Common English Bluebell Bulbs

Hyacinthoides Non-Scripta

Bluebells (Hyacinthoides non-scripta in Latin) are many people's favourite spring flowering bulb. They are at home in woodland, at the foot of hedges and in shady parts of the garden. Bluebells naturalise well and are strong, self-sufficient and beautiful to boot. They are just one of our huge range of spring flowering bulbs.

Most commonly seen nestled around the trunks of trees in deciduous woodland, bluebells are distinctive not only because of the easily recognisable sea of colour they create, but also because of their leaning stems and long drooping leaves.

Bluebells flower and leaf from April onwards and spend the rest of the year underground as bulbs. When planting you simply dig a small hole and place them tip upwards so when covered with soil they are twice their own height below ground level.

Their spring flowering lets them take advantage of a smidge or two of sunlight without getting too hot and bothered. This is also the perfect environment for them to woo a plethora of pollinating insects without the competition of summer flowers. See our full range of bulbs.

Features of Hyacinthoides Non-Scripta

• Flowers in April/May
• Grow to 30/40cm
• Multiple bell-shaped heads
• Violet-blue flowers
• Thrives in shaded areas
• Honey scent
• Grown from cultivated stock

Carpets of bluebells bring much needed colour to a garden as well as bringing life to shady, difficult areas that are often neglected. Many gardeners see a shady corner of their garden as a problem area, but this is one of a whole host of amazing varieties that will positively thrive there.

Beware planting these little blue beauties in waterlogged soil though as they might not survive to flower the following year. Avoid overcrowding with other bulb varieties and you can expect to see a month or two of blue carpets in your garden.

Bluebells also give off a sweet scent that attracts pollinating insects. The sap is sticky and in days long gone by it was used for a whole host of functions, including binding books!

With a soft spot for the roots of deciduous trees in particular (where it will naturalise readily) these are a true British flower that brings a smile to the lips of children and adults alike with their distinctive nodding cobalt-blue bells.

Down the years, bluebells have been classified in a few different ways, and you may see them listed in older books as Scilla nutans or non-scripta, Endymion nutans or non-scriptus, and Agraphis nutans.

Bluebells are protected, so it is illegal to dig them up in the wild. Our bluebells are all cultivated in the UK.