Million bells

Sun

Full sun gives the most flowers; light afternoon shade helps in very hot climates.

Water

Keep the root zone evenly moist but never waterlogged. Water thoroughly when the surface begins to dry; hanging baskets may need daily checking in hot or windy weather.

Soil

Free-draining, moderately fertile, slightly acidic soil or container mix, ideally pH 5.5-6.5. Avoid heavy, wet soil and strongly alkaline conditions.

Height

0.5-1 ft (0.15-0.3 m)

Spread

1-2 ft (0.3-0.6 m)

Flowers

Late spring to autumn frost; colours vary by selection and include white, yellow, orange, pink, red, purple and patterned combinations.

Foliage

Small, narrow to oval green leaves on branching, trailing stems; foliage can remain evergreen where winters are frost-free.

Growth

Fast during warm weather

Care needed

Medium

• Pollinators
• Heat tolerant
• Low allergen

Northern hemisphere months. In Australia, shift them by six.

Difficulty

Moderate

Toughness

Needs looking after

Pick your zone, country, light and whether you have pets.

1. Planting day

   0.5 ft (0.15 m)

2. After 1 year

   0.7 ft (0.22 m)

   full size

Full size in one season.

From a typical nursery size, at an average rate for this kind of plant. A rule of thumb, not a forecast.

Cats and dogs

Safe

Growth rate

Fast

• Plant outside after frost danger has passed and nights are consistently mild.
• Use containers with drainage holes and an airy potting mix; do not leave pots standing in water.
• Water the mix rather than repeatedly wetting the foliage, and let excess water drain away.
• Feed container plants every one to two weeks with a flowering-plant fertiliser at the label rate.
• Check baskets frequently in hot weather, but avoid watering again while the mix is still wet.

Pruning. Pinch young shoots if needed to encourage branching. In midsummer, shorten straggly stems by about one-third; routine deadheading is usually unnecessary.

Early spring

Buy young plants and grow them in bright, frost-free conditions until outdoor temperatures are suitable.

Late spring

Gradually acclimatise plants to outdoor conditions, then plant after the last frost.

Early summer

Begin regular feeding and check container moisture frequently.

Midsummer

Trim leggy growth and inspect shoot tips for aphids.

Autumn

Remove frost-damaged annual plants; in frost-free areas, reduce feeding as growth slows.

Winter

If keeping plants, provide bright, frost-free shelter and water sparingly without letting the roots dry completely.

• Trail over hanging baskets and window boxes for a long season of colour.
• Soften container rims beneath upright plants such as zonal geraniums or salvia.
• Edge sunny raised beds where the stems can spill over a well-drained wall.
• Repeat one colour through patio pots for a coordinated display.

Garden styles it suits: Cottage garden, Modern courtyard, Urban city garden, Small-space, Pastel border and Hot border.

Plant it with: Zonal geranium, Sweet alyssum, Lobelia, Verbena, Angelonia and Blue salvia.

Wildlife: Flowers attract some bees and other nectar-feeding insects, although their value varies with the flower form and local wildlife.

• Yellow leaves with green veins: alkaline conditions can restrict iron uptake. Use a slightly acidic potting mix and an appropriate chelated iron treatment; also check for waterlogged roots.
• Wilting in wet soil or dark, rotting roots: improve drainage, stop frequent watering and discard badly affected plants and their potting mix.
• Aphids on young shoots: wash off small colonies or use insecticidal soap according to the label, avoiding open flowers and visiting insects.
• Sparse flowers or stretched stems: move into stronger light, trim lightly and check feeding; avoid excessive nitrogen.

Calibrachoa is not known to be toxic to cats, dogs, horses or people. No particular poisonous part is established, but published toxicity information is limited; it is not an edible plant, and eating plant material may cause stomach upset.

• Petunia (Petunia × atkinsiana)

  Most petunias have larger flowers and broader, noticeably sticky leaves; small-flowered forms can be difficult to separate by appearance alone.

• Petchoa (× Petchoa)

  These petunia-calibrachoa hybrids generally have larger flowers than million bells, with intermediate foliage; the plant label is often the most reliable distinction.

Calibrachoa honours the Mexican botanist Antonio de la Cal y Bracho, while Million Bells refers to the abundance of small, bell-like flowers.

Propagation. Usually propagated from soft stem-tip cuttings in warm, bright conditions out of direct sun. Seed does not reliably reproduce named selections, and many produce little seed. Check plant breeders' rights or patent restrictions before taking cuttings.

Accepted botanical name

Calibrachoa

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.