Hyacinthoides hy-a-sinth-OY-dees non-scripta non-SKRIP-ta English Bluebell

H. hispanica his-PAN-ik-a Spanish Bluebell

English bluebells are well known, native plants with drooping blue or occasionally white flowers on one side of the stem. They have strap-like leaves and are a vigorous bulbous perennial growing to about 30 cm tall. The flowers are fragrant and are great for pollinators in late spring and are lovely cut flowers.

Spanish bluebells carry larger flowers which grow all around the stem. When planted near native bluebell woodlands, they can outcompete the native species and hybridise with them too, changing the genetic make-up of the native species. They were introduced into gardens and have since escaped.

Remember not to pick, uproot or damage wild bluebells, but if you’ve grown your own, they make lovely fresh cut flowers.

For more information, see https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/wildlife/how-identify/spanish-or-native-bluebell

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