Plants
Million Bells
Calibrachoa · Solanaceae
Million bells look like mini petunias by the hundred: from April until frost they smother themselves in small trumpet flowers in almost every colour — hence the English name. For hanging baskets and balcony boxes in the sun, little is more rewarding. We buy our bedding stock in compact, well-branched nursery quality at the Veiling Rhein-Maas.
- Light
- Full sun to light part shade.
- Watering
- Regular and measured — let the top layer of soil dry, no waterlogging.
- Care level
- Easy
- Botanical
- Calibrachoa
Calibrachoa is a genus of its own, only closely related to the petunia: the flowers are much smaller but far more numerous, the foliage finer, and the shoots slightly woody at the base. Well-known series include Million Bells, Superbells and Calita — now also with striped and double flowers.
Compared with petunias, million bells have two practical advantages: their small flowers barely stick together in rain, and spent blooms drop by themselves — tedious deadheading is almost entirely unnecessary. In return they are more sensitive to the wrong soil.
The key care point is pH: Calibrachoa are pronounced iron feeders and need slightly acidic soil. In limy compost or with hard tap water the leaves quickly yellow (iron chlorosis). Dedicated balcony-flower compost, an iron-rich feed and rainwater where possible reliably prevent this.
As continuous bloomers they are hungry: weekly liquid feeding or a slow-release fertiliser in the substrate is a must, otherwise the display visibly fades from July. Water regularly but without waterlogging — the fine roots quickly answer compacted, wet soil with root rot.
For design, the trailing shoots of thirty to forty centimetres are ideal for baskets, box edges and mixed plantings. We like to combine them with geraniums, verbenas and structural grasses — tone on tone or as a deliberately colourful cottage mix.
Is Million Bells toxic to children and pets?
- Children
- Non-toxic
- Cats
- Non-toxic
- Dogs
- Non-toxic
Like their relative the petunia, million bells are considered non-toxic to cats, dogs and children. As with all ornamentals, eating larger amounts is still not advised, as stomach upsets are possible.
Overview: toxic & non-toxic plants for cats, dogs and children
Care
- 01A fully sunny to lightly part-shaded spot — the more sun, the more flowers.
- 02Water regularly but strictly avoid waterlogging; letting the soil dry briefly is better.
- 03Use slightly acidic balcony-flower compost and water with rainwater where possible.
- 04Feed weekly, ideally with an iron-rich balcony-flower fertiliser.
- 05Yellow leaves signal iron deficiency — add iron feed rather than more water.
- 06Move outside permanently only after the last spring frosts.
Frequently asked
- What is the difference between million bells and petunias?
- Calibrachoa are a genus of their own with much smaller but far more numerous flowers, finer foliage and slightly woody shoots. In practice: they are more rain-proof, self-cleaning and need more acidic, iron-rich soil than petunias.
- Why are the leaves of my million bells turning yellow?
- This is almost always iron chlorosis: limy soil or hard tap water blocks iron uptake, and young leaves yellow while the veins stay green. Iron-rich feed, slightly acidic compost and rainwater for irrigation solve it.
- Are million bells toxic to cats or dogs?
- No, Calibrachoa are considered pet-friendly — even for dogs and cats that like to nibble balcony plants. Large ingested amounts can upset the stomach, but the plant is not seriously toxic.
- Do million bells need deadheading?
- No — that is one of their greatest virtues. They shed spent bells themselves and flower through to frost without deadheading. Only long, bare shoots may be shortened in summer to encourage fresh branching.