Bluebells - Planting and How to care (2024)

FAQs

How to care for blue bells? ›

Light: As woodland plants, Virginia bluebells naturally thrive in partial to full shade. Soil: Moist soil, rich in organic matter is best for Virginia bluebells. Spacing: Space plants 12-18 inches apart for a lush look that imitates wild populations.

Bluebells are woodland plants, so they grow best in partial shade with moist but well-drained soil. Adding leaf mould, manure or garden compost to the soil will ensure they have plenty of nutrients. Try planting them in clumps under deciduous trees or shrubs to create a mini-woodland effect.

They're easy to grow so you can recreate that amazing woodland bluebell carpet experience in miniature. You'll get a welcome splash of colour in April and May. Nectar-seeking insects like bees will love the early food source. It's a good plant for those tricky shady spots in the garden.

Water deeply and thoroughly once planted and keep well-watered, especially when flowering. While they do not like to sit in water, bluebells do prefer moist soil. As containers dry out quicker, this means you will likely need to water more often.

What do I do when my bluebell flowers go over? Avoid mowing the grass while bluebell foliage is dying down to ensure good flowers next year. Leave the foliage until it has died back, but remove faded flower spikes if you don't want bluebells to spread.

Allow the foliage to die down naturally after flowering. It is a good idea to remove the faded flower spikes before they set seed to prevent the plants self-seeding and spreading where they aren't wanted. Bluebells are rarely troubled by any pests or diseases.

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.

These plants are not considered invasive since they are native to the United States, although they can grow aggressively by self-seeding and spreading easily. They usually disappear when the heat of summer sets in. The rhizomes are best planted in the fall or early spring as soon as the ground thaws.

It is an annual herb producing a mostly unbranched erect stem 20 to 60 centimeters tall. It is hairy and coated in stiff glandular hairs.

Companions. Ferns and primroses make lovely neighbors, but bluebells are often planted in large swaths for a natural look.

What states do bluebells grow in? ›

They're native to moist woodlands and floodplains at the edges of forests in Eastern North America. They grow from New York west to Minnesota and south from Arkansas to North Carolina. They're hardy in zones 3-8. A carpet of Virginia bluebells in full bloom is quite the sight to see on a spring hike.

One piece of advice I found suggested Hostas: Hostas are some of the best and easiest companions for spring blooming bulbs in partial to full shade. Larger hostas tend to emerge a bit later in the spring, which is perfect timing for pairing with spring bulbs.

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.

Plant the bulbs at a depth that's at least twice the length of the bulb, which is about 15cm (6in) deep. Plant them 15cm (6in) apart, with the pointed tip upwards. Do note that bluebells can be planted very deeply, and 10cm (4in) is the minimum depth.

Top Tip. Pick bluebells from your garden and use indoors for a long-lasting cut flower display. Picking and deadheading some of the flowers from your garden will prevent self-seeding and help control their spread.

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.

English bluebells need plenty of light in the early spring but then prefer partial shade during the summer. These light requirement make them ideal for planting beneath deciduous trees.

The bloom period is about 3 weeks. Fertilized flowers produce wrinkled nuts, each with four seeds, in early summer. Virginia bluebells naturalize easily in shady gardens.