British bluebells 'have advantage over Spanish bluebells' (2024)

FAQs

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.

English bluebells are a sign that spring is in full swing. Their deep blue-violet blooms appear in mid to late spring and put on a fragrant show for up to five weeks before going dormant by early summer.

Spanish bluebells are a very aggressively spreading bulb. Virginia bluebells are a woodland perennial wildflower. Spanish bluebells form thick clumps and their foliage can smother other plants as it dies back in a slimy mess.

Spanish bluebells need the sun to grow, but they do best when they're not in full sunlight all day. A place that gets partial sun to partial shade is ideal for them. Spanish bluebells will need to be planted deep enough that they won't be affected by temperature variations above ground, either too warm or too cold.

Invasiveness: Spanish bluebells can be invasive in some areas as they can reproduce by bulb or by self-seeding.

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.

Bluebells are an essential part of our natural heritage. Almost half the world's bluebells are found in the UK and colonies of this delicate wild flower take a long time to establish – around five to seven years from seed to bloom. They're considered so important that they're a protected species in the UK.

Many insects reap the benefits of bluebells which flower earlier than many other plants. Woodland butterflies, bees and hoverflies all feed on their nectar. Bees can 'steal' the nectar from bluebells by biting a hole in the bottom of the flower, reaching the nectar without the need to pollinate the flower.

Lavender. The beloved woodsy subshrubs commonly appears in herb planters and colorful gardens. The strongly scented stunner blooms in a variety of pretty shades from deep violet to blue and white to pink hues that contrast with its green base.

Are bluebells British or Spanish? ›

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.

Spanish bluebell flowers are unscented, much larger and more open than English bluebells, borne on every side around an upright flower stem up to 45cm high. Wide, strap-shaped green leaves are up to 3cm wide.

The Common Bluebell carried messages of gratitude and humility, a nod to the giver's appreciation and the recipient's grace. But the symbolism doesn't stop there; these delicate blooms also whisper of everlasting love, a testament to their perennial nature and the enduring affection they represent.

Irish bluebells have narrower leaves, deep blue tube-like flowers that curl outwards. They have a distinct sweet, fruity scent and inside the flowers, the anthers with the pollen are usually cream. Spanish bluebells have broader leaves and their flowers are a paler blue and often often pink and white.

Hyacinthoides hispanica (syn. Endymion hispanicus or Scilla hispanica), the Spanish bluebell or wood hyacinth, is a spring-flowering bulbous perennial native to the Iberian Peninsula.

Native bluebells have droopy heads. Spanish bluebell heads are much more upright.

Spanish bluebell flowers are unscented, much larger and more open than English bluebells, borne on every side around an upright flower stem up to 45cm high. Wide, strap-shaped green leaves are up to 3cm wide. Spanish bluebells cross-breed with English bluebells.

Scottish bluebells are actually harebells, Campanula rotundifolia and they're an entirely different genus altogether. In fact, they don't even belong to the same family. Scottish bluebells are in the campanula Campanulaceae family, whereas the English and Spanish are in the asparagus family.

Despite the similar name, English and Spanish bluebells are unrelated to Virginia bluebells. They are native to Europe and are in the Hyacinthoides genus and asparagus family; meanwhile, Mertensia bluebells are in the borage family and native to North America.