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Moluccella laevis
Also called Bells Of Ireland, Molucca Balm
Bells of Ireland is a fast-growing summer annual from the mint family, grown for its spikes of apple-green calyces that persist after the tiny white flowers fade. It needs full sun, cool summers and regular water, and tends to struggle in hot, humid climates.
Moluccella laevis, the Bells-of-Ireland, Bells of Ireland, Molucca balmis, shellflower or shell flower, is a summer flowering annual, native to Turkey, Syria and the Caucasus. It is cultivated for its spikes of flowers.
The tiny white flowers are surrounded by apple green calyces which are persistent. The rounded leaves are pale green.
Text excerpted from the Wikipedia article Moluccella laevis by its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0; the excerpts and the care summary drawn from them are shared under the same licence.
The care summary was written by AI (Claude, Anthropic) from the sources on this page, with general growing knowledge where they are silent. Check before relying on it.
Life form, climate and native range: World Checklist of Vascular Plants, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (CC BY 3.0), reformatted; see Plants of the World Online.
