. |
Rusticity |
Up to -20°C for the vast majority of species. |
If there are a large number of species of bellflowers - 250 to 300 -, varying the color and shape of the flowers, the height of the plants when mature, the flowering period, the favorable location for their flowering or even their nature Even - annual, biennial or perennial - bellflowers all have one thing in common: they are easy to grow.
Where to place bellflowers?
As
ground cover
,
rockeries
,
flowerbeds
,
borders
but also on a low wall, in a pot to beautify a terrace or in a planter along the railing of a window... Bellflowers lend themselves to all scenarios.
A sunny location is a plus to be able to make the most of their beautiful flowering, but partial shade is entirely possible.
Too strong sun should be avoided, as this risks fading the intensity of the colors.
A ground cover of bellflowers is always very poetic and has the merit of helping to prevent the appearance of weeds.
Also read: 10 blue perennial flowers to beautifully dress your rock gardens!
How to plant bellflowers?
Once autumn arrives, ideally in October, place the clumps in a basin of water.
Plant them
at the right distance depending on their size
: 25 to 30 cm for compact and short species which can spread out well, 40 to 50 cm for taller bellflowers.
Gently place the soil back into the hole, keeping the stems and flowers up.
You can also sow bellflowers in spring, under a frame for perennial varieties if you do not benefit from a mild climate.
A clump division is possible in autumn.
How to maintain bellflowers?
Taking care of bluebells once they have grown is not rocket science.
During the spring, add compost if necessary.
Water when drought is felt
and seems to set in.
And remove faded flowers when you see them, to stimulate the plant's vital energy.
Taking care of bluebells once they have grown is not rocket science.
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No use without permission.
What are the main varieties of bellflowers?
Choose the variety of bellflowers depending on where you plan to install them.
There are some for all locations:
The wall bellflower
(
Campanula portenschlagiana or muralis)
measures no more than 15 cm and flowers from April to October.
It is very rustic and grows very well, like the aubriète with which it is often confused, in the cracks and holes of stone walls, in a little poor soil;
The star bellflower
(
Campanula garganica Dickson's Gold)
is also a small model (15cm when mature) which flowers in June and July and makes a splash in rock gardens or between flagstones.
Peach-leaved bellflower (Campanula persicifolia) is among the tallest bellflower varieties.
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No use without permission.
Among the tallest varieties are the Korean bellflower (
Campanula takesimana
) and its white bell punctuated with purple pink measures 30 to 40 cm, which flowers in June and July;
the peach-leaved bellflower (
Campanula persicifolia
) and the bellflower (
Campanula glomerata
), whose purple bouquets appear from June to August, peaking at around 50 cm in height.
For a flowerbed, the
broad-leaved bellflower
(
Campanula latifolia)
, which reaches 1 meter, is truly beautiful.
Also read: 25 blue flowers to grow for a more colorful garden
What are the medicinal properties of bellflowers?
Known for their ornamental advantage, bellflowers also have very interesting properties: their roots are notably used in herbal medicine to
soothe digestive disorders
, as well as urinary infections and headaches.