Million bells (Calibrachoa 'Sunbelkist' MILLION BELLS TERRA COTTA)

Overview

Calibrachoa ‘Sunbelkist’ MILLION BELLS TERRA COTTA, commonly known as Million bells, offers an abundant display of small, petunia-like flowers that carpet trailing stems throughout the season. These plants are highly valued for their continuous bloom performance, especially during summer heat when some relatives may fade. The unique TERRA COTTA tones—yellow, bronze, apricot, and brick-red—provide rich, warm color perfect for mixed arrangements.

As a tender perennial, Million bells is typically grown as an annual in most climates, providing reliable, low-maintenance color. They form compact, mounded plants that cascade nicely, making them ideal for showcasing vibrant hues from spring right up until the first hard frost. Their prolific nature ensures a nearly non-stop show, rewarding gardeners with hundreds of small, attractive blooms.

These plants are exceptionally attractive to hummingbirds, adding dynamic wildlife interest to patios and hanging baskets. The Calibrachoa ‘Sunbelkist’ MILLION BELLS TERRA COTTA variety demonstrates excellent durability and requires minimal fuss, fitting perfectly into busy gardening schedules. Enjoy the season-long performance of this stunning Million bells cultivar.

Fast Facts

• Plant Family: Solanaceae
• Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
• Hardiness Zones: USDA Zones 9-11
• Size at Maturity:
  • Height: 0.25-0.75 ft
  • Spread: 0.5-2 ft
• Bloom Time: June to frost
• Bloom Description: Yellow, bronze, apricot and brick-red
• Sun Exposure: Full sun
• Water Needs: Medium
• Maintenance Level: Low

How to Grow

To establish your Calibrachoa ‘Sunbelkist’ MILLION BELLS TERRA COTTA, purchase established plants in the spring and plant them out only after all danger of frost has passed. These plants thrive in moist, organically rich, well-drained soils, maximizing the performance of your Million bells. While they prefer full sun for the best flowering, they will tolerate very light shade, though bloom production will decrease noticeably if shade increases.

Watering should be consistent, aiming for medium moisture levels; allow the soil to approach dryness between waterings, but avoid letting the roots completely desiccate, especially in hot containers. A significant advantage of this variety is its low maintenance requirement: deadheading is generally not required for prolific blooming of your Calibrachoa ‘Sunbelkist’ MILLION BELLS TERRA COTTA. Furthermore, unlike petunias, they often resist the performance drop associated with intense summer heat.

As a tender perennial, if you wish to overwinter plants in cooler regions (below Zone 9), they must be brought indoors before the first frost. Since most hybrid cultivars are patented, vegetative propagation is generally restricted, meaning purchasing new plants annually is the standard practice for annual growers.

Landscape Uses

The trailing habit of Million bells makes Calibrachoa ‘Sunbelkist’ MILLION BELLS TERRA COTTA exceptionally versatile in the landscape. They are best utilized spilling over the edges of hanging baskets, where their blooms create stunning colorful waterfalls. Containers and window boxes are equally ideal settings, allowing their compact yet sprawling nature to shine.

For groundcover applications in warmer zones, these plants can establish rapidly, covering small areas with continuous color. Consider planting them as a bright, low border front to contrast taller flowering perennials or annuals. The warm TERRA COTTA shades offer wonderful pairing opportunities with deep purples, silvers, or contrasting bright whites in mixed container recipes.

Standout Features

Flower Qualities

• Showy

Noteworthy Characteristics

Calibrachoa, commonly called million bells or trailing petunia, is a tender perennial which produces flowers that look like small petunias. These are compact, mounded plants which grow 3-9” tall on mostly trailing stems. Sometimes commonly called million bells, these plants are prolific bloomers that produce hundreds of 1” wide flowers from spring to frost. The blooms are attractive to hummingbirds. Flower colors include shades of violet, blue, pink, red, magenta, yellow, bronze, and white. It is sometimes sold in commerce as Petunia ‘Million Bells’.TERRA COTTA colors include shades of yellow, bronze, apricot and brick-red.

Tolerances

No listed tolerances available for Calibrachoa ‘Sunbelkist’ MILLION BELLS TERRA COTTA.

Potential Problems

Calibrachoa ‘Sunbelkist’ MILLION BELLS TERRA COTTA generally exhibits no serious insect or disease problems, contributing to its low maintenance appeal. Gardeners should monitor for common summer pests like aphids or whiteflies, particularly if plants are grown in sheltered or overly humid locations. Proper spacing and ensuring good air circulation, especially when planting in containers or baskets, will help mitigate potential fungal issues.

Frequently Asked Questions

What hardiness zones is Million bells suitable for?

Calibrachoa ‘Sunbelkist’ MILLION BELLS TERRA COTTA is winter hardy only in USDA Zones 9 through 11, and is often treated as an annual elsewhere.

How large does Million bells grow?

These plants typically reach a height between 0.25 and 0.75 feet with a spread spanning from 0.5 to 2 feet, developing a mounding to trailing habit.

What sun exposure does Calibrachoa ‘Sunbelkist’ MILLION BELLS TERRA COTTA need?

This variety requires full sun exposure to achieve its maximum flowering potential, though it can handle very light shade.

When does Million bells bloom?

Blooming occurs continuously beginning in June and lasts until the first frost interrupts growth, offering shades of yellow, bronze, apricot and brick-red.

Conclusion

The Calibrachoa ‘Sunbelkist’ MILLION BELLS TERRA COTTA is an outstanding choice for gardeners seeking vibrant color and minimal fuss throughout the summer months. Its resistance to summer decline and prolific blooming habit make this Million bells a dependable star for containers and baskets. Consult your local hardiness map to determine if you can overwinter this tender perennial or plan to enjoy its spectacular display as a vibrant annual.

Wildlife Benefits

The abundant, small, trumpet-shaped flowers of the Million bells series are highly attractive to hummingbirds, which feed on the nectar produced. While the primary value of Calibrachoa ‘Sunbelkist’ MILLION BELLS TERRA COTTA is aesthetic appeal, providing continuous nectar sources from June to frost is beneficial for late-season pollinators and avian visitors in the garden setting.

Container Growing

Growing Calibrachoa ‘Sunbelkist’ MILLION BELLS TERRA COTTA in containers is perhaps its most popular application. Given their mounding and trailing nature, they work perfectly as “spillers” in mixed arrangements. Ensure any container used has excellent drainage, as soggy soil can quickly harm these plants, even though they tolerate drought once established.