I've never tried to grow them myself, but have heard that it can be done.

I say try it!

Jeanni

i am trying to grow some right now. the ones i've babied have died, but the ones i left totally alone and weren't sure of (mixed then in with other things, so couldn't easily id the seedlings) are about 5-7" tall and seem ok after transplanting them from containers into the garden. i'm still holding my breath though. they seem to be pretty finicky. i didn't pre-chill my seeds at all, and i've been trying to avoid fertilizing. that killed off the 'babied' ones. good luck!

I read somewhere that Bells of Ireland seeds need cool temperatures, say around 50 degrees, to germinate and grow.

Granted what's written in gardening books ain't necessarily so, but the Bells of Ireland seeds I planted last November (and forgot about) did come up and bloom in late March-April.

When we lived in San Antonio Tx, there was two of them growing by our house. Wasn't even in a garden. It's been a long time ago, and I can't remember if they died back in winter or not, they were just always there putting out their bells, the four years we were stationed there. That said, I don't think they are annuals.