Million Bells is a tender perennial treasure from the Solanaceae family that thrives in warm climates (zones 9-11) and produces an astonishing abundance of tiny, petunia-like flowers from June through the first frost. These compact, mostly trailing plants grow just 3 to 9 inches tall but spread 6 to 24 inches wide, creating a cascade of hundreds of 1-inch blooms in shades of violet, blue, pink, red, magenta, yellow, bronze, and white. In cooler regions, it's grown as an annual, purchased in spring and set out after the last frost, where it requires only full sun and moderate water to deliver prolific color all season long.
Full Sun
Moderate
9-11
9in H x 24in W
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Moderate
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Million Bells lives up to its name, producing literally hundreds of delicate flowers from spring until frost without the fussiness of many flowering plants. The 1-inch blooms attract hummingbirds reliably, turning your garden into a nectar station throughout the growing season. Low maintenance and drought tolerant once established, it thrives in full sun with moist, organically rich soil but bounces back even through dry spells. The trailing growth habit makes it exceptional for hanging baskets and containers, where those cascading stems create impressive mounding displays of color.
Million Bells is grown primarily as an ornamental annual or perennial in containers, hanging baskets, and mixed borders where its trailing stems and prolific flowers create eye-catching displays. The hummingbird-attracting blooms make it a favorite for pollinator gardens and cottage-style plantings. Because it's technically edible, it can be used as a decorative garnish, though its value lies almost entirely in its visual impact and the wildlife it supports rather than culinary applications.
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Transplant Million Bells into the garden after the last frost date in spring, once soil has warmed. These tender plants cannot tolerate frost, so wait until nighttime temperatures consistently stay above 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Harden off greenhouse-grown plants by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions over 7-10 days before planting. Space plants 6 to 24 inches apart depending on the mature spread desired.
Pinch back young stems to encourage branching and a bushier, more mounded shape rather than a sparse, trailing form. As the season progresses, deadheading spent flowers keeps plants neat, though Million Bells flowers so prolifically that this isn't essential for continued blooming. If plants become leggy or overgrown, cut them back by one-third in midsummer to rejuvenate branching and flowering.
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