Platikodon grandiflora, or grandiflora is the only representative of the Platikodon genus. This herbaceous plant lives both in forests and on rocky slopes. Platycodon has another name: wide bell. You will find a description of the flower, features of planting and caring for the plant in this article.
Origin of the name and place of distribution
The wide bell got its name due to the appearance of the flowers, which really look like large bells. It is known that the naming comes from the ancient Greek language. The only representative of the genus is called platycodon grandiflorus, or large-flowered broadbell, sometimes confused with broadleaf bell, which, of course, cannot be done, since these are completely different plants.
Shrubs grow in China, Korea and Japan, sometimes found in the Far East and Eastern Siberia. Platycodon has been cultivated since 1872, but the plant's popularity peaked in the early 20th century.
Description
Platikodon grandiflora has a well-developed root system, the shoots of the flower are quite high, they are abundantly covered with leaves. The height of the stems varies from 20 to 80 cm. In the lower part, the foliage is collected in a rosette. The greenery of Platycodon is characterized by the presence of a bluish tint. Inflorescences consist of several wide flowers, the number of which can reach 5 pieces. If you look closely at the petals, you can see pronounced veins.
The wide-open flowers are about 8 cm in diameter in many varieties, including Platycodon large-flowered Astra with white flowers. Plants with blue petals have thin, dark mesh veins. In some forms, the color is dark purple. The buds are similar in shape to bells and lanterns. Flowering begins in mid-July and lasts 2 months. According to gardeners, Platycodon goes well with crops such as gypsophila, undersized phlox and tall bluebell.
Varieties
There are several varieties of the plant. The color of the petals directly depends on the platycodon variety and varies from pink and white to pale blue. Sometimes dark veins appear on the flowers. All varieties are similar in appearance, but have slight differences in the type of petals and their color, the size of the bush and bells.
If we talk about flowers like Astra, we can distinguish large-flowered platycodon Astra Pink. His petalsdyed in soft pink. Platycodon Astra Blue is characterized by blue flowers. There are varieties with white petals. A feature of the Astra type plant is that its bushes are undersized. The Double variety is very popular. These flowers have petals arranged in two rows. The veining is best expressed in a plant of the variety Platycodon Pink Florist. Bloody veins are clearly visible against a pale pink background. The large-flowered platycodon Fuji Blue, on the contrary, has only one row of petals, the color of the flowers is very delicate. There are several more varieties of culture with which you can decorate the site.
- Album. The shoots of this variety grow up to 60-80 cm, white flowers reach 8 cm in diameter. There are blue veins on the surface of the petals. According to reviews, flowering lasts quite a long time: from June to August.
- Shelp Pink - a plant 80 cm high. Large flowers have a light pink color.
- Marysil Blue is a short shrub with shoots up to 35 cm long. The blue petals have a lavender hue.
- Fairy Snow is another variety of tall Platycodon. The length of the shoots reaches 80 cm. According to reviews, delicate single flowers look very impressive, they can be painted white or light lilac.
- Epoyema is the shortest variety of wide bell, the height of which does not exceed 20 cm. The flowers are painted in a blue-violet hue. Experienced gardeners advise growing crops in rockeries and rock gardens.
- Snowflakes is a shrub reaching a height of only half a meter. The flowers are semi-double, white, attract attention.
- Mather of Pearl. Shoots grow up to 60 cm. Pale pink flowers are located on the stems.
There is a flower called Ussuri codonopsis, which is very similar to platycodon, moreover, it is closely related to the broad bell. However, codonopsis flowers give off a strong scent that some people may find unpleasant. For this reason, it is not very popular among domestic gardeners.
Landing
The plant is usually planted in open ground at the end of spring, when the temperature at night no longer drops to the minus mark. According to the reviews, you need to take care of the conditions that are comfortable for the culture on the site. It should be well lit, although in some cases it is possible to plant a crop in partial shade. For growing platycodon, loose soil is suitable, which contains the necessary set of nutrients. The soil should be drained first. As a substrate, use loam with the addition of sand, the acidity should be neutral. Gardeners give such advice in their reviews.
Please note that the roots of Platycodon grandiflora do not grow horizontally, but vertically. For this reason, it is better to plant the crop in areas where there is no groundwater. Since the rhizome is tender, it is not customary to replant the plant, which means that the bushes linger in one place for 10 years orlonger term.
Before planting flowers outdoors, dig up the soil and fertilize it. You will need a tablespoon of complex mineral dressing, as well as half a glass of tree ash. The size of the hole should slightly exceed the dimensions of the seedling pots. The distance between the holes should be 30 centimeters or more. Gardeners advise to pre-water the soil, after which you can place the crop in the holes and completely cover them with earth.
Irrigation
For 15 days after planting the crop in open ground, plants must be watered daily, according to gardeners' reviews. After this period, this procedure is carried out as necessary. As adults, Platycodon grandiflora can tolerate heat and dryness. During watering, you need to loosen the soil and get rid of weeds. If the place of growth of the culture is covered with mulch, then the above procedures can be carried out not too often.
Cutting
The broadbell grows in a vertical direction, so you need to trim regularly. It is necessary to pinch the shoots several times a year, and also use inhibitors annually. If the stem has grown strongly upwards, then you need to tie it up to keep the beautiful appearance of the plant. As soon as the flowers begin to fade, they are cut off. This will increase the duration of flowering of new ones.
Growing from seeds
Platicodon large-flowered Astra, as well as other varieties of this culture can be propagatedin several ways. The most reliable of them, according to gardeners, is seed. At the beginning or middle of spring, material is sown in the soil for flowering plants. The soil mixture is prepared from sand, peat soil and humus. Sowing is carried out to a depth of 3-4 mm. Crops are recommended to be kept at room temperature. After 15-20 days, shoots will appear, after which the temperature is gradually reduced to 16 degrees. Seedlings are kept in such conditions until planting in open ground.
Propagation by cuttings
Dividing the bush and cuttings are not the most reliable ways to propagate Platycodon large-flowered Shell Pink and its other varieties. However, gardeners sometimes use these methods to grow flowers. To get cuttings, you need to cut off several shoots from the shoot, they must have internodes and a heel. After that, the cuttings should give roots in sand or water, then they are planted in a pot.
Diseases and pests
Flowers of platycodon grandiflorum are distinguished by increased resistance to diseases, which summer residents note in their reviews. Most often, the plant is affected by rot, the appearance of which is facilitated by excess moisture. If you find rotting, loosen the soil and reduce watering. In case of a strong spread of rot, the flowers are removed, the site is treated twice with a fungicide.
The appearance of moles and mice in the area where platycodons grow is very dangerous. Pests are literally smoked out, for this, in minksblowing smoke. You can leave some poisoned cereal on the ground to get rid of mice. It is not customary to use poisons against moles. Rattles are hung throughout the site, which make noise with gusts of wind. Experienced gardeners note that moles avoid places where marigolds, daffodils, onions, euphorbia and garlic grow. In addition, so that pests do not attack your site, you need to monitor the level of humidity. Moles do not dig too wet ground and do not live where there are extremely many insects.
