In this guide, I’ll share 35 of the best plants that produce bell-shaped blooms throughout all seasons – so you can find a variety that is best suited to you and your garden, no matter the time of year.
Flowers that resemble upside down bells are some of the most intriguing blooms in the plant kingdom. Their pendant bell-shaped flowers seem to defy gravity as they dangle delicately from stems and branches. These unique flowers come in a diverse array of colors and add visual intrigue to any garden.
In this article we’ll explore 12 of the most popular flowers with an upside down bell-like appearance and what makes them so special. Discover how to grow these showstoppers yourself!
What Gives These Flowers Their Unique Upside Down Bell Shape?
The downward facing orientation of these flowers is a product of their anatomy. They have tube-shaped blooms with flared, spreading petals that unfurl in a skirt-like fashion rather than cup upward. This gives them the look of a bell suspended upside down.
Additionally, the pedicel – or flower stalk – attaches at the base rather than the center. This allows the flower to hang down rather than stand upright. Gravity pulls the blooms toward the ground.
This distinctive form allows the flowers to be easily accessed by pollinators from below. Their nectar and pollen are presented front-and-center.
Top 12 Upside Down Bell-Shaped Flowers
1. Fuchsia
Fuchsias produce some of the most vivid upside down bell blooms in shades of pink, purple, red, white, and more. Their tubular petals flare open downward in a graceful, teardrop shape.
Over 100 fuchsia species exist, but the most common garden varieties grow in shrubs or hanging baskets. Their dangling flowers are magnets for hummingbirds.
2. Morning Glory
This classic flowering vine is renowned for its bell-shaped blooms in heavenly hues of blue, purple, pink, and white. The flowers unfurl in the morning and close by afternoon, which gives morning glories their name.
As vines, they’re ideal for climbing trellises and arbors to show off their pendant-like blooms.
3. Foxglove
Foxgloves sport spikes of tubular, bell-shaped flowers in a palette ranging from purple and pink to white and yellow. The blooms dangle downward from upright stem spikes, with spotted “throats” inside.
These biennials thrive in cottage gardens and woodland settings. Handle with care, as the plant is toxic.
4. Petunia
Petunias are wildly popular for containers and gardens thanks to profuse blooms all summer long. Varieties like Million Bells or Supertunia have a cascading habit with hundreds of tiny, trumpet-shaped flowers dangling downward.
They come in every color imaginable!
5. Nasturtium
Few flowers can match the intensity of nasturtiums in blazing sunset hues of orange, red, and yellow. The rounded, flared petals of these cheery annuals give them an upside down bell shape.
Nasturtiums are edible too – both the flowers and peppery leaves add spice and color to salads.
6. Canterbury Bells
These old-fashioned biennials are defined by large, bell-shaped flowers dangling from upright spikes. Colors range from lavender, pink, white, and blue.
Canterbury bells evoke traditional English cottage gardens. Caution – they are toxic to humans and pets if consumed.
7. Angel’s Trumpet
As its name suggests, angel’s trumpet has huge, pendulous blooms like trumpets suspended from its branches. These stunning flowers come in shades of pink, yellow, white, and orange.
All parts of this plant are poisonous, however, so enjoy its beauty from a distance!
8. Chinese Lantern
Also known as winter cherry, these unique plants produce papery husks in vivid orange that resemble Chinese lanterns. As the “lanterns” mature and dry, they turn translucent, creating an eye-catching display in fall and winter gardens even after plants die back.
9. Columbine
Columbines produce delicate, bell-shaped flowers with flared petals in a huge range of bicolor combinations: red and yellow, pink and white, purple and cream.
This perennial wildflower thrives in shady spots and adds graceful beauty to woodland gardens.
10. Bellflower
True to its name, bellflowers like Campanula and Platycodon varieties boast abundant bell-shaped blooms. They come in whites, blues, purples, and pinks.
Campanulas include many creeping varieties perfect as ground covers underplanted with their pendant flowers on display.
11. Lily-of-the-Valley
This perennial produces tiny, bell-like white blooms dangling along gracefully arching stems. Lily-of-the-valley is cherished for its fresh, sweet perfume that evokes the arrival of spring.
Use caution, as the plant is toxic.
12. Passionflower
Passionflowers showcase intricate, exotic blooms with prominent stamens and styles protruding from the center like an alien creation. Their unusual bell-like flowers come in vivid hues of purple, pink, and white and make a statement in any garden.
How to Grow These Unique Flowers
Many of these upside down bell-shaped flowers thrive in average garden conditions. Here are some general tips for success:
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Site them in full sun to partial shade depending on variety. Morning glories need full sun while foxgloves tolerate shade.
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Well-draining soil enriched with compost is ideal. Avoid soggy soil.
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Space plants properly to allow for growth. Check tag or plant specs.
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Water 1-2 inches per week depending on rainfall. Established plants are drought tolerant.
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Fertilize lightly in spring and summer with a balanced organic fertilizer.
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Prune back spent blooms and stems through the season to encourage new growth.
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Mulch around plants to conserve moisture and suppress weeds.
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Stake tall or floppy plants like angel’s trumpet or canterbury bells.
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Propagate by seed, cuttings, or division for more plants.
Enjoy These Magical Blooms
With beautiful shapes evoking bells, trumpets, pendants, and lanterns, these 12 flowers add charm and whimsy to gardens and landscapes. Their downward-facing orientation gives them elegance and sophistication.
Next time you want unique blooms that seem to defy gravity with their upside-down presentation, look no further than these gorgeous options! With colorful petals fanning out like descending bells, they are sure to add alluring beauty and stand out in your outdoor space.
Bells of Ireland (Moluccella laevis)
Bells of Ireland are like nature’s own work of art. Thriving across various climates, they sport an unusual pale-emerald green hue in their bell-shaped blooms, leaving onlookers in awe. These unique flowers are low-maintenance, making them an excellent choice for gardens. Just ensure they have well-draining soil, and they’ll be thriving.
Trumpet Vine
- BOTANICAL NAME: Campsis radicans
- COMMON NAME(S): trumpet vine / trumpet climber
- HARDINESS RATING: H4
- PLANT TYPE: climber / shrub
- FOLIAGE TYPE: deciduous
- FLOWERS: red and orange
- FLOWERING SEASON(S): summer / autumn
This climbing deciduous shrub is a great way to kick off this list.
Producing beautiful bell-shaped flowers in shades of orange and red in the summer and autumn, this plant can grow up to 12m in height.
Trumpet vine looks great when grown at the back of a garden bed against a wall or trellis.
“It is best grown against a south-facing wall to capture the most warmth and sun possible,” shares Roy Nicol, a Master Horticulturist.
“This is also when it will flower at its best and have protection from the coldest winter weather.”
Flowers that look like bell video
FAQ
What flower looks like an upside down bell?
Merrybells have a unique bell-shaped yellow flower that hangs upside down just like a bell.
How to take care of calibrachoa flowers?
Calibrachoa only need moderate moisture, they don’t need to be kept moist. Let the soil dry out an inch or two below the surface before watering again. They also need full sun, so they are probably in a good area for that, however, if you live someplace really hot, like AZ, they may need some afternoon shade.
Do Campanula flowers come back every year?
Most Campanula are hardy perennials, coming back from year to year.
Where is the best place to plant bellflowers?
Most bellflowers will perform best in full sun. A few woodland species grow well in part shade and full shade, but for the best flower display, you should generally grow bellflowers in full sun. Sunshine also helps prevent taller varieties from flopping and needing stakes.
What plants have bell shaped flowers?
Plants with bell-shaped flowers are colorful, showy, sun or shade-loving garden varieties that give off beautiful fragrances. Usually, the bell-shaped flowers grow in dangling conical clusters and can be white, purple, pink or red. Some examples of these flower clusters are doghobble and Japanese Pieris.
What flowers look like bells?
The flowers that look like bells can also be found in some wild areas, and some grow in their gardens. Featuring green, blue, purple, white, pink, and many colors, these bell-resembling flowers appear on different plants, including some trees. Suggestd Reading: Top Narcissus Varieties | Blue Colored Flowers
Why do flowers look like upside-down bells?
Flowers that look like upside-down bells give the person who looks at them a sense of excitement and can add a stunning visual to any garden. These beautiful flowers can be used for many purposes such as decoration, using in weddings, making wreaths, and lovely gifts.
What does a bell shaped plant look like?
The bell shaped flowers of this plant can be white, pink or purple and often has spots inside the flower. The flowers of this plant blossoms in late spring or early summer. This plant grows 2 to 5 feet tall and has a spread of 1 to 2 feet.
Do bell shaped flowers grow well?
The large bell shaped flowers are attractive to butterflies and bees. This plant does best when grown in an area of the garden that either gets full or partial sunlight or has moist well-drained soil. Although these flowers are native to Europe and Asia, they do grow well in most parts of the United States including zones 2 through 10. #3.
What flowers have a bell shaped cup?
‘Jetfire’ and ‘Winter Waltz’ have charming recurved petals emphasizing the bell-shaped cup, while ‘Bell Song’ and ‘Fortissimo’ are colorful two-tone flowers with prominent cups. ‘Golden Bells’ are a charming bright yellow with a cheery bell shape. Coral bells (Heuchera) have tiny bell-like flowers that arise on tall stems.