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Moluccella—often called the Bells of Ireland—bears small, tubular, 2-lipped flowers from summer to fall. The flowers are borne in whorls of 6 to 8 flowers each with a pale green calyx. Bells of Ireland is an annual with broad, oval, green leaves.
Grow Moluccella in a mixed or annual border. Unusual flower spikes are useful in dried flower arrangements.
Moluccella is a genus of 4 annual and short-lived species. Moluccella is native to the Mediterranean in Northwest India.
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Know Moluccella
- Plant type: Annual
- Growing areas and ranges: Areas 3 to 11
- Firmness: Tender
- Height and width: 24 to 36 inches (60-90cm) long and 9 inches (23cm) wide
- Leaves: Stems 4-sided; medium oval to pale green leaves
- Flowers: Light green, bell-shaped flowers on tall upright stems
- Flower colors: White or pale pink flowers set in pale green cups
- Flowering time: Summer
- Uses: Cut fresh or dried flowers for cut flowers, cottage, and meadow gardens
- Common name: Bells of Ireland
- Botanical name: Moluccella laevis
- Family: Lamiaceae
- Origin: Mediterranean to Northwest India
Where to grow Moluccella
- Grow Moluccella in full sun.
- Plant Moluccella in open, rich, well-drained soil.
Moluccella is used
- Moluccella is an interesting addition to the mixed border.
- The flowers are lovely in bouquets and can also be dried for use in winter arrangements.
Time to plant Moluccella
- Sow the seeds in the spring. In zones 3-6, sow the seeds directly into the ground in early spring a few weeks before the last frost. In zones 8-11, sow the seeds in late fall.
Cultivation and classification of Moluccella
- Space Moluccella 6 to 8 inches (15-20cm) apart.
How to water and feed Moluccella
- Keep the soil evenly moist for Moluccella.
- Fertilize Moluccella every 4 to 6 weeks with an all-purpose fertilizer or apply a slow-release fertilizer to the soil at planting time.
Tools for the care of Moluccella
- Mulch around Moluccella to conserve soil moisture.
- Remove spent flowers to encourage more blooms.
Molucella insects and diseases
- Molucella rarely suffers from pests and diseases.
Distribution of moluccella
- Sow seeds in early to mid-spring indoors or sow seeds in the garden in late spring.
- Seeds germinate in 7 to 18 days at 58° to 62°F (14-17°C) when lightly covered with vermiculite. Plants will be large enough to transplant in 21 to 45 days. Flowers usually appear in summer, but not always.
Growing species of moluccella
- Moluccella lavevis, Bells of Ireland, is an annual with bright, pale green leaves; bears 6 to 8 fragrant, white to pale pink flowers 9 to 12 inches in late summer; each flower enclosed in a pale green calyx; plants grow to 36 inches (90cm) tall.
Molucella frequently asked questions
Q: How do I grow bells of Ireland from seed?
A: Sow Molucella seeds once the soil has warmed and the last frost has passed. You can start seeds indoors before the last frost. You can cover the seeds; it needs light to stand. Keep the seed bed constantly moist until germination. If you start seeds indoors, refrigerate them for 5 days before sowing.
Q: How do I grow Irish bells for flower arrangements?
A: Prune the flowering stem by removing all the leaves. Leave only the bell-like flowering bracts on the stem. Prune the stems in summer to produce tall straight stems.
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