Content
The bell of Portenschlag is a low-growing crop that has been growing on one site for more than six years. The bushy form with creeping stems and abundant long flowering is used as a ground cover, ampel or border plant. Varieties are used in landscape design and ornamental gardening.
Description of the bell of Portenchlag
Bellflower Portenschlagiana (Campanula Portenschlagiana) is a perennial herbaceous crop with a limited habitat (endemic). In its natural habitat, it is found only in the northern part of the Balkan Peninsula, the main concentration is observed in mountainous areas, between rocks. The bell of Portenschlag was first described by Karl Linnaeus in the 18th century and named after the Austrian botanist Franz von Portenschlag-Ledermeier. As a design element, the plant began to grow in Europe, from there it came to Russia.
Description of the bell of Portenchlag (pictured):
An evergreen rocky plant with a maximum height of 20 cm. Numerous stems of a creeping or raised type create continuous thickets 50-60 cm wide. The structure is rigid, the surface in the lower part is bare, smooth, there is a fine, sparse edge near the apex. The color of the stems of the bell of Portenchlag is light purple or green with a yellow tint.
The leaves are arranged alternately. The color of the upper part of the plate is bright green, the lower one is pale, whitish. The shape is rounded, heart-shaped, with jagged edges, the pubescence of the central vein is possible. In the lower part of the stem, on a petiole 12 cm long, plates with a diameter of 2.5-3 cm are located, which gradually decrease in size towards the apex.
Inflorescences at the Portenschlag bell are formed on short peduncles in the crown of the stems
The flowers are funnel-shaped, up to 30 mm in diameter, the length of the bowl is 8-10 mm, divided into 5 lanceolate petals of purple and bright blue. The culture is self-pollinated. Stamens are beige, located on long white filaments, pistil with yellow stigma, lilac.
The root system is superficial, well-grown.
Until the end of August, single flowers can be on the culture.
The plant is light-loving, therefore, in the shade, decorativeness decreases due to weak budding. It blooms profusely only on fertile soil, reacts poorly to high soil and air humidity.
Bellflower Portenchlag is characterized by intensive shoot formation, in the second season inflorescences are formed on young and old stems, due to this feature, flowering is abundant, and the surface of the bush is completely blue.
The culture is stress-resistant, calmly reacts to the instability of spring weather. In winter, without shelter, it tolerates a drop in temperature to -27 0C. The plant is grown in the gardens of the Moscow region, throughout the Central, Middle, European zone. In the climatic conditions of Siberia and the Urals, it is recommended to cover the Portenschlag bell for the winter.
Optimal conditions for vegetation are noted in the regions of the North Caucasus
The best varieties
In ornamental gardening, frost-resistant perennial varieties of Portenschlag's bell are used.A description of the popular and most popular varieties will help you choose a crop for planting in any region of Russia.
Clockwise
The Clockwise Bell is a short variety. The stems do not grow more than 40 cm. The crop is used in design as a ground cover plant. Vegetation near the bell of Portenchlag Clockwise is fast; in the second year after planting, the plant covers up to 70 cm of the territory with a continuous carpet. The evergreen perennial retains its decorative appearance throughout the year, the foliage darkens slightly by autumn, but does not fall off. In the spring, as shoots and new leaves form, last year's gradually die off, before flowering the crown is completely renewed.
The color of the flowers in a sunny area is bright purple, in the shade it is light blue and the flowering is not very abundant. The variety grows well in any soil. This is one of the frost-resistant representatives. The bell of Portenschlag Clockwise is suitable for growing at home as an ampelous culture, for decorating verandas, balconies, and apartment interiors.
The bell of Portenschlag is recommended for growing in the open field without covering the crown for the winter only in the fourth climatic zone
Blue gnome
The culture received its varietal name due to its low growth. A dwarf variety of Portenschlag's bell The Blue Dwarf grows up to 15-20 cm. The crown is dense, cushion-shaped, with intense stem formation and abundant flowering. Leaves are lanceolate, elongated, narrow, dark green. The Blue Dwarf variety is used to decorate alpine slides and a rock garden. The culture blooms from July to August with small bright blue flowers.
Grown in flower pots and in an open area, in the latter case, the plant needs shelter for the winter
Application in design
Bell of Portenchlag is used in any mixed or group plantings. It is used as a ground cover plant, varieties with a bright color of flowers are ideally combined: with low-growing conifers, with dwarf decorative and flowering species that do not exceed them in height.
Bellflower Portenschlag is a light-loving plant that should not be planted in the shade of large-sized trees and next to crops growing on alkaline soil. It is not recommended to combine next to junipers, since they become a common cause of rust on bell leaves.
Application of the Portenschlag bell in design:
- Linear planting near the building.
Create a narrow border in an empty space near a building wall and walkway
- Registration of rock gardens and rockeries.
Bell of Portenchlag is a rock plant that organically combines with natural stone
- Growing in pots for indoor and outdoor design.
- Creation of mixborders with flowering crops.
- A color accent on the inside of a round flower bed.
The ephedra planted in the center gives the design reception a complete look and harmoniously combines with the blue bell flowers
Reproduction methods
The bell of Portenschlag is propagated vegetatively. In the spring, cuttings are cut from the bottom of the annual shoots. They are placed in a container, and the next season they are planted in the ground. This breeding method is the most popular because of its productivity, the material takes root well, and then takes root on the site.
The plant can be propagated by division. For this purpose, bushes are suitable, at least 5 years old. The cultivars provide a complete material suitable for generative reproduction.
In February, seeds are sown for seedlings, after the formation of the first leaves they dive, at the beginning of the season they are planted
Planting and caring for the Portenschlag bell
The culture can grow on poor soils, but it loses its decorative effect, gives a slight increase and blooms inadequately. The culture requires an aerated soil with minimal moisture and a neutral reaction.Further care of the Portenchlag bell will be much easier if the biological needs of the plant are followed.
Recommended timing
Planting work can be carried out at the beginning of the season, when the temperature does not drop below + 10 0C. For each climatic zone, the time will be different, in the central zone - this is the beginning of May. Autumn planting in Siberia is not practiced, since a fragile plant does not overwinter. In other regions, the time is calculated so that 1.5 months remain before frost.
Site selection and soil preparation
The place for the bell of Portenschlag is allocated in an open area, periodic shading is allowed, but with the condition that the daylight hours will be at least nine hours. The bell is not cultivated near tall crops that create shade.
Before determining the Portenschlag bell on the site, dig up the allotted place, remove the weed along with the root and water the soil with a hot solution of manganese.
Landing algorithm
The root of the seedling must be freed from an earthen coma and dipped in a preparation that stimulates growth
Then let stand in an antifungal agent.
Landing is carried out using the following technology:
- A mixture is made for feeding from turf soil and compost, sand is added.
- A hole is dug in accordance with the size of the root so that the upper vegetative buds are deepened by no more than 1.5 cm.
- Pour a part of the prepared substrate into the hole, put a bell, cover with the remaining mixture.
- Condensed and watered.
The plant is mulched, peat is not used as a material, since it increases acidity.
Watering and feeding schedule
The bellflower of Portenchlag has enough seasonal rainfall. If the summer is dry, water the plant at the root. The frequency is determined by the state of the topsoil, it should dry out well. The plant reacts poorly to high air humidity, so sprinkling is not used.
Top dressing is a prerequisite for caring for the Portenschlag bell. At the beginning of tillering, they are fed with nitrophos or any nitrogen-containing agent. When the bulk of the buds begins to bloom, potassium sulfate is added. After flowering, fertilize with superphosphate. Liquid organic matter can be added in July.
Loosening and weeding
If the root circle of the Portenchlag bell is covered with mulch, loosening is not relevant, the material does not allow the formation of a crust. And it is problematic to hold an event for an undersized culture with creeping stems.
In the absence of mulch, loosen the soil as needed. Removing weeds is imperative; in frequent cases, they become the cause of the spread of pests on the bell of Portenchlag.
Pruning
The trimming for the Portenschlag bell is sanitary. In the spring, shoots that have frozen over the winter are removed. Remove dry stems. If, after the formation of new foliage, the old one does not fall off, it is cut off. After flowering, the inflorescences are cut off. Crown formation for this species is not carried out.
Preparing for winter
Preparatory work begins at the moment when the temperature approaches zero. By this time, the inflorescences will be removed, the stems of dwarf varieties are not cut off for the winter.
Preparing the Portenchlag bell for winter is to follow these recommendations:
- Remove the old layer of mulch.
- Lay compost under the bush.
- Water abundantly.
- Cover the root with straw or wood chips; dry leaves can be used.
If severe frosts are observed in the region, the crown is covered with any material and covered with snow.
Diseases and pests
The main infections that appear on Portenchlag's bell are:
- rust;
- powdery mildew;
- rot of the root collar or root.
To prevent infections in the spring, the Portenchlag bell is treated against the fungus. In order to prevent root decay, watering is adjusted and sprayed with copper sulfate at the beginning of the growing season and after flowering.If the development of a fungal disease is noticed, Topaz is used.
The product can be used prophylactically at the beginning of the season and before blooming.
Of the pests on the bell of Portenschlag, aphids parasitize, drooling pennits. Spark is getting rid of them.
Make a solution according to the instructions, consumption - 1 l / 1 m2
In wet weather, slugs may appear on the bell of Portenchlag. Metaldehyde is effective from them.
At the end of May, the granules are scattered around all the bells and nearby plants
Conclusion
Bellflower Portenschlag - undersized crop with creeping stems. The plant is frost-hardy, evergreen, with abundant long flowering. The varieties are often used to decorate rockeries, rock gardens, compositions from conifers and natural stone. The rocky plant winters well and grows quickly.
