Yellow wax bellsare herbaceous perennials named for their pretty,late-summer flowers.
These waxy flowers have a crystalline-like surface that sparkles in bright light.
The buttery-yellow, almost luminescent flowers would also be right at home in amoon garden.
Karlis Grants.
Cover a large area by planting three to five yellow wax bell plants together.
This will give your yellow wax bell time to adjust and establish healthy roots during the warmer months.
The crown of your root ball should be even with the surface of the soil.
Karlis Grants.
Water the plant well and spread a 2-inch-thicklayer of mulcharound the base to prevent soil moisture loss.
If you are planting more than one yellow wax bell, place them 2 to 3 feet apart.
Light
Yellow wax bells thrive in partial to full shade.
The plants can tolerate 4 to 5 hours of sunlight if the soil is consistently moist.
If your soil is heavy or poor,consider amending it weeks before planting.
Yellow wax bells need consistent moisture, but its best to avoid overly wet or dry soils.
Terra Nova Nurseries.
Fertilizer
If planted in humus-rich soil, yellow wax bells do not require supplemental fertilizer.
Use sparingly and avoid fertilizing during the active growing season.
Overfertilization may weaken the plant and make it more prone to disease.
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
Pruning
During the growing season, yellow wax bells need little (if any) pruning.
Deadhead spent flowers to encourage more blooming and remove any dead or diseased foliage as it appears.
you might also remove the flowerheads before they go to seed to prolong the bloom period.
Peter Krumhardt.
After the foliage dies in the fall, cut your plants back to ground level.
How to Propagate Yellow Wax Bells
The easiest way to propagate yellow wax bells is via division.
In the spring before growth begins, dig up the plant.
David McDonald.
Plant the clumps separately (at least 2 to 3 feet apart).
It typically grows 3 to 4 feet tall and 2 to 3 feet wide in zones 5-8.
It has large, coarsely-toothed, maple-like leaves and bright yellow bell-shape flowers from late summer to early fall.
This plant is also sometimes referred to asKirengeshoma palmatavar.Korean.
It grows 2 to 3 feet tall in zone 5-8.
Much like yellow wax bells, astilbes prefer consistently moist soil and partial shade.
This plantfoliage plus flower spikesstretches 4 to 6 feet tall and sometimes 8 feet tall in optimal conditions.
Plus, the flower stalks (technically clusters of thin stamens) last more than three weeks.
Cimicifuga is hardy in zones 3-8 and grows best in moist soil that isrich in organic matter.
This perennial foliage plant ishardy in Zones 3-9and thrives in partial shade and well-draining, humus-rich soil.
Hakone Grass
Hakone grass(a.k.a.
Japanese forest grass), is a tough, low-maintenance ornamental grass that thrives in moist, shady conditions.
Hakone grass is hardy in zones 5-9 and works as an accent or a groundcover.
No matter their form, ligularia blooms in late fall in bright clusters of yellow.
Lungwort
Lungwortsare shade garden workhorsesespecially when placed close together as aweed-discouraging groundcoveror in borders asedging plants.
Lungworts prefer partial shade with protection from the harsh afternoon sun in zones 2-8.
The low-growing perennials thrive in moisture-retentive, high-humus soil but tolerate dry conditions.
In early spring, lungwort’s brilliant blue, pink, or white flowers bloom despite the chill.
Late afternoon sun will scorch and damage the lush foliage.
Yellow wax bell plants can live for approximately 10 to 15 years in ideal conditions.
It is, however, a perennial.
Expect your yellow wax bell to die back to the crown each winter and return each spring.
The best time to transplant yellow wax bell plants is in late spring when the weather is warm.
First, water the soil deeply.
Next, carefully dig up your plant.
Be sure to dig the trench wide enough to avoid damaging the plant’s root system.
Loosen the soil from the plant’s roots with your fingers and place it in its new location.
