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The British countryside in springtime. A bluebell wood; dappled light and shade under ancient trees. A carpet of blue that almost defies belief – surely nothing in nature could really be this astonishing shade? You almost start to believe you can see in ultraviolet, like the bees. And the scent… powerful wafts of perfume, heady but fresh, quite intoxicating. The springtime bluebell wood is one of the UK’s great natural spectacles.
It’s such an intense experience thanks to our beautiful native wildflower, the English bluebell (or common bluebell, Hyacinthoides non-scripta). Such a delicate-looking plant, its head bowed down under the weight of flowers it bears. And yet, appearing in vast swathes carpeting woodland glades, it’s an unforgettable treat at this time of year.
But did you know that our cherished native bluebell has to contend with a competitor invasive species?
A garden escapee
The Spanish bluebell (Hyacinthoides hispanica) has been with us for a long time. It was first recorded in UK gardens in 1683, and by Victorian times it was a popular garden plant, loved for its robustness. However, like many non-native species brought to the UK for our gardens, it spread into the wild. It was first noted as growing ‘over the garden wall’ in 1909, so it’s been at large in our ecosystem for well over a hundred years.
So why is this a problem?
Surely, the more bluebells in our woods, the more to enjoy?
The problem lies in the very robustness for which Spanish bluebells were originally prized by gardeners. Stronger and more vigorous than the English bluebell, it outcompetes our native species for the resources they both need – light, water, nutrients. They can also spread underground more quickly than the English bluebell, quickly forming thick clumps and crowding out other plants.
A familiar comparison would be the way in which the resilient American grey squirrel has crowded out our native red squirrel, leaving just isolated pockets of population around the UK.
The Spanish bluebell also hybridises very readily with our native bluebell. The resulting offspring plant is fertile and also hybridises readily with both varieties. When this happens repeatedly, it means the qualities we treasure in our native bluebells become diluted, weakened – and ultimately our native species could possibly turn into something else entirely.
The problem for wildlife
But it’s not just about us humans and the pleasure we take in bluebells. English bluebells have evolved within the very specific UK woodland ecosystem. They flower earlier than their Spanish counterpart, with their heavy scent signposting the way to vital forage for our native insect species at the time when they most need it.
It’s interesting to note that bees always visit the flowers with the best quality pollen or nectar available at the time, and given the choice, they prefer English bluebells, possibly because the nectar and pollen isn’t as good quality for the insects’ needs.
So how to tell the difference between these native English bluebells and the invasive Spanish variety?
English (or common) bluebell ❤️🤍💙
· Mid-blue to violet blue
· Fragrant
· White or cream pollen
· Drooping stems, with flowers on one side only
· Tubular flowers with tips that curl back
· Narrow leaves, up to 1.5cm
Spanish bluebell ❤️💛❤️
· Paler colour – can even be pink or white
· No scent
· Blue or pale green pollen
· Upright stems, with flowers all around the stem
· Open, conical flowers
· Broad leaves, up to 3cm
So what can we do to help support our beautiful native bluebell?
We’re certainly not advising you to go around pulling up Spanish bluebells from your local woodland. It is illegal to pull up any wildflowers, and can result in heavy fines. But you can control the plants in your own garden, to help slow the process of hybridisation in your area.
Many gardeners choose to remove any Spanish bluebells that appear in their garden. If you do this, dig up plants carefully, avoiding leaving bulbs behind. Do not compost them or dump garden waste in the countryside, since this can help them spread. Instead, bag the plants and dispose of in household waste.
If you’re buying bluebells for your garden, check that they’re the native English bluebell, Hyacinthoides non-scripta. And if friends or family offer you some bluebells from their garden – again, check. If the giver isn’t sure which variety their plants are - don’t plant them.
Can you imagine a bluebell wood without the heavenly fragrance and vivid blue haze? It would be a different experience entirely. So please keep an eye on your garden for any Spanish bluebells that appear in your garden – and choose to support the fragile beauty of our native bluebell.
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With thanks to Jean Vernon - gardening and wildlife author and champion of trees, bees and pollinators of all kinds - for kindly checking our facts about how our native insects interact with bluebells. Find out more about Jean’s fantastic books here.
