bells of Ireland

American  

noun

1. a plant, Molucella laevis, native to western Asia, having inconspicuous white flowers, each surrounded by an enlarged green calyx.

---

bells of Ireland British  

noun

1. (functioning as singular) an annual garden plant, Moluccella laevis , whose flowers have a green cup-shaped calyx: family Lamiaceae (labiates)

---

Etymology

Origin of bells of Ireland

First recorded in 1955–60; so called from the bell-like green calyx

Example Sentences

They were out of baby’s breath, but on the floor around them were buckets of thousands of donated blooms — fragrant lilies, roses and carnations, blue delphinium, stalky allium and green bells of Ireland.

From Washington Post

Other flowers to sow in June include lovely nasturtiums, marvelous marigolds, zinnias, bells of Ireland, morning glories, four o’clocks, cosmos and nigella, to name a few.

From Seattle Times