The bellflower is considered to be the most beautiful flower in the bellflower family. Here you can find out everything you need to know about the bellflower.
The bellflower (Campanula medium) looks delicate and gentle. It differs from other bluebells (Campanula) primarily in its bulbous flowers with outwardly curved tips. These romantic blossoms are doing their best for the perfect summer.
The bellflower looks wonderful in a summer bouquet. Their flowers look noble and are not only a beautiful plant in the garden. Their flowers are also a worthy floral decoration for a special occasion such as a wedding.
Bellflower: origin and properties
The bellflower comes from the southern regions of Europe, more precisely from Italy and France. Unlike many other bluebell species, it is biennial. In the first year it forms only long green leaves. Only in the second year do the stalks, which are up to 80 centimeters high and laden with bell-shaped flowers, appear. The flowering period begins in May and lasts until July. The colors of the flowers range from white to various pink and lavender colors to blue and a deep purple. Bellflower flowers also attract many native butterflies and bees of all kinds, while hares and rabbits prefer not to nibble on this plant.
Lantern Varieties
Marinebells bloom in a variety of shades between white and deep purple. Many varieties convince with their delicate flowers, others are full and filled.
- 'Champion Pink': This pink flowering variety can grow up to 65 cm tall and likes it moist
- 'Caerulea': The variety 'Caerulea' likes full sun; its blue flowers are filled with a second ring of petals; that makes them an absolute eye-catcher in your own garden
- 'White double': This variety is also double; their white flowers appear from May and remain until Augustpass
- ‘Blue Cups’: The flowers on the up to 75 cm high inflorescences of this variety shine in deep blue
Plant bellflowers
Marine bells need a sunny spot. The soil should be well drained, because the plant does not like waterlogging at all. It feels particularly comfortable with a slightly alkaline or neutral pH value. For example, our peat-free Plantura organic potting soil is ideal for your plants. Give the individual plantlets enough space to spread out, as bluebells grow bushy. A planting distance of about 30 to 40 centimeters should be sufficient.
If you grow the plant from seeds, you should not plant them too deep in the ground. Marienbellen are light germinators - this means that the young plants germinate better when the seeds get light. At best, just place the seeds directly on the soil without covering them. However, since the seeds will also dry out faster, it is important that they are kept moist. Simply put a transparent bag over the planter or gently spray the seeds regularly with a little water.
Caring for Marienbellen
Some delicate flower stalks are heavy on all the flowers that are on them. So that wind and weather cannot harm it, it is better to support these stems with a small branch or stick. If you want to extend the flowering time of your bellflower, you should cut back faded inflorescences so that the plant cannot put its energy into the seeds but blooms again. However, let them sow some plants, because this way you can enjoy marigolds in your garden for a long time without any action.
In order to send the plant optimally into the summer, you can give it a portion of our Plantura organic flower fertilizer in the spring. The long-term effect of the fertilizer ensures that your bellflower is supplied with all the important nutrients throughout the year.
The biennial plant usually does not need any protection for the winter. However, if it gets too cold, a cover made of brushwood will help over the winter. For more information on wintering bluebells, see this special article.