Content
- Many bluebells are perennial
- Bluebells keep coming back
- Perennial bellflowers overwinter
- Tips & Tricks
Most bellflower species are perennial
Many bluebells are perennial
Bluebells (Campanula) are usually counted among the perennials, d. H. they are perennial, herbaceous plants that overwinter thanks to their subterranean rhizomes. However, this does not apply to all bellflower species, because some are only one or two years old.
Bluebells keep coming back
As perennials, most bellflower species produce rhizomes, from which the plants expire every year. This has the advantage that the bellflower concerned will come back even if its above-ground parts have frozen over the winter. In this case, simply cut down the frozen and dead shoots vigorously, then the fresh enough room to drive out. However, among the many different types of bellflowers, there are some that are only one or two years old. At least for the biennial varieties, however, it can be said that they usually behave like short-lived perennials, if you cut them back before they reach seed maturity. This group also includes the popular Marble Bellflower.
Perennial bellflowers overwinter
Many annuals are also herbaceous perennials in their homeland, but they regularly freeze to death under our climatic conditions and therefore have to be sown every year. However, you can easily overwinter such specimens under cold-weather conditions: Bluebells need a frost-free, up to 10 ° C cool and dark environment. Other, very hardy species, however, remain in the garden and are provided only with a winter shelter. It is important, above all, to protect the root area, as the plant expels it again. If the above-ground parts freeze, but that is not dramatic.
Tips & Tricks
Keep in mind that annual and biennial bellflowers need to be regularly sown again. You can also leave this to the plant itself, for example by not cutting off the withered inflorescences. This gives the seeds a chance to sow themselves out. Of course, you can also collect the ripe seeds, prepare them accordingly and sow later.