English and Spanish bluebells may seem like the novice gardener’s dream: a beautiful flower, easy to grow and willing to spread and fill in bare spots of land. Unfortunately, Spanish bluebells are so eager to spread, they’re often considered weeds. If you live in the UK, think twice before planting the Spanish variety, though it naturalizes quickly, it’s a threat to the native variety because it hybridizes with them, therefore diluting the native plants. Spanish bluebells do not have as strong a fragrance as English bluebells either and tend to bloom a bit later. A place that gets partial sun to partial shade is ideal for them. Please note that bluebells in the green can take several years to establish themselves after transplanting. So avoid soggy soil at all cost – this means places where you can still see puddles 5-6 hours after a rainstorm. Height – 4 to 20 inches (10 to 50 cm) Exposure – part sun and shade Soil – ordinary. September, Bluebells naturally grow in woodland areas so it’s best to give them similar conditions in your garden. This is because the bulbs are re-establishing their root systems, and do not divert strength to producing flowers. In the North this will be in September or October, in the South in October or November. Common Name: Spanish bluebell Latin name: Hyacinthoides hispanica. This famous wildflower even has several botanical names. Spanish bluebells need the sun to grow, but they do best when they’re not in full sunlight all day. Unfortunately containers can’t protect bulbs as well as mother earth can, so when you live in hardiness zones 3-7 it might be better to let your containers spend the winter indoors, in a cool, dark, well-aired spot that won’t get warmer than 60 degrees Fahrenheit, like an unheated basement or garage. The bluebells in question in Canada and Britain are of three types: the English bluebell (Hyacinthoides non-scripta), the Spanish bluebell (Hyacinthoides hispanica), and hybrids between the two species. In nature they are often found over a foot beneath the surface of the soil! It’s possible to grow bluebells from seed. In the North this will be in September or October, in the South in October or November. Spanish bluebells tolerate shade, flourishing under trees or shrubs or in shady … In some conditions they can be considered weeds . Over time they’ll spread out to create a beautiful blue carpet effect. But older names persist, including Scilla hispanica; they were also formerly placed in the Endymion genus. Scottish Bluebell. Incredibly tough, they naturalize very fast even in difficult sites, making them ideal to fill up empty spots in your garden. Pick a spot in your garden that has well-draining soil and gets full sun or partial shade. Easy to grow, low care and incredibly good-looking, Spanish Bluebell (Hyacinthoides hispanica) is a great bulbous perennial to have! It is important from the conservation perspective to ensure that you buy and plant only English Bluebells. How to identify Spanish bluebells. In the North this will be in September or October, in the South in October or November. Position the bulbs with the pointy end facing up. Spanish bluebell is a bulb plant that grows up to 2 feet tall with a 1-foot spread. The leaves will gather sunlight, create food through photosynthesis and strengthen the bulbs for the future. These small flowers tend to cross pollinate with native English bluebells, creating a hybrid flower that takes over the area. You can lift and divide in late summer or just leave them to get on with it. Plant the Spanish bluebell bulbs about 3-4” deep and 4-6” apart, placing them in the soil with their pointy ends up. on 1st February 2020. Wait until it’s cold outside, with a soil temperature of 60 degrees Fahrenheit or lower. Each bulb produces attractive, nodding, bell-shaped flowers hanging from sturdy, round flower stalks, atop clumps of glossy strap-shaped leaves. Leave enough space between each plant so they have room to grow and will fill in the gaps. For natural looking drifts of bluebell flowers, cast the bulbs across the planting area and plant them where they land. Water well once and wait for spring, or, when you live in hardiness zone 3-7, water well and bring the containers indoors, letting them spend the winter in a cool spot like an unheated garage or basement. It is not unusual to have only leaves in the year following transplanting, even if the plants are in flower when received from us. Unfortunately Spanish bluebells don’t have any scent. This is … Plant your bluebells at the level that they were planted before they were lifted, which you’ll see from where the leaves turn white. Plant dry bulbs at least 10cm deep and space 10cm apart; ensure the pointed growing tip is facing upwards. Tiny blue flowers are shaped like broad bells with flared rims. Plant them in a spot that is partially shaded, like underneath a deciduous tree or shrub. Best arranged on it’s own or with cowslips. Thanks to plant breeders, there are now cultivars in pink, blue and white. Find a well-draining container and fill it with loose soil, making sure water won’t gather and stay at the bottom. Now the bulb will be going dormant, and won’t need any watering until next spring. To help the bulbs settle and grow roots quickly, it’s important to water them well after planting, but after that you won’t have to water them again. Use scissors to pull them up and cut above the white part of the stalk so as to not damage the bulb. Like the Spanish bluebell, the flowers are tall and rigid, and the colors are not limited to the exquisite blue of the typical Spanish bluebell. Wait until the soil is 60 degrees Fahrenheit or colder. Leave it until it’s completely withered and yellow, then remove. Bulbs in the green (spring planting):Plant your bluebells at the level that they were planted before they were lifted, which you’ll see from where the leaves turn white. Only plant Bluebells where there is a good sized area which they can colonise without spoiling the garden and becoming a pest plant. Bluebells are deer, rabbit and squirrel resistant, so they may be planted in areas with wildlife. All Gardening Advice, They will do best in fertile, well-drained soils. After flowering has finished for the season leave the foliage in place; don't cut it off. In Detail. Spanish bluebells are actually an invasive species in the UK. Don’t confuse English bluebells with their tougher, more invasive cousin, the Spanish bluebell (Hyacinthoides hispanica). Flowers can be blue, pink or white. Bluebells are best planted in shady areas – around trees or underneath shrubs – where the cool conditions intensify the flower colour. So once you feel fall’s first chill in the air, it’s time to get planting. Lift the bulbs once flowered and plant elsewhere in the garden. How to plant bluebells The easiest most reliable method is to plant bluebells ‘in the green’ in late spring, after they have finished flowering. Another thing you can do is to upgrade potentially soggy soil by adding organic material such as peat, bark or manure. Producing nodding flowers on one side of the stem, these hardy bulbs will grace the garden with a sea of scented blue flowers whilst providing much needed nectar to pollinators — truly, there is nothing to beat bluebells in the woodland garden in spring. Planting and care are very simple and blooming is guaranteed Although the native English bluebell and the larger Spanish bluebell are often grown in gardens, they can multiply and become a nuisance, requiring control. Bluebells flower from late April to May, filling our woods with their incredible flowers and fragrance and providing nectar for moths, bees and butterflies. Name – Hyacinthoides non-scripta Family – Asparagaceae Type – spring bulb. The hybrid bluebell (hyacinthoides massartiana) is actually a beautiful plant. If you live in hardiness zone 9 or higher, the soil won’t get cold enough for the root-developing process to happen, but you might consider. The fragrance is also not as strong, and they usually come in blue, pink, or white. Plant them in any well-drained soil and watch them take off. Their flowers are bell-shaped and a light gray blue in color. Location. Now all you have to do is wait patiently for winter to do its magic underground, and spring to surprise you with the rewards of your work. The standard method for calculating the ideal depth is to dig a hole three times as deep as the bulb is high, and place the bulb at the bottom with its pointy end up. Basic Bluebell facts. The concerns about the plants are worth considering, even as the flowers are admired. Newer Post, © Copyright 2020 DutchGrown. English Bluebells are actually protected in the UK. For a more natural effect, plant small clumps of bluebells together with irregular spacing between clumps. Older Post Spanish bluebells grow from bulbs and like sunlight. Registered in England & Wales #06694059. Bluebells are woodland lovers so plant in partial shade, ideally below deciduous trees or shrubs. Growing Bluebells. … If you live in hardiness zone 9 or higher, the soil won’t get cold enough for the root-developing process to happen, but you might consider forcing. Pick a spot in your garden that gets full sun or partial shade. Plant the bulbs with the pointed end facing upwards, about 10cm deep and about 15cm apart. Get a pot or box with at least some drainage holes at the bottom. Height; Spanish Bluebells in bloom … If it is fall or winter, store the bulbs in a cold place, such as an unheated garage or the refrigerator, for three to four months. Bluebells are superb bulb flowers that can bloom in spring in the shaded areas of your garden.. Like all flower bulbs, Spanish bluebells need a cold period to develop their roots and get ready for spring. During blooming season, you generally don’t have to water your Spanish bluebells, but you can water them when there hasn’t been any rain for 3-5 days. But whatever you call it, you'll love the nodding flowers and the plant's habit of spreading into larger and larger clumps. The package that you buy at the store may well be labeled Scilla campanulata -- yet another botanical name for the plant. Botanists now want us to call Spanish bluebells Hyacinthoides hispanica. They prefer a warmer environment than English bluebells. When it comes to planting bulbs in containers, the mantra is exactly the same: drainage-drainage-drainage. The Spanish counterparts have straight stalks and do not bend like the English ones do. Bluebells should be planted as deeply as possible, 4 ins being the minimum, and more if possible. Water bulbs well after planting. And due to their shape and height, Hyacinthoides look amazing in a vase or bouquet. Spanish bluebells (Hyacinthoides hispanica) are sturdy plants, taller, and with broader leaves (about 20mm). 3 Insert dry bulbs 3–4 inches (7.6–10.2 cm) deep in the soil. How to plant Spanish bluebells in your garden: Wait until the soil is 60 degrees Fahrenheit or colder. Luckily, bluebells are remarkably tolerant of bad timing. February, This will be at a depth of about 10cm (4in), spacing them about 10cm (4in) apart. 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