Have you ever noticed bell-like flowers? There are many with this aspect, but there are in particular very beautiful ones. This is the plant known as medium bellflower, o Canterbury bell, very popular in the making of bouquets and at the florist’s.
If you want to know more about this precious vegetable, I recommend that you keep reading. In this article we will explain What is the medium bellflower and what care is needed. I hope this information is of interest to you!
Contents
what is it medium bellflower?
Let’s start by explaining what medium bellflower. Its name comes from Latin, a language in which “bellflower” translates to “little bell”. It receives this name from the appearance of its flowers, which are reminiscent of bells. The word “medium” means “intermediate size”. Therefore, the reason it is called medium bellflower it’s pretty obvious. It is also known as Canterbury Bell, common lanterns, small pouts, alto marina and small pouts. This beautiful plant was first described by Carlos Linnaeus (Carl Von Linné), the modern father of botany, and published in his book Species Palntarum.
It is a biennial plant that It is part of the Campanulaceae family. and which normally inhabits the very sunny slopes and rocky areas of the western Mediterranean. Additionally, it is grown in many other parts of the world. It is an erect, highly branched posture that can be up to sixty centimeters long. Canterbury Bell leaves can be alternate or basal and even slightly toothed. They are usually long, firm and narrow. Their midrib is very pronounced.
As for the flowers, they tend to be solitary and terminal, and have peduncles two to ten centimeters below the armpits that are in the upper part. They are usually somewhat tilted or suspended. The corolla is somewhat voluminous and bell-shaped. The color is usually white or blue verging on purple. Additionally, the flowers have a total of five short lobes that can be up to five centimeters long. It should also be noted that they have five stamens which have enlarged filaments and united anthers. It must be said that the Canterbury Bell produces capsule-shaped fruits, in which there are many small seeds.
Bloom
A notable aspect of the medium bellflower is its flowering. During the first year, it will do so in a plethoric way. What does that mean? Well, during the first flowering of this plant, during the peak period, its foliage will be barely visible. To obtain an even more abundant, spectacular and long-lasting flowering, It is essential to remove faded flowers. If we do, new ones will sprout copiously.
And when does the Canterbury bell usually bloom? Even if its natural flowering takes place in May, we can find this beautiful flower in stores even earlier. With proper care, its flowers will brighten our eyes until August. Since it is a plant with beautiful and very striking flowers, it is very common to find it in various floral bouquets. In addition, their flared appearance gives the bouquet a very distinctive touch.
Care of the medium bellflower
Now that we know what is medium bellflower, let’s see what care it requires, in case someone is considering growing it at home. At this point, it should also be noted that stems placed in vases last a long time if they are in good condition. For this reason, this plant is widely used in flower shops. But now let’s go to Canterbury Bell Basic Care:
- Light: This vegetable needs sun throughout the day, not just for a while. If there is too much shade, it will flower much less.
- Temperature: It prefers rather warm temperatures. In the coldest time of the year, it is important to protect it from frost and low temperatures, until spring arrives.
- Water: It is important to be very careful with watering and not to overdo it, because too much humidity can have serious consequences for the medium bellflower. It is better that it supports a brief period of drought than an excess of water. It is therefore important to water sparingly.
- Floor: This plant can be grown in a pot or directly in garden soil, but the soil must be fertile.
- Pass: It must be regular. It is better to use a special fertilizer for flowering plants.
- Size: When the Canterbury Bell’s first flowering season is over, it is best to remove damaged and dried flowers and leaves by cutting directly into the bush.
What did you think of the medium bellflower? Undoubtedly, it is a very beautiful and striking plant.