Blandfordia Grandiflora or as they are commonly called ‘Christmas Bells’ are a must for the native garden, in fact they can be grown in any style of garden as well as containers. Large flowers heads held high on stalks nearly 1m high. With up to 20 flowers on a stalk they make a fantastic display and they are from the lily family.
These are one of the truly wonderful Australian flowering plants, brilliant flowers and can be planted either individually or in small clumps. Give them a little space in-between tubers so that the large flowers can be shown off to their fullest. Widely grown commercially as a cut flower and unfortunately a little endangered in its native habitat due to land clearing.
They can also be grown in containers, use a largish deep pot and a good quality potting mix.
How To Grow
These are a clump forming plant that grow not from a bulb, but from tuberous root system. They require good drainage as well as some moisture. Appearing as a tufted perennial found naturally in damp conditions in heathlands from Queensland through to New South Wales.
- Botanical Name – Blandfordia grandiflora
- Common Name – Christmas Bells
- Family – Blandfordiaceae
- Origins – NSW to QLD.
- Position – Full sun to a little shade.
- Soil – Well drained, humus rich sandy moist soils.
- Height – To around .8 metres, up to 1.5m when in flower
- Spread – Forms a clump to around .3 metres.
- Growth rate – Slow from seed.
- Flowers – Orange/Yellow and Red.
- Flowering time – Summer.
- Foliage – Mid green.
- Frost tolerant – Very mild frosts only.
- Drought tolerant – No, they require moisture over spring and summer.
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