Bluebell
Hyacinthoides non-scripta
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Britain holds around half the world's bluebells — and it is illegal to dig one up.
A bulbous woodland perennial with narrow strap-like leaves and a one-sided nodding spike of deep violet-blue, narrow, sweetly scented bells with tips that curl right back. Bluebells carpet oak and hazel woodland around Dumfries in late spring. The native plant is quite distinct from the stouter, upright, scentless Spanish bluebell of gardens, which hybridises with it.
Behaviour
Bluebells complete their whole above-ground year in a few weeks, flowering and setting seed before the tree canopy closes over and shades them out, then dying back by midsummer. Colonies spread very slowly, so a dense bluebell carpet is a strong indicator of long-established ancient woodland. The species is protected: digging up bulbs from the wild is an offence.
When to see it
Quick facts
- Family
- Asparagus family (Asparagaceae)
- Height
- 20–50 cm
- Status
- Native and protected; an ancient woodland indicator
Photo by MichaelMaggs, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons