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Glite Dictionary
bells of Ireland

bells of Ireland

8.4
A tall garden plant with green bell-shaped cups around small white flowers
  • noun
  • /bɛlz əv ˈaɪərlənd/
translation icon : campanas de Irlanda
  • Every spring, bells of Ireland fills the garden with its tall stems and beautiful white flowers.

Examples

  • Known for its striking appearance, bells of Ireland is a popular choice among florists for decorative arrangements.

  • But I also had my rows of stuff way too close, so I have like Bells of Ireland and pincushion flowers and stuff.

  • And then this row right here has the bells of Ireland, which I think I'm going to keep a small patch, but they, they just go for it like they go everywhere.

  • The gardener decided to plant bells of Ireland to add unique green blooms to her flower beds.

Synonyms

Molucella laevis
vsbells of Ireland
  • Specialized
9.9

A plant that lives for one year with tall stems and green bell-shaped parts around small flowers

is the common ornamental name rather than the formal Latin name
molucca balm
vsbells of Ireland
  • Specialized
9.9

An annual scented plant with tall stems and green bell-shaped cups around small white flowers

is the widely used ornamental name rather than a variant common name

Surface Forms

bells of Ireland singular
bells of Ireland plural

Morphology

bell + of + Ireland

The phrase transparently signals 'bell-shaped things associated with Ireland' since 'bells' and 'Ireland' are literal, so a B1 learner could infer shape and geographic association. However, recognising it as the conventional name of a specific ornamental annual plant requires lexical knowledge beyond the constituent meanings, so the relation is only partially predictable.

Etymology

Bells of Ireland may come from the many small green, bell-shaped cups around the flowers. They look like tiny bells, and the bright green colour made people think of Ireland, so the name is used for the tall green plant people grow for 'decoration'.