Christmas bells (large Christmas bells) Blandfordia grandiflora
Christmas bells (large Christmas bells) (Blandfordia grandiflora) is an evergreen perennial flowering plant in the Blandfordiaceae family, native to Damp coastal heath of eastern New South Wales and south-east Queensland. It grows 40–90 cm (16–35 in) tall and 20–40 cm (8–16 in) wide, wants full sun and high water, and is hardy to about -3 °C (27 °F). Space plants about 30 cm (12 in) apart.
Plan Christmas bells (large Christmas bells) in your garden →
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Christmas bells (large Christmas bells) at a glance
| Type | Perennial flowering plant, evergreen |
|---|---|
| Family | Blandfordiaceae |
| Mature height | 40–90 cm (16–35 in) |
| Mature spread | 20–40 cm (8–16 in) |
| Spacing | 30 cm (12 in) centre to centre |
| Sun | Full sun, at least 6 h of direct sun a day |
| Water | High; drought tolerance none, waterlogging tolerance moderate |
| Soil pH | 4.5–6.5 |
| Cold hardiness | About -3 °C (27 °F) once established (roughly USDA zone 9) |
| Heat stress | Likely above about 36 °C (97 °F) |
| Flowering | about 156–209 weeks after planting, for 4–7 weeks |
| Wind tolerance | Low |
| Pollinator value | High |
| Edible | Not grown as food |
| Native to | Damp coastal heath of eastern New South Wales and south-east Queensland |
| Common in gardens of | 🇦🇺 Australia |
Is Christmas bells (large Christmas bells) toxic?
- People: not known to be toxic
- Cats: not known to be toxic
- Dogs: not known to be toxic
Not known to be poisonous.
If a child or pet may have eaten part of a plant, call a poison centre or vet straight away.
Companion planting: what to grow with Christmas bells (large Christmas bells)
No well-documented helpful pairing. Group it with plants that like full sun and high water.
Questions about Christmas bells (large Christmas bells)
- How far apart should I plant Christmas bells (large Christmas bells)?
- About 30 cm (12 in) apart, centre to centre. A mature plant spreads 20–40 cm (8–16 in).
- Does Christmas bells (large Christmas bells) need full sun?
- Full sun: at least 6 hours of direct sun a day.
- How much water does Christmas bells (large Christmas bells) need?
- High water. Drought tolerance is none and waterlogging tolerance moderate.
- How cold-hardy is Christmas bells (large Christmas bells)?
- It tolerates about -3 °C (27 °F) once established, roughly USDA zone 9.
- When does Christmas bells (large Christmas bells) flower?
- About 156–209 weeks after planting, for 4–7 weeks.
- Is Christmas bells (large Christmas bells) poisonous to cats and dogs?
- For cats it is not known to be toxic; for dogs not known to be toxic; for people not known to be toxic. Not known to be poisonous.
- What grows well with Christmas bells (large Christmas bells)?
- There is no well-documented companion pairing for Christmas bells (large Christmas bells). Group it with plants that like the same sun (full sun) and water (high).
Sources and evidence
Evidence grade A (A: strong evidence).
- Plants of the World Online (taxonomy, native range), Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
- PlantNET: the NSW Flora Online, National Herbarium of New South Wales, Botanic Gardens of Sydney
- Australian native plant profiles, Australian National Botanic Gardens / Australian Plants Society
Notes and assumptions
- Clusters of waxy, bell-shaped flowers, red tipped with yellow, at Christmas in Australia, on stems above grassy leaves. Flowers best in the summer after a bushfire. Protected in the wild; garden plants are raised from seed and take several years to flower.
Reference values for planning, not horticultural, veterinary or medical advice. Varieties, soils and local climates differ: check with a local nursery or extension service.
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