Bells of Ireland – A Symbol of Luck In the Vocabulary of Flowers

Bells of Ireland (Moluccella laevis) is an annual flowering plant with tall spikes covered in bright green, bell-shaped cups. In the language of flowers it stands for good luck. Despite its name, it does not come from Ireland at all: it is native to the eastern Mediterranean region, including Turkey, Syria and the Caucasus.

Scientific Classification & Quick Facts

Common name	Bells of Ireland
Scientific name	Moluccella laevis
Kingdom	Plantae
Phylum	Tracheophyta
Class	Magnoliopsida
Order	Lamiales
Family	Lamiaceae
Genus	Moluccella
Type	Annual summer flower
Native range	Syria, Turkey and the Caucasus
Colours	Green bell-shaped calyces, small white flowers
Flowering season	Summer
Height	24 to 36 inches
Special feature	Symbol of luck; dries to a straw colour

How It Got Its Name

The plant was named for its fresh green color, which reminded people of Ireland, the “Emerald Isle”, and for its bell-shaped cups. Because green is linked with luck and Saint Patrick’s Day, bells of Ireland became a popular flower for lucky bouquets, weddings and March celebrations.

It belongs to the mint family, Lamiaceae, the same family as basil, lavender and sage. If you look closely, you will see the square stems that many mint-family plants have.

What Bells of Ireland Look Like

The plant grows about 2 to 3 feet (60 to 90 cm) tall. Along the upper part of each stem are rings of green “bells”, usually about six to a ring. Each bell is about 1 to 2 inches across.

Here is the surprise: the green bells are not petals. They are the calyx, the cup of leafy parts that normally protects a flower bud. The real flower is a tiny white or pale pink bloom sitting in the middle of each bell. These little flowers have a light, sweet scent, but most people grow the plant for its green bells, which last much longer.

Watch out for tiny spines at the base of each bell. Gardeners often wear gloves when cutting the stems.

How to Grow Bells of Ireland

Starting Seeds Indoors

Bells of Ireland grows from seed, and the seeds can be slow and fussy about sprouting. A few tricks help a lot:

• Chill the seeds first. Put them in a bag of slightly damp seed mix in the refrigerator for one to two weeks. This cold period, called stratification, tells the seeds that winter is over.
• Start early. Sow indoors about 8 to 10 weeks before the last spring frost in your area.
• Give them light. The seeds need light to germinate, so press them onto the surface of the soil and cover them only very lightly, or not at all.
• Be patient. Keep the soil moist and cool, around 55 to 65 F (13 to 18 C). Seeds can take anywhere from a couple of weeks to over a month to sprout.

Planting Outdoors

You can also sow seeds straight into the garden. In mild areas, sow in autumn so winter cold does the chilling for you. In colder areas, sow in early spring once the hardest frosts are over. Young seedlings do not like being moved, so handle them gently when transplanting and disturb the roots as little as possible.

Sun and Water

Bells of Ireland grows best in full sun in ordinary, well-drained garden soil. In very hot climates, a little afternoon shade helps. Water regularly so the soil does not dry out completely, especially in hot, dry weather, but avoid soggy ground. The tall stems may need staking in windy spots.

Flowering Time

Plants usually start blooming about three months after sowing, so expect flowers in summer. As an annual, the plant flowers for one season, sets seed and dies when frost arrives. It sometimes reseeds itself in the garden for next year.

Bells of Ireland as Cut Flowers

Bells of Ireland is a favorite with florists because its tall green spikes add height and color to bouquets. Cut the stems when most of the bells along the spike have opened and feel firm.

• Cut stems in the cool morning and put them straight into water.
• Re-cut about 1/2 inch (12 mm) from the bottom of each stem with a sharp knife, and remove any leaves that would sit below the water line, since they rot and grow bacteria.
• Keep the vase somewhere cool, out of direct sun, and change the water every couple of days. Cut stems usually last about 7 to 10 days, sometimes longer.
• Flower food from a garden shop helps them last. Florists sometimes add a little sugar to the water as a homemade option.
• If bought stems look droopy when they arrive, give them a fresh cut and a long drink of water. They often perk up within a day.

Drying Bells of Ireland

Bells of Ireland also makes a lovely dried flower. Cut the stems on a dry day near the end of summer, take off the leaves and hang them upside down in small bunches in a dry, airy, shady place. As they dry, the bells fade from green to a soft straw or cream color and can last for months in dried arrangements.

Bells of Ireland FAQs

Related: summer flower