A collection of bell plants reflecting ornamental diversity.
Most of the bellflowers belong to the grasses family (Poaceae), while others belong to the sedge family (Cyperaceae), the rushes family (Juncaceae) and other families. There are about 1000 genera of bellflower plants, more than 10 000 species worldwide, and about 100 genera and 250 species in Lithuania. They are widespread all over the world. Many of these plants grow naturally in Lithuanian meadows, fields, and forests, and worldwide in almost all types of ecosystems. Two dozen bellflowers are listed in the Lithuanian Red Data Book. Some are food plants (wheat, rye, oats, rice, panicgrass, corn), fodder plants (bluegrass, timothy, fescue, cock’s-foot), and there are also ornamental varieties. Ornamental bellflowers are very diverse, comprising annual and perennial grasses of varying heights, with different shrub shapes and color ranges – the leaf blades can be green, pink, silvery or speckled, with varying widths and lengths. The flowers are clustered at the top of the stems or side branches in cobble, bell, or panicle inflorescences. The root system is typically tufted. They usually appear in their full glory in late summer, autumn or even winter. VU Botanical Garden started building its collection of bellflowers in autumn 2016.
VU Botanical Garden aims to create a collection of the most suitable ornamental bellflowers for cultivation in Lithuania. The most adapted species and varieties of bellflowers to grow in Lithuanian conditions are selected. Plants are selected on the basis of their ornamental qualities, which are most representative of the diversity of ornamental traits of bellflowers.
The first bellflower plants are thought to have been cultivated as food crops in Mesopotamia around 9000 BC, in Egypt around 7000 BC and in Europe around 5000 BC. Around 4300-2700 BC, the ancestors of the Balts cultivated panicgrass, wheat, and foxtails, and a little later, barley. In the 1st-4th centuries AD, the ancestors began to sow more rye, oats and other bellflowers. The first mention of bellflowers in the records of VU Botanical Garden dates back to 1799, when S.B. Jundzilas is said to have taken over Elymus virginicus, E. sibiricus, Panicum glaucum, P. italicum, Phalaris canariensis and other plants. As early as 1840, letters mention that some of the bellflowers were sent to Kyiv. A larger number of bellflowers are mentioned in the 1932 sources of Steponas Batoras University.
The plants selected for the bellflower collection are suitable for Lithuanian climate conditions, i.e., plants that can grow up to cold hardiness zone 6 and are ornamental. The choice of plants is made for different heights, from low to very high, with different foliage colors (from green to green-red or reddish-red, etc.). Another criterion for the selection of bellflower plants is the way in which they bush up. Bellflowers are classified according to their type of tillering into rhizomatous (A), rare-leaved (B) and dense-leaved (C).
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Tufted hair grass (Deschampsia cespitosa K. Richt. 'Bronzeschleier') It is a perennial, dense herbaceous plant growing up to 100cm tall. The stems are erect and end in a panicle-shaped inflorescence. The flowers are bronze in color. Leaves are narrow, stiff, dark green. Blooms in the months of June to August. It grows best in full sun or partial shade, in soil that is not too dry and humusy. Over-blooming flowers should be cut. Overwinters from zone 3. Suitable for hedge formation.
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Elephant grass (Miscanthus x giganteus J. M. Greef & Deuter 'Jubilaries') It is a perennial, rare-leaved, herbaceous plant growing up to 3m tall (with inflorescences up to 3.5m) and about 2m wide. The leaves are green with several cream-yellow bands running the length of the leaf (the bands are yellow in spring and cream in autumn), narrowly lanceolate. The inflorescences are silvery, very ornamental, reaching up to 30cm in length. It does not flower in our climate. Blooms in the months of August to December. Grows well in full sun. Does not have any soil preferences. In the first year of cultivation, it should be covered with straw and leaves before winter. Overwinters in zones 4-9. Excellent in combination with other plants.
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Blue fescue (Festuca cinerea Vill. 'Varna') Perennial, herbaceous, dense-leaved plant up to 30cm tall. Leaves are narrow, blue-gray, glabrous. Inflorescences are whisker-shaped, brown. Blooms in the months of June to July. Blue fescue is easy to grow. It can be grown in a sunny position. It grows well in non-fertile, dry soil. Soil pH 6-7. The more suitable the conditions, the more intense the leaf color. Overwinters in zones 4-10. Ornamental throughout the year, so suitable for bed framing.
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Hairy melic grass (Melica ciliata L.) A perennial, dense-leaved herbaceous plant growing up to 75 (100) cm tall. Leaves are narrow, green or blue-green. Inflorescences are bell-shaped, up to 15cm long. The flowers are pale cream in color. Blooms in the months of June to July. Not demanding in growing conditions but grows better on fertile or semi-fertile permeable soils in sunny or partly sunny positions. The stems should be cut back when the seeds have finished ripening, as the plant scatters the seeds and thus becomes self-sown. They are short-lived and need to be renewed every 3-4 years with new ones. Overwinters in zones 4-9. Suitable for bouquets.
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