The bellflower - botanists call it Campanula - is a popular ornamental plant with very lush flowers that thrives almost anywhere: in the garden under trees, in the rock garden, on dry stone walls, on the balcony or on the window sill in the living room. However, their intended use depends heavily on the desired type of bellflower, because these differ considerably in terms of their needs and requirements.
The bearded bellflower is hardy
Not all bluebells are hardy
This is especially true with regard to winter hardiness, because the individual species of the bellflower are at home almost everywhere, from the arctic to the Mediterranean climate zones. Accordingly, of course, they also prefer a location and wintering that best suits their natural surroundings. So if you live in a rather cold area of Germany and want to plant bluebells in the garden, then it is better to choose a species that is less sensitive to frost. a. the Alps.
Bluebell species and their hardiness
In the following table we have put together some of the most popular types of bluebells and their respective winter hardiness.
| kind | Latin name | blossom | growth height | Expectations | hardiness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rocket-leaved bellflower | C. allariifolia | White | 40 to 70 cm | very undemanding | in zones 3 to 7 |
| Beard Bellflower | C.barbata | white or violet | 10 to 40 cm | prefers light forests, meadows | yes (high mountain plant) |
| Carpathian bellflower | C. carpatica | light purple | 30 to 50 cm | grows in mountain forests | moderate (needs protection) |
| Dwarf Bellflower | C. cochleariifolia | white, violet or blue | 5 to 15 cm | occurs in the Alps | moderate to good |
| Star Bellflower | C.isophylla | White | 10 to 20 cm | especially as a balcony plant | moderate |
| Broad-leaved Bellflower | C. latifolia | light blue violet | 60 to 120 cm | needs fresh, loamy soil | moderate |
| Mary bellflower | C. medium | blue, white or pink | 60 to 80 cm | loose, nutrient-rich soil | moderate |
| Meadow Bellflower | C. patula | light purple | 20 to 70 cm | thrives almost anywhere | good to very good |
| Caucasus Bellflower | C. raddeana | White | 10 to 30 cm | especially in rock gardens | moderate to good |
| Rapunzel bellflower | C.rapunculus | light purple | 30 to 100 cm | Roots are edible | good to very good |
Not only pay attention to the frost hardness
If you want to overwinter bluebells, you shouldn't just go by the frost sensitivity of the plants. Most Campanula species are perennials that, even if their shoots freeze back in winter, will sprout again in spring from the overwintering rhizomes. Other species, on the other hand, are only one to two-year-old bellflowers that have to be sown again and again. These also include the Marien bellflower, which is particularly popular as a cut flower, which basically only has to survive a single winter.
tips and tricks
If you want to be on the safe side, cover your bluebells in the winter with a frost protection, e.g. B. spruce or pine branches. Potted bluebells, on the other hand, overwinter best under cold house conditions, i. H. frost-free, but cool and as dark as possible.