English or common bluebells are the flowering perennial bulbs you can find carpeting woodlands with layers of blue in Europe in the springtime. These classic spring bloomers are suitable for cultivation in USDA Hardiness Zones 5 to 8, and will transform any shady garden into a sea of sky-rivalling color.
We link to vendors to help you find relevant products. If you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. Hyacinthoides non-scripta, also known as English or common bluebell, fairy flower, harebell, bell bottle, crow leek, or wild hyacinth, is native to western Europe.
In some places the botanical name is still listed as Scilla campanulata, S. Although they look similar, English and Spanish bluebells Hyacinthoides hispanica are different plants. English types have cream-colored anthers, not blue ones like the Spanish variety. The bell-shaped blooms are fragrant, they all hang to one side of the stem, and the flower spikes racemes droop. The English species is also shorter and smaller overall than the Spanish type.
This is just one of the reasons true English bluebells are threatened, and thus protected in the UK. If you find an area thickly carpeted with these flowers, you may be standing in a year-old woodland, or even an ancient wildwood. They are believed to have appeared in Britain after the last ice age, and are often used as an indicator species for ancient woodlands. Besides being protected by the Wildlife and Countryside Act, there is another good reason to leave wild bluebells alone:.
According to folklore, bluebell woods are enchanted and inhabited by fairies. Every part of the plant is poisonous, thanks to the presence of cardiac glycosides, and they are toxic to humans and animals.
In the past, bluebells were used to ward against nightmares, as well as to treat leprosy and snakebites. The sticky sap was used as a glue for arrow making, and as a book binding agent that protected the bindings against insects. The beautiful blue, white or, more rarely, pastel pink flower bells attract a variety of pollinators, including bees and butterflies. Instead of crawling deep into the bell flower, some bees will simply chew a hole in the side of a bloom to access the nectar!
Seeds ripen and scatter naturally in July and August. Letting the plants self seed is the easiest way to propagate them to create a natural carpet of blue. If you wish to start a new carpet, you can choose to collect the seeds from your flowers. Alternatively, to guarantee you will get pure H. Sow the seeds as soon as you collect them in the summer.
Or, sprinkle on the surface of small three- or four-inch pots filled with a well draining potting soil, cover with a thin layer of compost or soil, and keep the medium moist. Or your first ripening berry or autumn leaf tint? Let us know what's happening to animals and plants near you and help scientists track the effects of climate change on wildlife. From the dazzling bluebells that cover ancient woodland in the spring to the bright meadows bursting with buttercups in the summer, wild flowers are what make our woods so beautiful.
Find out what flowers you might see on a woodland walk and how to identify them with pictures. When do bluebells flower? Do bluebells flower every year?
Did you know? Where to see bluebells Bluebells are traditionally woodland flowers. Visiting woods Best bluebell woods See a stunning sea of blue this spring. Do bluebells smell?
Are bluebells protected in the UK? Visiting woods. Spot the signs of the seasons Have you seen your first butterfly or swallow of spring? Join Natures Calendar. Discover more woodland flowers. Remove any affected leaves as soon as you spot them. This is because the bulbs are re-establishing their root systems, and do not divert strength to producing flowers.
White flowered English bluebells are a genetic mutation of the bulb and very rare, while white flowered Spanish bluebells are a common variety. Plant dry bulbs at least 15cm 6in deep. Plant bluebell bulbs with the pointy tip facing upwards. Bluebell seeds can take up to 6 months to germinate and will need a further year or two before they can be planted out while dormant. They take about 4 to 5 years to reach flowering. Yes, bluebell bulbs can multiply year on year and can also spread via seed.
Bluebells love woodland and the shade of a deciduous tree. If eaten, bluebells can be harmful to dogs, other pets and humans. Bluebells are deer, rabbit and squirrel resistant, so they may be planted in areas with wildlife. You can lift bluebell bulbs with a garden fork in summer to reduce their numbers. You can also deadhead the flowers before they drop their seed. It can take a couple of years for bluebells to establish. If they are thriving in a suitable position, they will start to spread over the next couple of years.
Pick bluebells when they first emerge for the longest display indoors. Cut the stem above the white part of the stalk so as to not damage the bulb. Sear the stem ends for 20 seconds in boiling water. Arrange alone to enjoy their subtle fragrance, or pair with other garden-grown wild flowers such as cowslips.
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