Plant Profile: Bells of Ireland

These are the bells of Ireland
Which in my garden grow
My great grandmother brought
Those seeds from Ireland long ago

Rosalie Sorrels

Plant Profile: Bells of Ireland. July 2026.

The bells of Ireland are a worthy addition to any cottage garden. They are not mentioned in any of the old stories, and their written history is scarce, but their lively green color sets them apart and brings to mind four-leaf clovers on rolling verdant hills and jolly leprechauns. The Bells of Ireland are a flower that inspires wonder, so of course, they belong to the realm of the secret garden. Its stalks are chock-full of wide, apple-green trumpets, each bearing a tiny white flower gem in its center- a floral tribute to the leprechauns in the world of fairy lore.

But these flowers have nothing to do with Ireland; they come from Turkey and the surrounding areas. Bells of Ireland made their way across the continent from Syria to English gardens after the medieval era, eventually crossing the ocean to America. However, this vibrant flower didn’t find popularity until the early 1900s. Their history is as mysterious as their appearance, so we must spin our own tales of lore.

Once again, it was the package of seeds that caught my eye years ago. The name had an enchanting sound, and one packet went into my cart that day. Since then, I have grown these many times from seed. They do take a while to get started, but they do eventually come up and will self-seed once established. They are now showing up in several places in our yard. The seeds of Bells of Ireland are just as curious as the plant itself, with their pyramid-like shape. Because they are easy to grow, I have never needed to buy them at a nursery, although I have never seen them there.

These are among my highly recommended flowers for cottage garden enthusiasts and look good in a border with other cottage garden plants. It also offers a unique color to the group. Supposedly, it has a subtle vanilla mint scent, but I’ve never been able to smell it myself.

Plant Profile Template

Description: Bells of Ireland is a wonderful temperate zone flower to add to any cottage garden, and its blooms make a lovely addition to a cut bouquet!

Type: Annual

Botanical Name: Moluccella laevis

Common Name: Bells of Ireland

Family: Mint family or Lamiaceae

Garden Zone: 2-11

Soil Preference: Rich, well-draining, neutral to slightly acidic soil.

Light Needs: Full sun, but can take a bit of afternoon shade.

Water Needs: Average. I find 2x a week sufficient. I have found them to be somewhat drought-resistant.

Height/Width: Up to 36 inches tall; 12-18 inches wide.

When to Plant: Early Spring when it is still cool.

How to Plant: Sow directly in early spring by pressing into the soil, as they need light to germinate. Keep the soil moist until they are established.

Blooming Period: Summer – Fall

Propagating: Seed

When to Harvest: N/A

Maintenance: Water once or twice weekly. If needed, fertilize for larger blooms.

Companion Plants: Larkspur, roses, hollyhocks, stock, and other cottage garden flowers.

Uses: Makes a good cut flower. Useful as a container plant. Deer resistant.

Personal notes: Generally, a healthy and hardy flower, but if leaf blight shows up, remove the infected plant. Also, it may draw aphids and spider mites. If this becomes an issue, consider companion planting with plants that repel these, such as mint. The spikes may bow over and curl a bit. You can stake if you like.

Helpful Links:

• Check what your garden zone is here.
• Check your frost dates here.
• Printable plant profile page (blank)

Favorite Gardening Resources:

• The Old Farmer’s Almanac
• Gardenia
• Gardeners’ World Magazine
• Better Homes & Gardens (Garden section has a plant encyclopedia)