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Ornithogalum nutans,
silver bells     1629


silver bells heirloom bulbssilver bells bagtag

We love these subtle, Quakerish bells of silver and sage that have been grown since colonial days. They thrive in light shade, bloom in late spring, and are much too rarely seen today. They’re cheap, too – so why not take a small leap and try a few? 8-12”, zones 5b-8b, from Holland.


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SUB TYPE   wildflower, LittleBulbs

ZONES   5b-8b

HEIGHT   8-12”

BLOOM SEASONS   late spring

LIGHT   full sun, half sun, light shade

PLANTING & CARE

Silver bells seem most at home in dryish soil in light shade. In our old neighborhood, they even spread themselves about amid beds of common orange daylilies lining old gravel driveways in the shade of mature trees.

Plant 4”-5” deep and 4”-5” apart. Scratch a bit of fertilizer into the surface soil (slow release 10-10-10 is ideal), and water well. Consider protecting with plastic netting, chicken-wire, etc., for a few weeks after planting, typically the only time pests bother these animal-resistant bulbs.

Do not mulch. Mulch is often too thick or heavy for small bulbs such as silver bells and their growth will suffer — if they emerge at all.

For best increase, after bloom allow the seedpods to ripen and scatter their seeds, and allow the foliage to yellow completely (to feed the bulbs) before removing.