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Bluebell lactiflora is a simple but elegant plant with low growing requirements. You can plant a perennial in any garden, and the varietal variety allows you to choose the desired shade of flowering.
Description of the lactiferous bell
Herbaceous perennial Campanula lactiflora belongs to the Bellflower family and looks like a medium-sized plant with straight branched stems, brownish-green or with a slight red tint, about 20 pieces. The leaves of the lactiferous bell are wide, but elongated, slightly serrated, pointed at the ends, rough to the touch. In the lower part of the plant, the plates sit on short petioles, and closer to the top – directly on the stem.
A bellflower bush has 20 stems or more
In height, the plant can rise up to 170 cm above the ground. It usually spreads in diameter by half a meter, grows rapidly, by mid-July the bushes already reach their maximum size.
The perennial prefers to grow in well-lit areas with light shading from direct sunlight. In nature, the lactiferous bell can be found mainly in warm regions, in Asia Minor and the Caucasus. But it also grows in subalpine meadows and mountain forests, tolerates winter temperature drops down to -35 ° C, therefore it is suitable for cultivation in the middle lane, in the Urals and in Western Siberia.
Flowering begins in June and can last until early September, especially with the timely removal of wilted buds, they are replaced by new ones. The flowers of the plant are star-shaped, five-petalled, up to 4 cm wide. The photo of the lactiferous bell shows that the buds are collected in large racemose inflorescences. They can bloom very abundantly in favorable conditions – with moderate moisture, on neutral soil and in good light. The range of flowering is determined by the variety, the buds can be white, blue, pale lilac and even bicolor, with a light neck.
The lactiferous bell can bloom all summer
Varieties of lactiferous bell
Decorative perennial forms are represented by several popular varieties. According to the requirements for care, they are very similar, but differ in size and shade of flowering.
Prichards Variety
Variety Prichards Variety, or Prichards Variety, brings beautiful blue or pale lavender flowers. In size, the bushes of the lactiferous bell are medium-sized, up to 60 cm, the perennial prefers to grow in the sun. It enters its maximum decorative effect in June and can delight with inflorescences until autumn.
Prichards Variety tolerates winter cold well down to -34 ° C
Loddon Anna
Variety Loddon Anna belongs to tall and can stretch up to 125 cm. The flowers of the perennial are pink or light purple, bloom from late May to early September. The diameter of individual buds can be up to 4 cm. The plant is frost-resistant, suitable for growing in zone 4 (up to -34 ° C), it does not need shelter.
Variety Loddon Anna grows well in lighted places
Alba
The Alba variety rises up to 80 cm above the ground, is distinguished by a loose silhouette of a bush and abundant snow-white flowering. The buds of the white milky bell are large, up to 6 cm wide, star-shaped, and they bloom from June to August.
Planting Alba is best in the sun, although the bell grows well in slight shade.
Superba
The ornamental variety Superba grows up to 125 cm and forms fairly dense bushes with abundant flowering in June and July. The buds of the perennial are dark purple, small, only up to 2 cm. The lactiferous bell grows well on loose nutrient soils in sunny areas, calmly tolerates partial shade and winter cold below -30 ° C.
Variety Superba is used for cutting, thick bright brushes of the bell do not fade for a long time
Cerulea
The variety Cerulea, or Caerulea, reaches a height of 100 cm and blooms from the beginning of June. The flowers are bluish, delicate, with a pleasant light aroma. The variety prefers moderate moisture and grows well in sunny areas with loose soil. It requires pruning for the winter, but shelter is not needed, and it tolerates frosts of about -34 ° C.
Pale blue bellflower Cerulea looks good in light shade
Pouf
Pouffe is a dwarf variety and is excellent for rocky gardens, alpine gardens and container growing. The height of the bush is about 30-40 cm, the flowering of the variety is pale lilac, lasts from June to August. The low perennial tolerates winter well and does not require shelter at frosts below -30 g ° C.
Variety Poof belongs to the category of dwarf – about 20 cm
Application in design
The modest lactiferous bells look great during the flowering period and are therefore actively used to create a landscape. They are planted on the site:
- in stony compositions;
Lilac and blue flowers of undersized varieties look good in rockeries and alpine slides
- near water bodies;
High and medium-sized varieties of bluebell can beautifully decorate the coast
- in artistic groups with conifers;
Bells look favorably against the background of dense greenery
- when decorating borders.
Low varieties beautifully frame paths in the garden
Bluebells can grow successfully alongside roses, cereals, wildflowers, pansies, cornflowers, carnations, and other crops. As neighbors, only moisture-loving plants and trees with a powerful root system are not suitable for them. In the first case, the lactiferous bell will suffer from waterlogging, and in the second case, it will have to compete for water and nutrients.
Methods of reproduction
In the garden, the lactiferous bell is propagated in the following ways:
- seeds;
- division of an adult plant by rhizome;
- cuttings;
- offspring, or young rosettes, developing at some distance from the main stem.
The easiest way to grow a lactiferous bell is from seeds. When breeding rare varieties, cuttings and offspring are used.
The lactiferous bell germinates well from seeds
Planting a lactiferous bell
The perennial plant is very unpretentious and easy to root. It is enough for the gardener to know the basic rules of planting.
Dates and choice of location
It is best to plant a lactiferous bell in late spring or in August. Theoretically, the procedure can be carried out even in the middle of summer, but the beginning and end of the growing season remain optimal terms.
The site for the plant is chosen open, but with a slight shadow from buildings or trees. The lactiferous bell loves the light, but grows worse in direct sunlight. The soil for perennials is loose and nutritious, the pH level should be close to neutral. A plant should not be planted in a lowland or near groundwater; it needs high-quality drainage.
Soil preparation and seedlings
Before planting a lactiferous bell, the site must be dug up and, if necessary, improve the soil. If the soil in the garden is too heavy, it must be mixed with humus, on light soils it is recommended to add sod and compost. Without fail, sand is introduced into the soil, it will provide a good removal of excess moisture.
When planting several bells, you need to leave space between the bushes
At the chosen place for the plant, small holes are prepared, they should be twice the size of the root system. Drainage from sand or small stones is poured to the bottom, the hole is filled up to half with the prepared soil mixture.
Landing algorithm
A couple of hours before planting, a perennial seedling can be briefly lowered with its roots into the water. In the presence of an earthy coma, it is allowed to simply moisten it abundantly. Then you need:
- put the plant in the prepared recess;
- fill with the remains of the soil flush with the surface;
- lightly compact the top layer next to the stem.
The seedling should be watered immediately, but carefully, so as not to erode the soil at the base. If several plants are rooted at once, gaps of 30-60 cm should be left between them, depending on the dimensions of a particular variety.
Aftercare
Caring for lactiferous bells is extremely simple. The gardener needs to monitor the moisture and cleanliness of the soil, as well as fertilize the plant from time to time.
Watering
A perennial plant requires moisture, but in very moderate amounts. Usually, a herbaceous shrub has enough natural rainfall, it needs to be additionally watered only in extreme heat and in the absence of rain.
Watering the lactiferous bell is rarely necessary even in hot summers.
Additional fertilizing
The lactiferous bell, undemanding to growing conditions, needs to be fertilized twice per season. In the spring, urea or ammonium nitrate is added to the flower bed with the plant for the rapid growth of stems and leaves – the dosage should not exceed 40 g per meter. At the beginning of summer, when buds appear, the perennial can be fed with superphosphate and potassium, they will contribute to more abundant flowering.
Mulching and loosening the soil
The lactiferous bell prefers breathable light soils. After each watering or natural precipitation, the soil in the flower bed must be carefully loosened to a depth of about 6 cm. The procedure not only improves the access of oxygen to the roots, but also helps to fight weeds that rob the plant of moisture and nutrients.
It is also recommended to mulch the flower bed with straw or chips. This will prevent the soil from drying out in the heat and also will not allow weeds to break through to the surface.
Tie to support
Many varieties of lactiferous bell rise above 70 cm. During the flowering period, their stems can break under the weight of numerous buds or from the wind. Therefore, high varieties can be tied to any support.
Very tall bluebell bushes can be tied up if there is support nearby
Preparation for winter
In early autumn, the lactiferous bell finishes flowering. With the onset of October, the stems of the plant are completely cut off at the root, the procedure helps the perennial prepare for winter.
3 weeks before the onset of cold weather, organic top dressing is introduced – the plant is covered with humus or dry peat from above with a layer of 15 cm.
Diseases and pests
The lactiferous bell has a high natural resistance to fungal diseases. But sometimes he can suffer from diseases, especially in rainy and cloudy summers. Most often he is struck by:
- spotted rust;
Rust leaves ugly brown-red marks on the leaves and leads to wilting.
- powdery mildew;
With powdery mildew, a white coating appears on the green parts, the bell may completely fade
- root rot.
When rot appears, the roots and stems of the bell darken and soften.
For the treatment of diseases, a solution of Fundazol or ordinary copper sulfate is used. If the conditions on the site are unfavorable, it makes sense to carry out preventive treatments three times a season from early spring.
Of the pests for the lactiferous bell, the following are dangerous:
- slippery;
With high humidity, slugs strongly eat leaves and flowers.
- spider mite;
A spider mite can densely entangle the bell with cobwebs, especially if the summer is dry
- bears.
Medvedka actively digs passages in the soil and damages the roots of the bell
To eliminate insects, Karbofos and Aktellik are used, and homemade soap solution also helps. For the prevention of pests, it is very important from time to time to loosen the soil in which the larvae and adults hide.
Conclusion
Bellflower lactiferous is a beautiful and undemanding perennial with high frost resistance. White, blue and purple varieties allow you to choose the most suitable plant for the site.
Reviews of the lactiferous bell
