What is the difference between British and Spanish bluebells?
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. Pink or white flowers sometimes occur, and as with English bluebells, these have been selected and bred to produce pink or white-flowered cultivars. But this much-loved plant is under threat. 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.Also bear in mind that Spanish bluebells are extremely invasive and may outgrow their welcome. Plant dormant bulbs in autumn in partial shade where their invasive tendencies won’t harm nearby plants. Deadhead after flowering to avoid seeding.Bluebells are perennials which means they flower annually. They spend the spring soaking up energy from the sunshine and store the energy in their bulb over winter, waiting to bloom again. Please stick to the paths to help our precious bluebells thrive.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. Pink or white flowers sometimes occur, and as with English bluebells, these have been selected and bred to produce pink or white-flowered cultivars.
How invasive are Spanish bluebells?
Also bear in mind that Spanish bluebells are extremely invasive and may outgrow their welcome. Plant dormant bulbs in autumn in partial shade where their invasive tendencies won’t harm nearby plants. Deadhead after flowering to avoid seeding. If we take a cue from their natural habitat it will be no surprise to learn that bluebells thrive in partial shade, under deciduous trees or shrubs and need moist but well-drained soil. I personally think they are at their most stunning when planted under silver birch trees, creating a ‘woodland in miniature’.Bluebells spend most of the year underground in a dormant state only emerging to leaf and flower in the spring, growing from bulbs. They mainly spread by seed very rapidly, but their bulbs can split to form clones.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.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.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.
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 one I noted down in my book was that the Spanish Bluebell has bells on both sides of the stem and tends to stand more upright on its stem, whereas the British one only has flowers on one side and is therefore more inclined to droop under the weight, giving the classic “Shepherd’s Crook” bent stem.
Where do Spanish bluebells grow?
Hyacinthoideshispanica, commonly called Spanish Bluebells or wood hyacinth, is a bulbous perennial that is native to Spain, Portugal and northwest Africa. Hyacinthoides make a long-lasting cut flower. Cut or snap off stems rather than pulling them which can damage the bulbs. Learn more about growing and enjoying Spanish bluebells at our Fall Diverse Newsletter Archives.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.
What to do with bluebells once died?
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. The deep violet-blue flowers of English Bluebell bulbs look like fairy flowers and appear in mid to late spring. As the bulbs naturalize, they create a carpet of blue and violet woodland floor. Each flower stem typically bears clusters of drooping flowers on one side, giving the plant a distinctive nodding appearance.Bluebells can be planted from March to June or in autumn from September to November for overwintering. Dig a hole that’s wide enough to fit the bulb comfortably, and at least 2-3 times their depth.
Do Spanish bluebells smell good?
Spanish bluebells have: pale blue (often white or pink), conical-bell flowers, with spreading and open tips. The flower stem can be up to 18 inches tall, which makes the flowers—12 to 20 hanging, bell-shaped, lavender-blue flowers about 3/4 inch long—stand out quite prominently over the foliage. Spanish bluebell is planted in the fall and typically blooms April to early May.