{"id":21253,"date":"2023-04-18T13:51:02","date_gmt":"2023-04-18T11:51:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gardensillustrated.com\/?p=104981"},"modified":"2023-04-18T14:34:58","modified_gmt":"2023-04-18T12:34:58","slug":"what-is-the-difference-between-spanish-and-english-bluebells","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/gardensillustrated\/rss_feed\/what-is-the-difference-between-spanish-and-english-bluebells\/","title":{"rendered":"What is the difference between Spanish and English bluebells?"},"content":{"rendered":"

The experts at Westonbirt Arboretum explain how to spot an English bluebell and a Spanish one <\/p>

By Gardens Illustrated Team\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Tuesday, 18 April 2023 at 12:00 am<\/p>

\n\n

Our woodlands<\/a> are transformed in spring by vivid carpets of English bluebells<\/a> with their deep violet-blue blooms, giving off a faint scent of honey on a warm spring day.<\/p>\n

Over half the world\u2019s populations of this iconic wildflower, the English bluebell, grow in the UK.<\/p>\n

Also recommended for its wildflowers, Westonbirt, The National Arboretum is a wonderful place to visit to see bluebells<\/a> at their best, to see the woodland floor filled with their captivating blue hazes in Silk Wood during late spring.<\/p>\n\n<h2>The difference between English and Spanish bluebells<\/h2>\nThe native English bluebell (Hyacinthoides non-scripta<\/em>) has slender drooping stems with the flowers all on one side. The flowers are a deep violet-blue, with the petals rolled back at the tips, and white pollen and a sweet scent. And in days gone by it was not only beautiful but also useful: its sticky sap was used to stiffen Elizabethan ruffs, and as glue to bind books and set flights (feathers) in arrows. If you stumble across bluebells whilst walking through countryside, it could also be a sign that you are in a precious ancient woodland.<\/p>\nThe English bluebell is protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. If you dig up a wild bluebell you can be heavily fined.<\/p>\nThe larger Spanish bluebell (Hyacinthoides<\/em> hispanica<\/em>) is also pretty, but can become a problem too, not just because of its spreading habit, but also due to its ability to hybridise with the native English bluebell. More vigorous than our native bluebell, the Spanish bluebell can quickly outcompete the native species for resources like light and space. Spanish bluebells, normally a garden species, are sturdier and have broad leaves, pale blue conical-bell flowers, with spreading and open tips, their paler flowers surrounding the upright stem. They have no scent and have coloured pollen.<\/p>\n<div class=\""image-handler__container\" image-handler__container--full=\"\" style=\""padding-bottom:\" calc=\"\"> <picture><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/18\/2023\/04\/Westonbirt-Arboretum-Broad-Drive-bluebells-Broad-drive-Wildflowers-Copyright-Jane-Gifford-2011-Copy-539478c.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&crop=4px%2C162px%2C2000px%2C1332px&resize=300%2C200,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/webp"\"><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/18\/2023\/04\/Westonbirt-Arboretum-Broad-Drive-bluebells-Broad-drive-Wildflowers-Copyright-Jane-Gifford-2011-Copy-539478c.jpg?quality=90&crop=4px%2C162px%2C2000px%2C1332px&resize=300%2C200,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/jpeg"\"><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/18\/2023\/04\/Westonbirt-Arboretum-Broad-Drive-bluebells-Broad-drive-Wildflowers-Copyright-Jane-Gifford-2011-Copy-539478c.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&crop=4px%2C162px%2C2000px%2C1332px&resize=355%2C236,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/webp"\"><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/18\/2023\/04\/Westonbirt-Arboretum-Broad-Drive-bluebells-Broad-drive-Wildflowers-Copyright-Jane-Gifford-2011-Copy-539478c.jpg?quality=90&crop=4px%2C162px%2C2000px%2C1332px&resize=355%2C236,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/jpeg"\"><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/18\/2023\/04\/Westonbirt-Arboretum-Broad-Drive-bluebells-Broad-drive-Wildflowers-Copyright-Jane-Gifford-2011-Copy-539478c.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&crop=4px%2C162px%2C2000px%2C1332px&resize=405%2C270,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/webp"\"><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/18\/2023\/04\/Westonbirt-Arboretum-Broad-Drive-bluebells-Broad-drive-Wildflowers-Copyright-Jane-Gifford-2011-Copy-539478c.jpg?quality=90&crop=4px%2C162px%2C2000px%2C1332px&resize=405%2C270,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/jpeg"\"><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/18\/2023\/04\/Westonbirt-Arboretum-Broad-Drive-bluebells-Broad-drive-Wildflowers-Copyright-Jane-Gifford-2011-Copy-539478c.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&crop=4px%2C162px%2C2000px%2C1332px&resize=554%2C369,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/webp"\"><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/18\/2023\/04\/Westonbirt-Arboretum-Broad-Drive-bluebells-Broad-drive-Wildflowers-Copyright-Jane-Gifford-2011-Copy-539478c.jpg?quality=90&crop=4px%2C162px%2C2000px%2C1332px&resize=554%2C369,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/jpeg"\"><source media=\""(min-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/18\/2023\/04\/Westonbirt-Arboretum-Broad-Drive-bluebells-Broad-drive-Wildflowers-Copyright-Jane-Gifford-2011-Copy-539478c.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&crop=4px%2C162px%2C2000px%2C1332px&resize=620%2C413,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/webp"\"><source media=\""(min-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/18\/2023\/04\/Westonbirt-Arboretum-Broad-Drive-bluebells-Broad-drive-Wildflowers-Copyright-Jane-Gifford-2011-Copy-539478c.jpg?quality=90&crop=4px%2C162px%2C2000px%2C1332px&resize=620%2C413,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/jpeg"\"><source media=\""(min-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/18\/2023\/04\/Westonbirt-Arboretum-Broad-Drive-bluebells-Broad-drive-Wildflowers-Copyright-Jane-Gifford-2011-Copy-539478c.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&crop=4px%2C162px%2C2000px%2C1332px&resize=408%2C272,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/webp"\"><source media=\""(min-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/18\/2023\/04\/Westonbirt-Arboretum-Broad-Drive-bluebells-Broad-drive-Wildflowers-Copyright-Jane-Gifford-2011-Copy-539478c.jpg?quality=90&crop=4px%2C162px%2C2000px%2C1332px&resize=408%2C272,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/jpeg"\"><source media=\""(min-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/18\/2023\/04\/Westonbirt-Arboretum-Broad-Drive-bluebells-Broad-drive-Wildflowers-Copyright-Jane-Gifford-2011-Copy-539478c.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&crop=4px%2C162px%2C2000px%2C1332px&resize=556%2C370,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/webp"\"><source media=\""(min-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/18\/2023\/04\/Westonbirt-Arboretum-Broad-Drive-bluebells-Broad-drive-Wildflowers-Copyright-Jane-Gifford-2011-Copy-539478c.jpg?quality=90&crop=4px%2C162px%2C2000px%2C1332px&resize=556%2C370,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/jpeg"\"><img data-crop-width=\""2000"\" data-crop-height=\""1332"\" class=\""wp-image-104983\" align=\"\" size-landscape_thumbnail=\"\" image-handler__image=\"\" image-handler__image--full=\"\" no-wrap=\"\" js-lazyload=\"\" data-src=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/18\/2023\/04\/Westonbirt-Arboretum-Broad-Drive-bluebells-Broad-drive-Wildflowers-Copyright-Jane-Gifford-2011-Copy-539478c.jpg?quality=90&crop=4px%2C162px%2C2000px%2C1332px&resize=620%2C413"\" width=\""620"\" height=\""413"\" alt=\"""\" title=\"""\"\/><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div><div class=\""caption-hold"\"><figcaption class=\""wp-caption-text"\"> English bluebells at Westonbirt Arboretum<\/span><\/figcaption> \u00a9 Jane Gifford<\/i><\/span><\/div>\nTry to avoid growing Spanish bluebells in rural gardens<\/strong><\/p>\nWe can help protect the English bluebell by avoiding growing Spanish bluebells, particularly in rural gardens.<\/p>\nTo source and grow bluebells in your own garden it\u2019s quicker to start with bulbs since seeds can take 4-5 years to reach flowering size. You can buy bulbs either in spring \u2018in the green\u2019 (during active growth) when it is believed they are more likely to establish successfully, or as dry bulbs at other times of the year.<\/p>\nHere\u2019s more on <a href=\"\/\/www.gardensillustrated.com\/garden-advice\/how-to\/grow-bluebells\/"\" target=\""_blank"\" rel=\""noopener" noopener noreferrer\">how to grow bluebells<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\nIt is against the law to dig bluebells up from the wild, so make sure you ask your garden centre, nursery or online supplier to confirm the bulbs are cultivated and not wild collected. Also check that they are both sourced and grown in the UK as this reduces the risk of pest or diseases being imported from abroad.<\/p>\nBluebells thrive when planted in partial <a href=\"\/\/www.gardensillustrated.com\/garden-advice\/shady-gardens\/best-plants-for-shade\/"\" target=\""_blank"\" rel=\""noopener" noopener noreferrer\">shade<\/a>, under deciduous trees or shrubs and need moist but well-drained soil and flower late-April to mid-May.<\/p>\nDon\u2019t miss our piece on the<a href=\"\/\/www.gardensillustrated.com\/gardens\/gardens-to-visit\/the-best-places-to-visit-to-see-bluebells\/"\" target=\""_blank"\" rel=\""noopener" noopener noreferrer\"> best places to visit bluebells<\/a><\/strong><\/p> <\/body><\/html>\n<hr class=\"no-tts wp-block-separator\"\/>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The experts at Westonbirt Arboretum explain how to spot an English bluebell and a Spanish one <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":21254,"template":"","categories":[1,17,51],"acf":{"readingTimeMinutes":"3"},"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/48\/2023\/04\/what-is-the-difference-between-spanish-and-english-bluebells-scaled.jpg",2560,1707,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/48\/2023\/04\/what-is-the-difference-between-spanish-and-english-bluebells-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/48\/2023\/04\/what-is-the-difference-between-spanish-and-english-bluebells-300x200.jpg",300,200,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/48\/2023\/04\/what-is-the-difference-between-spanish-and-english-bluebells-768x512.jpg",768,512,true],"large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/48\/2023\/04\/what-is-the-difference-between-spanish-and-english-bluebells-1024x683.jpg",800,534,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/48\/2023\/04\/what-is-the-difference-between-spanish-and-english-bluebells-1536x1024.jpg",1536,1024,true],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/48\/2023\/04\/what-is-the-difference-between-spanish-and-english-bluebells-2048x1365.jpg",2048,1365,true]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"importmanagerhub@sprylab.com","author_link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/gardensillustrated\/author\/importmanagerhubsprylab-com\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"The experts at Westonbirt Arboretum explain how to spot an English bluebell and a Spanish one","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/gardensillustrated\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rss_feed\/21253"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/gardensillustrated\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rss_feed"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/gardensillustrated\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/rss_feed"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/gardensillustrated\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/24"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/gardensillustrated\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/21254"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/gardensillustrated\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=21253"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/gardensillustrated\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=21253"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}