Spanish bluebell

Spanish bluebell: how do you recognise it?

Habit

A bulb about 40 cm tall and 10 cm wide, with upright, sturdy flower stems.

Leaves

Broadly strap-shaped, 1–3 cm wide, glossy green; broader than the leaves of the native bluebell.

Flowers

Broad, open bells all round the upright stem, usually blue (also white and pink), with blue anthers, from April to May.

Scent

The flowers have little or no scent, unlike those of the native bluebell.

Bulb

A white bulb without a protective tunic; it dries out quickly and must be planted promptly.

Flowering: April–May · Plants: September–November

Why grow it?

• A tough, easy bulb that grows almost anywhere, even in shade under trees.
• Flowers in April and May with blue, white or pink bells that stay attractive for a long time.
• Bees and bumblebees visit the flowers for nectar and pollen.
• Quickly fills gaps and effortlessly forms a spring carpet.
• Suits a border, a spot under shrubs and a pot.

Spanish bluebell: where does it grow best?

• Sun, partial shade or shade: it does well almost anywhere.
• Ordinary sandy, loamy or clay soil, acid to chalky.
• Normally moist: slightly moist in spring, the soil may be drier in summer.
• Not at a woodland edge, near a nature reserve or near the native bluebell, as it hybridises with it and crowds it out.
• Plant 10 cm apart, in drifts or groups.

Light

Sun, partial shade and shade

Soil type

Sand, loam or clay

Acidity

Not fussy

Moisture

Normal

Size

0.4 m tall, 0.1 m wide

Hardiness

Hardy (to -20 °C)

Goes well with

• Forget-me-not: A soft blue haze that flowers at the same time.
• Tulip: Late tulips in yellow, white or pink flower in the same period.
• Ferns: They unfurl their fronds as the bluebell fades and fill the gap.
• Hosta: The young leaves appear as the bluebell dies back and take over the spot.

Spanish bluebell: when and how to plant it?

Plant in September–November.

1. Plant the bulbs from September to November, as soon as possible after buying.
2. Make planting holes about 10 cm deep; on heavy soil, mix in some compost or sand.
3. Set the bulbs pointed end up, about 10 cm apart.
4. Firm the soil and water if it is dry.
5. Spread a layer of leaf mould or fine wood chips over the spot.

Care

Watering

Water after planting. After that only in a very dry spring.

Feeding

Not needed. A thin layer of compost in autumn is enough.

Leaves

Let the leaves die back by themselves after flowering so the bulb builds up reserves, and do not mow or trample them.

Spent flowers

Cut the flower stems off as soon as the flowers fade, before they set seed: this reduces spreading.

Thinning

Lift clumps that get too big in summer and remove excess bulbs.

Tip: Plant it only well away from woodland edges and the countryside, cut off the flowers before the seed ripens, and choose the native bluebell if you want a true woodland feel.

Spanish bluebell: when to prune it?

When: The Spanish bluebell is not pruned. You cut off the spent stems in May–June, before the seed ripens.

How:

• Cut the stems off as soon as the flowers fade, before they set seed.
• Leave the leaves until they are yellow and floppy.
• Do not throw cut stems, bulbs or seed into the countryside.

Caution: Do not cut or mow the leaves while they are green: the bulb needs them to flower next year.

Pruning calendar and basic rules

Propagation

Separating bulbs

In June–July, once the leaves have died back: lift a dense clump, separate the bulblets and replant them straight away.

Seed

It self-seeds on its own. If you do not want that, cut off the flowers before they set seed.

Spanish bluebell: how does it get through the winter?

Hardy to −20 °C.

• Fully hardy, to about −20 °C: no protection needed.
• The leaves appear as early as February and tolerate ordinary frost.
• In a pot it can stay outdoors in a sheltered spot; make sure the compost neither dries out completely nor becomes waterlogged.

Diseases and pests

• Spreading too much: It self-seeds and forms many bulblets. Cut off the flowers before the seed ripens and remove excess bulbs.
• Hybridising with the native bluebell: Hybrids have upright to slightly arching stems, bells all round the stem and blue anthers. Do not plant it near native bluebells and dig hybrids out completely.
• Slugs: They eat leaves and flowers in spring. Collect them in the evening or put down a barrier of coarse sand.
• Rust: Orange-brown pustules on the leaves. Remove affected leaves and do not put them on the compost heap.

Through the year

• February: The leaves come up.
• March: The flower buds appear.
• April: In flower.
• May: In flower. Afterwards cut off the spent stems.
• June: The leaves die back. Lift excess clumps.
• July: Separate the bulbs and replant them straight away.
• September: Plant bulbs.
• October: Plant bulbs. Thin layer of compost.
• November: Plant the last bulbs.

Edible and useful

Not edible. All parts of bluebells, both English and Spanish, are poisonous, especially the bulbs: they cause vomiting and diarrhoea, in dogs, cats and horses too. In spring they often grow among wild garlic and their leaves are mistaken for it: wild garlic has broad, soft leaves, each on its own short stalk, that smell strongly of garlic; bluebell leaves are narrow, glossy, stalkless and have no garlic smell. Crush each leaf separately, as your fingers soon smell of garlic. The small white bulbs look like little onions: never store them with the vegetables. If any is swallowed, call a poison centre (in Belgium 070 245 245) or your doctor at once.

Good for wildlife

Bees

Nectar and pollen for honeybees and wild bees.

Did you know?

• It is native to Spain, Portugal and north-western Africa.
• The hybrid with the native bluebell is called Hyacinthoides × massartiana and can reproduce on its own.
• You recognise the Spanish bluebell by its upright stem with bells all round and blue anthers; the native bluebell has an arching stem with bells on one side and creamy white anthers.