What’s the difference between English bluebells and Spanish bluebells?
The Spanish bluebell is more vigorous than our native bluebell, so can outcompete it for resources like light and space. It can hybridise with our native, too, producing fertile plants that show a whole range of mixed features from both species. Dispose of bluebell bulbs by adding them to your green waste collection bin or taking them to your local garden waste site. Adding bulbs to your home compost bin isn’t recommended, as it may take them many years to rot down and you could inadvertently spread them around your garden in the resulting compost.Divide and replant the clumps after flowering and before the leaves die back. Bear in mind that it’s illegal to dig up clumps of bluebells in the wild, and this method applies to bluebells growing in gardens only. You can also save seed from bluebells and sow them immediately in pots of compost.Bluebells usually flower from late March to early May, but it does vary from year to year. They are one of the last spring flowers to bloom before the woodland canopy closes up and new leaves block out the sunlight. If spring is mild, bluebells respond by flowering earlier.The native bluebell This early flowering allows them to make the most of the sunlight that is still able to make it to the forest floor habitat, before the canopy becomes too thick. Native bluebells are protected in the UK under the Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981.
Can you buy English bluebells?
You can buy bluebell plants from garden centres. Always try to buy native English bluebells rather than Spanish or hybrid ones which can take over in a garden and escape into the countryside. It’s against the law to intentionally pick, uproot or destroy bluebells. Bluebells have soft, succulent leaves that are particularly sensitive to being trodden on. Once the leaves are damaged, they are unable to absorb the sun and photosynthesise, so they die back.Our native bluebell, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, otherwise named common bluebells, English bluebells, British bluebells, wood bells, fairy flowers and wild hyacinth, is an early flowering plant that naturally occurs in the UK. It appears in ancient woodlands and along woodland edges in April and May.The Woodland Trust adds that, after your bluebells have finished leafing and flowering each year, you should avoid cutting the foliage off. The leaves use sunlight to make food which strengthens the plant for the following year, they explain.The Woodland Trust adds that, after your bluebells have finished leafing and flowering each year, you should avoid cutting the foliage off. The leaves use sunlight to make food which strengthens the plant for the following year, they explain.
How do you identify English bluebells?
Flowers: usually deep violet-blue in colour, bluebells are bell-shaped with six petals and up-turned tips. These sweet-smelling flowers nod or droop to one side of the flowering stem (known as an inflorescence) and have creamy white-coloured pollen inside. Some bluebell flowers can be white or pink. Reports suggest that one of Princess Diana’s favourite fragrances was Penhaligon’s Bluebell, a floral green scent created in 1978 that evokes the essence of British woodlands in spring. Interestingly, this fragrance note also happens to be favored by Harry’s wife, Meghan Markle.Yardley’s English Bluebell is a light, feminine, and fresh, fruity floral fragrance that’s created with uplifting bergamot and cassis accords in the top note, followed by a flirty heart of bluebell, jasmine, lily of the valley and peony accented with a touch of peach and enhanced with smooth woody notes, vanilla and .Bluebell woods The UK is home to more than half the world’s population of bluebells, making it our unofficial national flower. Their presence is a sure sign you are in a very old woodland. The Wildlife Trusts care for hundreds of woodlands and look after some of the finest displays of bluebells in the country.
Can you eat English bluebells?
All parts of the bluebell plant contain toxic glycosides that are poisonous to humans, dogs, horses and cattle. If any part of the plant is eaten, it can cause serious stomach upset, and if consumed in large quantities, may be fatal. The bulbs are easily mistaken for spring onions or garlic. Unfortunately, as pretty as they are, bluebells pose a big risk for our pets due to a toxic chemical present in the plant called glycoside. This means every part of the flower can lead to health problems when consumed by dogs. If you suspect your dog is suffering from bluebell poisoning, contact the vet immediately.Bluebells are poisonous to dogs because they contain a toxin that affects the heart. Bluebell poisoning will normally result in an upset tummy, but if eaten in very large amounts, it can be fatal.ARE BLUEBELLS POISONOUS? Yes, every part of the bluebell plant is toxic to humans, dogs and livestock – and their sap can cause skin irritation. Another reason to look (and smell) but not touch!All parts of the plant are toxic and the sap can cause skin irritation, so it is advisable to wear gloves when handling bluebells.
Are English bluebells rare?
Almost half the world’s bluebells are found in the UK – they’re relatively rare elsewhere. It’s against the law to intentionally pick, uproot or destroy bluebells. Bluebell colonies take a long time to establish – around five to seven years from seed to flower. Is it illegal to pick or dig up bluebells? Under the Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981) it is an offence to uproot any wild plant without the landowner’s permission. Bluebells are offered additional protection, making it illegal to pick or uproot wild bluebells to sell, even from your own land.
Are English bluebells fragrant?
English bluebell is very similar to Spanish bluebell except English bluebell has fragrant flowers, arching flowering racemes, and shorter flowering stems. The narrow, strap-shaped green leaves are about 1. Spanish bluebells – flowers are a lighter blue and are larger than those of English bluebells. They are unscented and are positioned all the way around upright stems.Hyacinthoideshispanica, commonly called Spanish Bluebells or wood hyacinth, is a bulbous perennial that is native to Spain, Portugal and northwest Africa.