HFF from Attingham Park

Find the fence amid the bluebells.

We all know, or think we know, what a true English bluebell, Hyancinthoides non-scripta, is. But many folks confuse the English bluebell with the Spanish bluebell, Hyacinthoides hispanica.

On the Spanish flower, the bells are all around the stem, not just on one side, which gives the English bluebell its drooping stature. The leaves are wider and bigger. The petals of each bell open wider and flare at the ends rather than curl. The bells are slimmer on the English bluebell. The stamen is blue on the Spanish version and yellow on the English one. The English bluebell is a deeper blue than the Spanish one, which is a delicate shade of pale blue. The English bluebell is stronger scented. The Spanish bluebell is taller. The Spanish bluebell can tolerate sunshine and happily grows in open spaces, whereas the English bluebell prefers at least partial shade and is never found growing in open spaces. Spanish bluebell flowers lift their heads towards the sun. English bluebells never do. But in their favour the Spanish bluebells are much more showy and the colours can be pale blue, purplish, pink or white, but I dig them out of my garden as soon as I see them.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=bGrWkRw70JU

www.youtube.com/watch?v=PRWi5Xah91s