Bells-of-Ireland Flower Seed

Bells-of-Ireland - Molucella Laevis

Season: Annual
Height: 2 - 3 feet
Width: 9 inches
Bloom Season: Late Spring to Early Summer
Bloom Color: White
Environment: Partial Shade - Full Sun
Soil Requirement: Moist but Well Drained

Despite the name, Bells of Ireland is not from Ireland. The plant has a pale green color which probably reminded people of Ireland. Bells of Ireland produces unusual pale green "bells" along the stems in summer with white flowers inside them. These slightly fragrant blooms thickly cover plants' branches. The 2-3 foot stalks might need to be staked if the area receives plenty of wind. Bells of Ireland prefer cooler weather, so if the weather turns hot, the plants will need to be watered more often.

To dry: Cut stems when blooms are fresh, strip leaves, and hand upside down in cool location.

This flower seed is easy to start. To get an early start, you can start indoors 8-10 weeks before the last frost. They need light to germinate, so only lightly cover them with your seed starting mix. The flower seeds can take up to a month to germinate. You can speed up the process either by freezing the seed or by chilling the seed in a refrigerator for two weeks before hand. Transplant the small plants when the nightime temperatures are above 40 degrees F.