The bell of the field is one of the popular flowers that can be found in the forest, in a clearing or in the steppe, as well as in decorative plantings by gardeners. There are many types of it, differing in various shades, some of them have medicinal properties.
Biological description
The field bell belongs to the genus of herbaceous plants of the family of the same name, the Latin name Campanula comes from the diminutive version of the Italian word Campana, i.e. the bell, the Russian version is similarly chosen.
All types of this culture are characterized by a funnel-shaped flower, a tubular nimbus, consisting of 5 serrated petals diverging upwards, which are fused at the base. Inflorescences are found in 2 species (paniculate or racemose), crowned with flower stalks at the top, occasionally there are single ones.
Its stem can be simple or with branches, in some species creeping in length or creeping. The leaves are elongated, at the base they form a basal rosette, above them are petiolate.
Bells usually bloom from late spring to mid-summer for 15-45 days. But there are later species that bloom in August-September. In addition, some varieties have a long, up to 3 months, flowering period. The fruit looks like a box with a lot of seeds.
Classification and Popular Varieties
There are almost 300 kinds of bells in the world. According to the duration of the life cycle, they are divided into one-, two- and perennial, the latter of which have many varieties and interspecific hybrids.
According to their habitats are classified into the following types:
- field
- forest;
- mountain.
In Russia, in forests, glades, in floodplains of rivers and steppes, more than 10 species of field bells can be seen blooming since the end of spring for almost the entire summer season.
The most popular varieties of this flower, which are often used to decorate cottages and household plots:
- The bell is spreading. A modest-looking flower loves light copses, meadows, slopes of ravines, blooming in early June. The stem usually does not exceed a height of 60 cm, branches up. The plant is two-year-old, differs from others in a dissected flower corolla of 5 segments, oblong leaves with sharp tips are arranged in a spiral.
- Peach leaf. It is considered a model of beauty among its counterparts, the flower has a sky blue hue, the petals are fused, grows in fields, sparse forests, near paths and paths. It was this species that was first cultivated in Europe.
- The bell is crowded. Belongs to dwarf species, reaching a height of 30 to 60 cm, the stems are very thin, the flowers are small, gathered in bunches, have a dark blue-violet hue. Flowering time - from late June to mid-August.
- Urticaria. It prefers moist and moist ravines, is widespread in the middle lane, can grow up to 140 cm in height, has strong stems covered with hairs. Its leaves are similar in shape to nettles, inflorescences are grouped up to 3 pieces in the brush near the apex and in the sinuses, the corolla has a lilac-blue hue.
- Broadleaf. It occurs in ravines, between shrubs in the forest, blooms later than all other varieties, usually in July-August. The leaves are large, 10-15 cm in length, are located at the base. The stems are straight and strong, reach a height of up to 130 cm. The flowers can be blue or pale violet, arranged in 1-3 pieces. The species is cultivated, many varieties are bred.
Mountain views
Such bells belong to medium-sized ones with a maximum height of 80 cm. The most popular Caucasian species among them are:
- Round-leaved. It differs in a more rounded shape of leaves collected near the root, which die off during the flowering period. Petals are painted in blue. The plant has medicinal properties.
- Takeshima Winter-resistant culture, decorated with double flowers with pink, lilac or blue petals, collected in racemes, the heads hang down.
- Point. Large white and pink-purple flowers are collected in panicled inflorescences, seem drooping.
- The bell is medium. The most spectacular and popular look. Breeders have bred many of its interesting varieties.
Dwarf varieties
Low-growing species of field bell include:
Carpathian. A decorative variety with a long flowering period of up to 70 days. Grows in bushes with a diameter of 20-30 cm, abundantly strewn with small flowers of shades of blue, lilac and white.
Margaritifolia. Perennial winter-hardy plant, forming dense turfs up to 15 cm tall. The flowers look vertically upward, blue or purple, located on the 1st on each low stem.
Cultivation and care
The basic rules for planting and watering field bells:
- Plants love sunny places, cannot stand close groundwater, because it can cause the root system to freeze;
- the soil is preferably loamy, neutral or slightly alkaline, sand and humus are also added, prepared in advance with the introduction of rotted manure, fertilizers, drainage is laid down;
- moderate watering; during the growth period, fertilizing with nitrogen is useful, when laying buds - mineral;
- loves loose soil, which helps in the fight against weeds;
- dry, faded parts of the plant should be removed immediately, which will open up space for new buds;
- seed boxes need to be collected, not allowing self-seeding;
- perennial varieties for the winter are covered with peat, dry leaves or spruce branches.
Each species also has its own nuances and features of cultivation and care.
Breeding
Wildflowers bluebells reproduce in 3 ways:
- seeds - annual species;
- cuttings and seeds - two-year;
- vegetative propagation or segments of a long root.
Black small annual seeds, extracted from a dried box, are sown in late autumn directly into the open ground. You can make seedlings for planting in the spring, after frost, in the phase of 3 leaves.
The vegetative method is perfect for southern heat-loving varieties, as well as to preserve the necessary genetic traits (terry, etc.). Plant division is carried out in the spring of the 3rd year, with the exception of rapidly ripening species that can give planting delenki in the fall.
When dividing, an adult bush is dug up, ground shoots are cut off, and the rhizome is divided so that there is a growth point on each part. When planted in grooves, it should remain above the ground.
When grafting, young shoots of the plant are used, separating them in the spring for the 2nd year.
Bell pests and diseases
The plant belongs to resistant species, rarely susceptible to disease. However, when growing a crop in the same place for a long period, fungal diseases may develop. Therefore, as a preventive measure, it is recommended to cultivate the soil and the seedlings themselves with the Fundazole solution.
With prolonged humidity, rotting of the neck or the roots themselves can occur, but this can be avoided by doing drainage during planting and regularly loosening the soil. Water should be moderate.
Among pests, slugs most often attack the plant, from which it must be treated with metaldehyde.
Relatives of the plant
By structure and appearance, there are wildflowers similar to bells:
- Digitalis (digitalis). The plant belongs to the herbs of the plantain family, beautiful flowers are pink and lilac, located in bunches on the stem, their shape is similar to the fused petals of a bell.
- Lilies of the valley. A common plant in temperate climates with small white flowers.
- Grouse (fritillaria). Herbaceous perennial from the family Liliaceae, has 150 species, grows in temperate climates. The Russian name comes from the words "pockmarked, motley".
