How to Identify Bell-Shaped Flowers

Bell-shaped flowers are some of the most distinct looking blossoms that may grow in the wild or be mass-produced as a cut flower. True to their description, these blossoms typically hang in a downward position and actually resemble the shape of a ringing bell due to their curved, tube appearance. If you have come across these particular flowers out in the open, or received this blossom as a gift, you can use these telltale characteristics to identify your bell-shaped flowers.

Things You'll Need

• Paper and pencil

Instructions

1. Note the growing season of your bell-shaped flower and write down the month(s) that the blossoms appear. Some bell-shaped flowers like the lily of the valley grow in the spring, while others like the foxglove and campanula or bellflower grow during the summer.

2. Look at the color(s) of your bell-shaped flower and write down the key characteristics. Note whether the blossom is all one solid color, such as a bellflower, or if it has a multicolor pattern like the foxglove does.

3. Examine the petals of the blossom to determine how many grow on each flower and note whether these parts are separate or fused in one piece like the sandersonia. Continue to write down other petal traits including whether the edge is smooth and curved like an allamanda yellow bellflower, or pointed like a Fritillaria carica.

4. Inspect the growth pattern of the bell-shaped flowers to take notice of any particular features. For example, do these blossoms grow one per stem like the sandersonia, or do they tend to grow in groups like the lily of the valley?

References

• United States Department of Agriculture

Resources

• United States Department of Agriculture
• WildflowerInformation.org
• Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers