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Does the Million Bells Plant Reseed Itself?

Million bells (Calibracoa hybrid) is a herbaceous, perennial plant with an attractive, trailing growth form and colorful, petunia-like blossoms that bloom continuously, spring through summer. Because million bells produce very little seed, they do not freely reseed themselves in the garden. However, when provided with suitable growing conditions in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 9 through 11, a few seeds may fall here and there, emerging as new plants the following spring. Because this occurrence is rare, gardeners should not rely on their million bells plants to reseed. To increase the chance of having a few million bells plants from wayward seed, provide million bells with the following conditions.

  1. Site Selection

    • The number of blossoms that million bells plants produce is directly related to how much sunlight they receive. Though million bells may be cultivated in partial sun sites, full sun locations encourage the best growth, development and blooming. Look for a planting site that gets six to eight hours of direct sunlight each day, preferably in the morning and early afternoon. The location you choose should also offer moist, organically rich soil with good drainage.

    Soil Preparation

    • Million bells plants prefer loose, well-draining soil that's slightly on the acidic side, according to the University of Illinois Extension. Enrich the soil in your garden bed to make it more hospitable for your flowering plants. Top the surface of the soil with 4 inches of peat moss, 3 inches of leaf mold, 1 inch of coarse horticultural sand and 1 of inch perlite. Work the amendments into the soil to a depth of 6 inches to improve its texture, nutrition, aeration and drainage.

    Planting

    • Million bells plants are sold in garden centers and nurseries in 4-inch containers. Once you've enriched the soil in your garden bed with organic materials, the flowers may be transplanted. Use a hand shovel to dig planting holes that are 8 inches wide and just deep enough to allow million bells to set the same depth they grew in their containers. Space planting holes 1 1/2 feet apart when planting multiple million bells plants. Position the plants in the holes and fill in the space around the root balls with the displaced soil.

    Million Bells Care

    • Water million bells after planting to reduce transplanting shock; moisten the soil to a depth of 4 to 6 inches to encourage the plants to form strong roots in their new location. Continue to provide million bells with 1 inch of water per week, spring through summer. Million bells also need frequent applications of fertilizer to produce their blooms all season long. Fertilize plants every three weeks with a water-soluble 20-20-20 fertilizer. Apply the fertilizer according to label instructions to avoid scorching the plants' roots.

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