Now is the time of year when one’s thoughts should be turning to spring! From the point of view of planting bulbs, that is. September through til late November is the planting time for Bluebells, ready for them to flower from April to June. However, beware - the path to getting a swathe of true English Bluebells can be tortuous if you do not know what you are looking for! We are referring, of course, to that imposter - the Spanish Bluebell.

Once you know what you are looking for, you will not make the mistake of thinking you have English Bluebells when, in fact, you have Spanish. Although pretty, the Spanish version is taking over and threatening the survival of our true English Bluebell. If you discover, after reading this, that you have Spanish Bluebells in your garden, dig them up and destroy them! Harsh but necessary.

So what are the differences between the two?

SPANISH - 4 to 8 leaves, rectangular with a blunt tip. Flowers are attached to the main stem on all sides and are upright. They are usually pale to mid blue in colour (sometimes white or pink) and the petals form a wide open bell, and are not usually rolled back. The flowers are usually unscented.

ENGLISH - 3 to 6 leaves, narrow and tapering to a point. The flowers are attached to one side and distinctly droop to one side. The flowers are a deep blue and form a narrow, straight-sided bell with the petals rolled back. The flowers are also usually scented.

We sell only true English Bluebells. Buy them all year round from our shop: www.englishplants.co.uk (they will be sent out to you from September to late November).

What are Bluebells in the Green?

These are simply Bluebell bulbs that have started shooting, have foliage or foliage and flowers. These are only sent out from February to May.

A bit of info on the Bluebell

Popular nectar plant for bees, butterflies and hoverflies. Leaves provide food for autumnal and 6-striped rustic moths. Preferred food source for the Brimstone and Pearl Bordered Fritillary butterflies. Pollinated by long-tongued insects, such as bumblebees, and some hoverflies. Honeybees have short tongues and so have to steal the nectar by pushing apart the base of the petals.

Pliny said that Bluebells sprang from the blood of Ajax. Another legend dedicates the plant to Hyacinthus, who was loved by Apollo and Zephyrus, the god of the West wind. Hyacinthus, though (a lad, by the way), loved Apollo more and so Zephyrus killed the lad in jealousy. From his blood sprang Bluebells.

White juices from the stem make a useful glue. During the Middle Ages it was used to stick feathers on to arrows, and during Elizabethan times, it was used for laundry starch and glue.

Folklore - Bluebell fields can be dangerous as they are full of fairies and concentrated magic. The flowers ring to summon fairies to midnight revelry. Anyone who wears a Bluebell is compelled to tell the truth. If you hear Bluebells ring you will soon die – thus they were known as Deadman’s Bells in Scotland.

Planting your bulbs – Plant as soon as possible after receipt. If you can’t plant straightaway, store them in a mesh tray with sawdust to stop them going mouldy. For a more natural look, scatter the Bluebell bulbs and plant them where they land. Make sure they are planted to a good depth (about 4 inches). Bluebells grown from seed take 2 – 3 years to flower.

PLEASE NOTE - IT IS ILLEGAL UNDER THE WILDLIFE AND COUNTRYSIDE ACT TO DIG UP AND REMOVE BLUEBELLS GROWING IN THE WILD. FINES CAN BE HEFTY!