Ding dong its the bluebell (Bluebells)

Member Name: mumsymary

Product:	Bluebells
Date:	28/05/06 (1057 review reads)
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Bluebells, by bluebells I mean the English blue bell

So what is a bluebell?

Hyacinthoides non-scripta not the harebell which the Scottish often calls a bluebell. The Bluebell is called a wild hyacinth by the Scottish. Other names for the bluebell are Crawtraes (meaning crow's toes), and Granfer Griggles. Not the Spanish bluebell which is slowly hybridizing the british bluebell


A bluebell belongs to the lily family it grows from a bulb. It is a plant that has 3-6 slim leaves 20-45cm long it has a flower spike growing 20-50 cm tall and has 4 to 16 small flowers attached to it. These grow around one side of the stem spike. The flowers are really made of 6 petals that are mostly fused together this makes them bell shaped.
Blue bells are of course usually deep blue but sometimes a pale blue.
On a warm sunny day smell a bluebell they smell so sweet.

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Sadly the bluebells is nearly over their flowering time late April and May.a few last into June. I love to see carpets of bluebells growing in the woodlands they flower just before the trees are completely in leaf. This flower is a good indicator of an ancient woodland site.
The bluebell will grow on grassy banks along hedgerows in parkland and on some cliffs. They do not fare well in coniferous woodland as the trees block out all light.
A Bluebell is a true British plant nearly half the bluebells of the world grows in Britain. There is a native Spanish bluebell similar to our British bluebell as well as the Spanish bluebell there is also a hybrid.


A bluebell grows from a bulb is best planted in the autumn or in the green after the bulb has flowered in end of May June time. They grow well on the chalk soil around where I live and also on the clay soil of my childhood home. Growing well under trees.
Be warned it is illegal to dig up bluebells in the wild to plant in your garden. Bluebell bulbs are available from garden centres and nurseries.

If you have bluebells in your garden check that they are our native bluebell and not that foreign Spanish one. The Spanish bluebell is causing a problem in our green and pleasant land it is slowly taking over. If it is the Spanish one destroy it and replace with a British one there is a website where there is an address you can send for a free guide http://www.plantlife.org.Or there is a description of the differences at
http://www.nhm.ac.uk/nature-online/british-natura l-history/survey-bluebells
There is a national survey of bluebell species going on at the moment finishes 30th June but already a lot of the bluebell flowers are finishing , if you wish to get involved in this survey go to http://www.nhm.ac.uk/nature-online/british-natural -history/survey-bluebells

I shall be surveying areas around my home in half tem, take your kids out for a bluebell walk get them identifying bluebells.

There have been and are several bluebell walks in woods all over England. They are such a beautiful sight. I do remember picking many bluebells with my mum 40+ yrs ago for decorating the church, sadly though bluebells do not last long after being picked soon wilt and die, so not worth picking better to enjoy in the countryside.
So go on get out for a sunny spring bluebell walk, will do your psyche a world of good.


There are many poems written about bluebells and they are often linked with fairy folk.

Summary: A pretty blue flower