Bells of Ireland – How to grow this plant, soil conditions, fertilizer, weather conditions, etc

Description of the plant

The flowers of this plant look great when arranged as a part of flower groups, used on occasions. They also look great when dried (and this is something that a lot of flowers cannot claim), and are also grown to attain a lot of foliage. These are annual flowers, being a member of the mint family. The flower varies in color between different shades of green, on top of a tall green stem. The plants grow to around 30 inches high. The flowers attracts bees, butterflies and birds (so if you would like your garden to have more of them, then have this plant be a part of your garden). The plant can also be grown in containers. The plant can be grown from seed; if you seed outdoors, do so in the fall. If in containers and indoors, you can do so in winter as well. You can store its seeds, and the seeds do not require any special attention (just cleaning and storing them is enough).
In theory, what people appreciate as the green flower is actually the calyx or cup-shaped leaves that are located at the base of the flowers. The actual ‘flower’ is much smaller, white and fragrant.

Weather conditions / Time of year

The plant produces its blooms near the end of summer, extending into an early part of the fall season. In terms of when the plant seeds well, it is normally observed that the seeds need some amount of cold weather (approximately 55 – 63º F (13 – 18º C)) to germinate. For growing them outdoors, you can plant in sprint, as soon as you are able to work the ground.

Soil / Watering conditions / Sun

The plant needs some amount of sun, but not bright sun, so some amount of shade works for this plant. In terms of water requirements, water regularly but be sure to not over-water, and yet ensure that the soil never dries out in between the waterings. The soil should allow draining. Some organic fertilizer, added to the plant, works well. Keep the plant out of the path of strong winds, putting some sort of shelter for this plant. Also, consider adding some stakes to support the tall stalk of the plant.

Pests

If you live in an area where you plants are tormented by deer, then Bells of Ireland is resistant to deer (and to rabbits).