Bluebell Hues
By Kerry Williams
Communications Officer - Conservation
Bluebells are a blast of nostalgia for me. I remember woodland days out as a kid; clambering up trees and scrawling thrilling finds like ‘Woodpigeon’ in biro in soggy exercise books. Bluebell season always required a visit. There’s not much like the all-encompassing violet thwack of Bluebells in ancient woodland. Sickly-sweet scent in your nostrils, the hues of the rich indigo carpet somehow hanging in the air, and the understory buzzing with busy pollinators, who, just like you, are making the most of this abundant explosion.
We love a limited edition, a special experience that we must make the most of. Like one-off characters in your cereal box, like happy hour, like Nightingales. And Bluebell fever is no different. Every April and May, Sussex woodlands erupt with millions of these vivid beauties, announcing that spring truly, finally, fabulously, has sprung. This early flowering provides a welcome bounty for struggling wildlife and allows Bluebells to make the most of the sunlight before the woodland canopy becomes too dense.
Like many of our native wildflowers, the British Bluebell is up against it. At risk from habitat loss of precious ancient woodland, and threatened by a changing climate, the plant is also in competition with an interloper; the Spanish Bluebell. A non-native species, the Spanish Bluebell tends to outcompete its native counterpart for resources such as light and space. It can also hybridise with our native species, diluting the native Bluebell’s characteristics. So how can you tell these two species apart?
The native Bluebell, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, (pictured above) has narrow leaves and tubular-bell shaped flowers of deep-violet blue which curl back at the edges. The flowers are generally down one side of the stem, which has a distinctive droop to it. The Spanish species, Hyacinthoides hispanica, (pictured below) has broader leaves and a paler blue, conical shaped flower. The stem is upright and covered with flowers on all sides. A big difference between the two is the Spanish has no scent, whilst the native Bluebell smells sweet.
The idea of plants ‘escaping’ your garden invokes notions of under-the-cover-of-darkness creeping, but it’s easier than you think for non-native species to go astray. Uncovered cuttings and garden waste can easily blow into communal areas or can be carried by animals, to proliferate in new, wild areas. If choosing to plant Bluebells in your garden, it’s best to choose the UK species for this reason. In a small way you could be supporting our native species to recolonise our wild woodlands, and to keep them smelling sweet.
Comments
Spanish bluebells are thugs. …very very deep rooted/bulbed and not susceptible to herbicides. They are also a wimpy blue with no scent while our native ones smell wonderful … do not pick the latter! Ever!
10 Apr 2025 10:38:00
Where can I see bluebells near Shoreham by Sea?
10 Apr 2025 10:47:00
Sussex Wildlife Trust:
Hi Stan, you can find a list of places to see Bluebells in Sussex here: https://sussexwildlifetrust.or...
I bought a house in central Lewes 25 years ago. The flower bed in the back yard had Spanish bluebells. i have been digging them out every spring, without reducing them significantly. I also cut the flower heads so they can’t set seed. How do they spread?
10 Apr 2025 10:48:00
I live right on the edge of a Woodland Trust ancient wood. There were Spanish bluebells in the garden when I moved in (20 years ago), which were also at the edge of the wood, and later on crept into the wood. I have done my best to get rid of them by digging up and destroying bulbs, but it now seems to be worse. This is Views Wood in Uckfield, which was always carpeted with wild bluebells in Spring, Already decimated by coppicing and resultant bramble, and now wild garlic I reported the invasive bluebells to the Woodland Trust but no advice was given. Is there a better way to get rid of them? Thank you Jenny Simpson
10 Apr 2025 11:30:00
Thanks for this great article with very practical tips for identifying the two species. I have also seen hybrids around, including a patch on the East side of Hove Park where they exhibit a whole range of mixed characteristics. I was glad to find them in a very urban setting, with less chance (although still not zero chance) of getting out into the ‘wild’. But it’s worth being aware this happens, and I guess the message is that if a plant does look like a mix (eg light flowers on a drooping stalk) it is probably not fully native?
10 Apr 2025 13:20:00
Sussex Wildlife Trust:
Hi David. It's tricky to say exactly, because as with all species there can be some natural variation. The possible hybridisation can confuse this.
Loved reading about the differences, thank you very interesting.
Do you know if the bluebells are out in sussex yet? I want to make seeing their beauty this year. Please let us know when is the best time to see them at their best. X
10 Apr 2025 14:17:00
Sussex Wildlife Trust:
Thanks Sally! We have seen a few starting to appear. You can find a list of places to see Bluebells in Sussex here: https://sussexwildlifetrust.or....
Lovely pictures ny Neil Fletcher
10 Apr 2025 16:51:00
I’ve lots of Spanish bluebells In my garden and they are hard to.get rid of. They don’t smell and they are a nuisance
10 Apr 2025 19:06:00
Yes. I know the difference. My garden is full of the Spanish variety and they are taking over, sucking the life out of my other bulbs!
14 Apr 2025 16:51:00
The Spanish blue bell has invaded my garden plus is growing on the pavements on our hill.
I pull the ones out in my garden.
14 Apr 2025 20:52:00
I’ve got bleedin spanish bluebells _ will dig them up . Thankyou for info
16 Apr 2025 06:15:00
Thankyou for the information. I am a fan of the native variety. As a child I only knew of the English bluebell which covered the English woodland. So had did the Spanish arrive?
16 Apr 2025 12:52:00
Unfortunately we have been invaded by Spanish variety for some years. I keep removing the flowers and try to dig up the bulbs but they are very stubborn! Even if I got hold of some English ones I think they would still be hybridized. I feel I’m fighting a loosing battle. Any advice please?
22 Apr 2025 10:54:00
Sussex Wildlife Trust:
Hi Barbara, Sallie and Jenny, who all have similar questions. It sounds like you are doing all you can! Spanish Bluebells spread via seed but also by their bulbs and by sending out runners underground. Dead heading and digging as much up as possible is the best way to get rid of them, although this can take several attempts.