Bluebell

Hyacinthoides non-scripta

Instead of focussing on a single tree species this month, we have decided to celebrate springtime with images of bluebells in their traditional woodland setting.

Native Bluebells are common throughout the New Forest and most of the UK, but are rarely found in Europe and do not grow naturally anywhere else in the world. They thrive in woodlands and so it is important we preserve those woodlands where Bluebells flourish. Once the woodland is gone, the Bluebells will disappear too.

The native Bluebell will flower throughout April and May but their numbers and exact flowering time in any one site will vary from year to year. The glossy green leaves appear in March and carpet the ground. The flower stalks begin to appear in April and eventually stand about 30cm tall with bell shaped flowers concentrated near the top.

Native Bluebells can hybridise readily with a Spanish variety (H. hispanica) which has been imported over the years by gardeners.  Native Bluebell flowers are a more intense blue and have more droopy ‘bells’ than the Spanish or hybrid varieties but the differences can be difficult to spot unless you are experienced at identification comparisons.  

There is concern that native Bluebells could be lost altogether as a result of hybridisation with the Spanish variety although probably a more real threat is the loss of woodlands where they grow.

If you would like to help ensure a healthy future for the native Bluebell, you can join the Natural History Museum’s Bluebell search .

To see pictures of bluebells visit our Bluebell photo gallery