Bells of Ireland is a staple feature of any cutting garden – it works well in just about any kind of floral bouquet or arrangement because its colour combines effectively with any other colour. The flower stems are used as a structural element and a highly decorative form of greenery. The small, white-to-light-pink lipped flowers are fairly nondescript in themselves. But each one is set within a light-green, very striking calyx shaped like a small cup or bell (hence the name Bells of Ireland). The flowers are arranged around the stem in exuberant masses, forming an impressive flower spike. These tall flower stems with their highly geometrical shapes make Bells of Ireland a stand-out attraction despite the unremarkable colouring of the actual flowers. In a flower bed the stems can often reach 60-90cm high, towering above most other flowers, forming an effective contrast with a multi-coloured mass of blooms. This summer-flowering annual works very well in a grassland or prairie garden and also feels at home in a rock garden as it naturally prefers open, mineral-rich soils and wasteland or field-edge locations. To dry the flower stems, cut them in full flower and hang them upside down in a dark, dry place.
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