17 named cultivars

annual

Million Bells

The Story

Plant Bio

Calibrachoa x hybrida, million bells, is a trailing tender perennial grown as a summer annual, making a low mound three to nine inches high that spills a foot or two over the edge of a pot. It carries hundreds of inch-wide funnel-shaped flowers, like miniature petunias, from late spring until the first frost.

Unlike petunias it is self-cleaning and never needs deadheading. It does insist on acid conditions, though: in limey compost or hard tap water the leaves yellow between green veins as iron locks up. Feed with an acidifying fertiliser, and let the compost dry slightly between waterings, because it rots far more readily than a petunia.

Uses & Benefits:

Hundreds of small bright flowers on trailing growth, unbroken from late spring until frost.

Self-cleaning, so containers stay tidy without deadheading through the whole season.

Hummingbirds visit the flowers; the small blooms are less use to larger bees.

Essentials

At a Glance

Plant Type

Annual

Height

6 inches

Width

18 inches

Light

Full Sun, Partial Sun

Zones

9, 10

Water

Moderate

Humidity

Moderate

Lifespan

Annual

Native To

Garden hybrid; the genus is South American

Toxicity

Non-toxic

Planting

How to Grow

Plant in full sun in free-draining compost.
Grow it in containers rather than open ground.
Let the surface dry slightly between waterings.
Feed weekly with an acidifying liquid fertiliser.
Watch for yellowing between the leaf veins.
Trim lightly if the trails go bare at the base.

Pro Tip

Yellow leaves with green veins mean locked-up iron, not hunger — switch to an acid feed rather than adding more general fertiliser.

Keep It Thriving

Care Guide

Do

Grow it in a container in full sun ☀️
Feed with an acidifying fertiliser 🧪
Let the compost surface dry between waterings 🌵
Use rainwater where the tap water is hard 💧

Don't

Keep the compost constantly wet ❌
Bother deadheading — it cleans itself ❌
Plant it in heavy garden soil ❌

Seasonal Care Calendar

Task	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Feed
Plant Out

Watch Out For

Pests & Diseases

Common Pests

Common Diseases

In the Garden

Landscape Uses & Companions

Landscape Uses

Hanging baskets and window boxesSpilling over the edge of mixed containersWall-top and raised-bed planting

Companion Plants

Petunia Verbena BacopaSweet Potato Vine Lobelia

Multiply

Propagation Methods

Good to Know

Common Questions

Million Bells questions

What zones can Million Bells grow in?

Million Bells is hardy in USDA Zones 9–10. Inside that range it survives winter in the ground; outside it, grow it as an annual or a container plant you protect.

Is Million Bells deer resistant?

Not reliably. Deer may browse Million Bells, especially tender spring growth — plan on repellents or fencing where pressure is high.

When does Million Bells bloom?

Million Bells typically blooms in late spring to frost through late summer. Exact timing shifts a week or two with your zone — Sow's bloom calendar maps it to your garden.

Does Million Bells need full sun?

Million Bells does best in full sun to part shade. In hot climates, afternoon shade keeps blooms fresher longer.

Is Million Bells drought tolerant?

Yes — once established (usually after the first full season), Million Bells handles dry spells with minimal watering. Water deeply its first year to build the root system that makes that possible.