Cottage Garden Plant: Bells of Ireland
These are the bells of Ireland
Rosalie Sorrels
Which in my garden grow
My great-grandmother brought
Those seeds from Ireland long ago
Cottage Garden Plant: 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 I found them easy to grow, I 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.
Bells of Ireland Profile
- 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
- Common Name: Bells of Ireland
- Botanical Name: Moluccella laevis
- Family: Mint family or Lamiaceae
- Garden Zones: 2-11
- Soil Preference: rich, well-draining, neutral to slightly acidic soil.
- Light Needs: full sun; can take a bit of afternoon shade.
- Water Needs: average; drought-tolerant
- Height/Width: 1-3 ft tall/12-18 in. spread
- When to Plant: Sow seeds in early spring while cool.
- How to Plant: Press seeds into the soil and keep them moist until they are established. These will take a while to germinate.
- Blooming Period: Summer to fall
- Propagating: seed
- When to Harvest: pick flowers for use when fully blooming.
- Maintenance: minimal; fertilize for larger blooms if necessary.
- 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: a favorite to grow! Generally, a healthy and hardy flower, but if leaf blight shows up, remove the infected plant. It may also attract 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 it if you like.
Have a beautiful day!
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