Blandfordia spp.

christmas bells

HardinessZones 9–10

Overview

Blandfordia spp. is a small genus of tuberous-rooted perennials in the family Blandfordiaceae, native to eastern Australia and known as Christmas bells. Plants grow from fibrous, tuberous roots and form tufts of long, narrow, grass-like leaves 12-30 inches (30-75 cm) tall. In summer, leafless flower stems rise above the foliage to carry several large pendent, tubular flowers near the top. Each waxy flower is 1-2.5 inches (2.5-6 cm) long, usually red to orange with yellow tips and a flared mouth. Flowering in the southern-hemisphere summer, around the December holiday season, gives the plants their common name. Blandfordia spp. grows in heath, swamp margins, and moist sandy soils, often where the ground is wet in winter and drier in summer. Plants need acidic, low-nutrient, well-drained soil and full sun, and grow slowly from seed, taking several years to flower. They are sensitive to root disturbance and to high soil phosphorus, which makes them challenging to cultivate outside specialist conditions.

Native Range

Native to eastern Australia, in coastal and montane heath, swamp edges, and moist sandy or peaty soils, from Tasmania north to Queensland.

Suggested Uses

Grown in bog gardens, containers, and specialist collections of Australian plants where acidic, low-phosphorus conditions can be maintained. The summer flowers are sometimes cut, as they last well in water.

How to Identify

Recognized by tufts of long, narrow, grass-like leaves and tall leafless stems bearing several large pendent tubular flowers in summer. The waxy bells are usually red to orange with yellow tips. The combination of grassy foliage and hanging bell-shaped flowers in early summer is the main field clue.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height1' - 2'6"

Width/Spread8" - 1'4"

Reaches mature size in approximately 4 years

Colors

Flower Colors

red

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~6 weeks

Summer

Flowering occurs in the southern-hemisphere summer, mainly November to January, which corresponds to the Christmas season in Australia. The pendent tubular flowers are held in a loose cluster at the stem tip. Seed capsules form afterward.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

Red with yellow tips

Foliage Description

Green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun

Requires 6-10 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range4.5 - 6.0(Acidic)

357912

Soil Types

sand peat

Drainagemoist

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Medium

Frost Tolerance

tender

Time to Maturity

3-5 years

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Blandfordia spp. grows in full sun on acidic, low-nutrient, sandy or peaty soils that stay moist in winter and drain freely in summer. Plants are sensitive to high phosphorus, so standard fertilisers can harm the roots. They grow slowly from seed and take several years to reach flowering size. Established plants resent disturbance and are slow to recover from transplanting. Reliable moisture during the growing season supports flowering, with drier conditions afterward.