I was looking for a green filler to use in cut flower arrangements with dahlias, zinnias, etc. I had never heard of Bells of Ireland before, but based on its characteristics I thought I would give them a try. I planted a small section, maybe 2’ x 2’ as a trial for the first year. Seeds planted in mid May quickly sprouted, they were a little slow growing initially. But by early July they were approximately 12’ tall. They didn’t look like much in the garden, kind of a messy bunch. However these are wonders in my cut flower arrangements, they are a bright green with ‘bells’ all along the stem. They stems are sturdy and have a nice gently bend. They last for weeks in the vase, longer than must my other cut flowers. They have a tiny white flower in each bell, but it is the shape and color of the foliage that is the real start. The only caution is they do have a few tiny thorns on the stem, but only a few and they are pretty easy to work around. This is going to definitely be a part of my cutting garden for many years.
