Christmas Bells Plant Care
Blandfordia punicea Sweet
Updated · Sources · How we source care data
Blandfordia punicea, commonly known as Tasmanian Christmas bell, is a species of flowering plant that is endemic to western Tasmania. It is a tufted perennial herb with linear leaves and drooping red, bell-shaped flowers that are yellow on the inside.
Every 7–10 days
Full sun to partial shade
50–80°F
40–70%
At a glance
How do you care for Christmas Bells?
Water Christmas Bells every 7–10 days, letting the top layer of soil dry out between waterings, and give it full sun to partial shade. It prefers temperatures of 50–80°F (10–27°C) and 40–70% humidity. Fertilize it every 6 months during the growing season.
Where Is the Christmas Bells Native To?
What Is the Christmas Bells?
Christmas Bells (Blandfordia punicea) belongs to the Blandfordiaceae family within the Blandfordia genus. Christmas Bells is native to western Tasmania.
Christmas Bells displays a clumping perennial herb growth habit, reaching up to 1.5 ft tall with a spread of approximately 0.5 ft. Christmas Bells produces tubular red flowers in clusters.
Leaf size: approximately 6 inches.
How Often Should You Water a Christmas Bells?
Blandfordia punicea requires watering every 7–10 days. Allow the top layer of soil to dry between waterings to prevent root rot. Reduce watering frequency during winter when growth slows.
Watering Frequency
Every 7–10 days
Let soil partially dry between waterings
What Light Does the Christmas Bells Need?
Christmas Bells thrives in full sun to partial shade.
Light Requirement
Full sun to partial shade
What Temperature and Humidity Does the Christmas Bells Prefer?
Blandfordia punicea grows best at temperatures of 50–80°F. Christmas Bells prefers humidity levels of 40–70%.
Temperature
50–80°F
Humidity
40–70%
What Soil Mix Works Best for a Christmas Bells?
Well-draining sandy soil with added organic matter like compost. Good drainage is essential for Christmas Bells to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.
How Often Should You Fertilize a Christmas Bells?
Feed Christmas Bells every 6 months during the growing season (spring and summer) with a balanced fertilizer diluted to the strength on the label.
Pause feeding in autumn and winter, when growth slows, and never fertilize dry soil — water first.
Fertilizing
Every 6 months
During the growing season
The PlantoScan app can remind you when to water and when to fertilize each plant.
How Do You Repot a Christmas Bells?
Repot every 2-3 years in early spring. Choose a pot one size larger than the current container, and ensure it has drainage holes to allow excess water to escape.
How Do You Propagate a Christmas Bells?
Christmas Bells can be propagated through seeds, division of offsets. Similar propagation techniques also apply to christmas bells plant care, which shares the same genus.
Is the Christmas Bells Toxic to Pets and Children?
Pet safety not verified
The ASPCA does not list Christmas Bells, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Keep pets from chewing it as a precaution.
This is a general caution, not veterinary or medical advice. If your pet ate a plant, contact your vet or animal poison control.
See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.
What Pests and Diseases Affect the Christmas Bells?
Christmas Bells is susceptible to aphids, slugs, snails. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.
Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.
What USDA Hardiness Zone Does the Christmas Bells Need?
Christmas Bells grows outdoors in USDA Zone 12a. It survives winters down to planting zone 12a. Christmas Bells is native to western Tasmania. In cooler regions, grow Christmas Bells as a houseplant or bring it indoors before the first frost.
Hardiness Zone
Zone 12a
Keep exploring plants
Christmas Bells is one of many species covered in the complete plant care and identification guide, which groups plants by genus, attribute, and popularity.
It belongs to the Blandfordia genus — compare its care with other Blandfordia species on PlantoScan.
Blandfordia is part of the Blandfordiaceae plant family — browse all Blandfordiaceae genera and species.
Christmas Bells thrives in bright light and direct sun — see other bright-light plants.
Related Plant Care Guides
Closely related plants with similar care requirements:
Sources
- Scientific name & taxonomy: Blandfordia punicea Sweet, family Blandfordiaceae (first published in Hort. Brit. , ed. 2: 517 (1830)) — World Flora Online record, IPNI name record.
- Pet toxicity: Pet safety not verified: the ASPCA does not list Christmas Bells, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Checked against the ASPCA plant list; any other toxicity note on this page comes from PlantoScan's plant database.
- Hardiness zone: USDA Zone 12a, calculated from the plant's minimum temperature.
- Care values(watering, light, temperature, humidity, soil, fertilizing): PlantoScan's plant database, filtered by automatic plausibility checks — values that fail them are hidden. How we source and check plant data.
Spotted a mistake? Email info@upvision.media with the page link — we check and correct reported errors.
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