English, Spanish or Hybrid

[Jay-ell]

These are growing outside the allotment gates in done, are they English, Spanish or Hybrid Bluebells?

[Baldy]

They have any scent? How wide are the leaves?

[Baldy]

Here's a good link

Plantlife :: What's the difference between native bluebells and Spanish bluebells?

[veggiechicken]

are they English, Spanish or Hybrid Bluebells?

Yes!

Seriously, they look English but you need to check the pollen colour for confirmation. Creamy white is native, blue/green is not.

Bluebells ~ Hyacinthoides – Cumbria Botany

[Baldy]

Hey learnt something at 21.50 - didn't know that pollen colour was the confirmation - I've got some customers in the front garden that will need checking..

[veggiechicken]

Its not as easy as it sounds! I have a garden full, mostly native but there are foreigners amongst them. They look chunkier, like puny hyacinths I think!

[Jay-ell]

They have any scent?

For some reason I didn't notice

Yes!

Seriously, they look English but you need to check the pollen colour for confirmation. Creamy white is native, blue/green is not.

Bluebells ~ Hyacinthoides – Cumbria Botany

May have to dig up the bluebells on the plot (not these ones) as it looks like they are Spanish and too close to these (20 yards) just in case

[happyhumph]

have to agree with VC - they look English but further investigation required - good links supplied.

I have a garden full of pure Spanish ones - no confusion at all! I've noticed the bulbs of Spanish ones are larger, but that may just be anecdotal to me.

[Zelenina]

They look to me more like English ones too - a bit droopy with the bells hanging on one side of the stem. I think Spanish ones are more upright with bells all around the stem.

[Cadalot]

I have been wondering what mine are for some time



Looks Like I shall need a closer look



I had taken these to post and ask the question about how to tell the difference, but had not got around to it, so this thread is very useful.

[Thelma Sanders]

I have a garden full of pure Spanish ones - no confusion at all! I've noticed the bulbs of Spanish ones are larger, but that may just be anecdotal to me.

That's true here as well.
Years ago I planted English ones at one end of the garden, but there is a now clump of (unplanted) Spanish ones at the other end. These also flower earlier than the English ones, despite being in a shadier spot.
Nowadays, as I'm digging if I find 'big bulbs' in the wrong place I move them to be with their mates - I haven't the heart to throw them away, I just try to keep them apart.

[Zelenina]

I have been wondering what mine are for some time

Those have a very Spanish look about them, Cad.

[Cadalot]

Those have a very Spanish look about them, Cad.

OH well they were in the garden when I moved in 25 years ago, but I laid paving where they were and transplanted them around the stepping stones that lead to the storage sheds on the left of the left shed. The grass always dies there so I have crocus, short daffs, snow drops and then finally bluebells come up. Once that lot have gone I re sow the grass along that strip each year.

[Jay-ell]

These will be Spanish then



My mum has offered to adopt them in her garden.

[vixylix]

Funnily enough I had the same conversation with my OH this afternoon. I've been digging up spanish bluebells for days - but today I found some that look rather like yours Jay, I also thought they might be hybrids - they're not spanish but not quite fully english either!