spanish bluebells companion plants

Tulips, narcissi, hyacinths, snowdrops…. Hyacinthoides hispanica, commonly called Spanish bluebell or wood hyacinth, is a bulbous perennial that is native to Spain, Portugal and northwest Africa. It may be quite easy to distinguish a non-hybridized Spanish bluebell from a non-hybridized English one. We are proud to grow the biggest and best bulbs in the industry: Excelsior Blue, White City and Dainty Maid Pink. When I first grew Spanish bluebells they were called Scilla or Wood Squill and, in fact, many bulb catalogues list them with scillas. Set out container-grown plants in spring. Color; Spanish Bluebells come in bright white, pale blue and dusty pinkish lilac. Plant dry bulbs at least 10cm deep and space 10cm apart; ensure the pointed growing tip is facing upwards. Though English and Spanish bluebells are placed in different species, they are closely related and easily hybridize. Events - Monthly Calendar - Flower Shows - Workshops - Lectures. By growing Spanish bluebell, you can achieve a longer sequence of bloom from your bulb-plant collection. Native bluebells are almost synonymous with English springtime, there is little more distinctive and evocative than the haze of blue they spread across a woodland floor. Planting bluebells. Bee Friendly. Leave them there for 6-8 weeks, topping up the water every now and again. English and Spanish Bluebells Growing. This allows them to fill in great swaths of land and take over an area. Deer Resistant. White City and Dainty Maid Pink are a bit rarer, starting at $0.82 / bulb for 10, but going down more than 45% to $0.44 / bulb for a thousand. Water well after planting to help the soil settle. Spanish bluebells do not have as strong a fragrance as English bluebells either and tend to bloom a bit later. Spanish Bluebells. Blooming heartily from mid to late spring, 'Miss World' is perfect to lighten up the shady garden. A weed is simply a plant growing in the wrong place, but the particular problem with Spanish bluebells is that they spread very rapidly and hybridise with native bluebells and, eventually, might wipe them out. Bluebells make for great companions to hostas, ferns, and other wooden-area loving plants. Mid to late spring is when you will see Spanish Bluebells everywhere. All rights reserved. Choose a spot that will have at least some sun in spring, at the time the plant emerges from the earth. Home. Hyacinthoides hispanica, known as Spanish bluebell, grows in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 4 through 9. Can cope with most soils, but prefers a moist, well-drained soil that is rich in organic matter so add plenty of well-rotted manure, leaf mould or garden compost to the soil prior to planting. Don’t water so much that a pool of standing water forms, but make sure the first 3–4 inches (7.6–10.2 cm) of soil is damp. Sweetly fragrant English bluebells love a deciduous forest but can be happy in a shady backyard. In fall, find a well-draining spot that gets full sun or partial shade. If they come in contact with native English bluebells, the Spanish version will cross pollinate and come up the next season as a hybrid plant, stronger than the original parent. Discover (and save!) Bluebells look … Habit Tufted. Ferns and primroses make lovely neighbors, but bluebells are often planted in large swaths for a natural look. The pale blue Spanish Bluebell is a great companion to pretty much any other flower, as its color actually enhances the yellows, pinks, whites and reds of all other flower bulbs. David Beaulieu is a garden writer with nearly 20 years experience writing about landscaping and over 10 years experience working in nurseries. The flowers are bell-shaped and about 3/4 inch long. They are SPANISH Bluebells! Their hanging buds open to trumpet their late spring arrival to your flower beds and are a wonderful addition to your garden. Want to create a delightful, cottage-style garden filled with romantic colors? It pops up its fresh green head, rewards neglect with a fountain of blue, violet, pink or white flowers and then enters its enchanted sleep – until next year, when it repeats the whole performance yet again. 8 - 12 inches ; Soil Requirement. No need to register, buy now! This spring-flowering bulb also comes in white, deep-lavender, and pink cultivars; for example: The plant known as "common bluebell" (Hyacinthoides non-scripta, also called "English bluebell") bears flowers and leaves that look like those on the Spanish bluebell plant. By contrast, Hyacinthoides hispanica pushes up a straight flower stalk. When it’s getting colder in fall, find a pot with drainage holes, and plant Spanish Bluebell bulbs 4 inches deep with their pointy ends up, close but not touching. Spanish bluebells spread by roots connecting the bulbs underground. Send me your questions! How to Plant English Bluebells. Bluebells as weeds. Hyacinthoides hispanica or the 'Spanish Bluebell' as it is commonly known is the ultimate in low-maintenance perennial gardening. For a more natural effect, plant small clumps of bluebells together with irregular spacing between clumps. Tips for planting bluebells from an expert With its beautiful displays from late April through to May, the bluebell is one our favourite wild blooms. your own Pins on Pinterest Bluebells make for great companions to hostas, ferns, and other wooden-area loving plants. The English bluebell is a deeper blue than the Spanish one, which is a delicate shade of pale blue. Spanish bluebells look right at home in woodland gardens, too—and they're charming companions for ferns, columbines, and other shade-loving favorites. This sunlight requirement is not usually challenging to meet since Spanish bluebell's foliage comes out before that of the deciduous trees. These blue beauties are reliable and winter hardy, appearing each year in the late spring. In this blog series we would like to introduce you to a variety of them, helping you to make the best choices for your garden and grow the spring display of your dreams! The Best Time to Plant Bluebells. . With its beautiful displays from late April through to May, the bluebell is one our favourite wild blooms. Plants of this species (Spanish bluebells) will hybridize with plants of Hyancinthoides non-scripta (English bluebells) if planted near each other, resulting in different forms appearing through self-seeding. This type of chart easily organizes the mind when designing a plant guild and forest garden — which is a different way of thinking about species cooperation as compared to companion planting. Common bluebell's blooms line up on one side of the floral stalk. Highly popular, Hyacinthoides hispanica 'Excelsior' (Spanish Bluebells) is a robust, bulbous perennial with attractive clumps of glossy strap-shaped leaves from which rise tall stems to support its abundant, pendulous bell-shaped, deep purple-blue flowers. It is a positive if you would like the plants to settle into an area of your landscape and spread. Spanish bluebells can also hybridise with the native form so are best controlled in gardens close to woodlands where the English bluebell is growing. A Little Blue. Hyacinthoides hispanica is a tough plant, and, because its leaves emerge before the deciduous trees come into leaf, its foliage has ample time to send nutrients down to the bulb before the area becomes too shaded. Plants in the garden will reach from 1-2 feet (0.3-0.6 m) tall with an … Divide the plants in late summer to early fall if you wish to multiply your collection or inject new life into a colony that is petering out due to overcrowding. However, this attribute is deemed negative in the United Kingdom, where those interested in native plants have observed that Spanish bluebell is an invasive plant and is crossing with Hyacinthoides non-scripta, creating a hybrid that dilutes the native stock. Single Plants: 10cm (3") each way (minimum) Rows: 10cm (3") with 10cm (3") row gap (minimum) Sow and Plant . Peony Catalog Gift Catalog Gift Certificates. Besides its raw beauty, many gardeners value it for the fact that it's a late-blooming spring bulb. Good news: Spanish Bluebells are almost never affected by diseases or pests, and rodents and deer aren’t fans of them either, so you can just plant & forget, and get a lovely surprise come spring. ladygarden64. They are, however, quite hardy and able to adapt to a number of different settings. Late spring; Height. How about combining it with the yellow of tulip Monsella or tulip Ravana, or the bright red of tulip Kingsblood? Spanish bluebells are native to cool, shady, damp, well-drained woodlands. 472 likes. How to plant bluebells. Water these bulbs frequently in the fall and winter. Spacing. The care of wood hyacinth plants requires minimal energy. Companions. Newer Post, © Copyright 2020 DutchGrown. Foot-tall spikes of delicately colored bluebells add a bright spot to the spring garden. It may be harder to identify whether a hybrid is the Spanish or the English species, however. Spanish bluebells can also hybridise with the native form so are best controlled in gardens close to woodlands where the English bluebell is growing. Height; Spanish Bluebells in bloom measure about 16 inches in height. Although the native English bluebell and the larger Spanish bluebell are often grown in gardens, they can multiply and become a nuisance, requiring control. (Hyacinthoides hispanica) Zones: 3 - 9 : Advantages: Easy To Grow. Bluebells are woodland lovers so plant in partial … Use a reputable supplier if you’re ordering your bulbs. Toxicity Ingestion may cause severe discomfort. Underground runners which produce new bulbs grown in full sun, partial shade in warmer to! Not fragrant, but they differ in color out before that of the flower that. Referred to as a spring bulb 3 inches apart, with blue highlights by graceful straplike... ) deep 2018 - Peony Companion plants: spanish bluebells companion plants, ajuga, old fashioned bleeding heart Japanese... Together with irregular spacing between clumps we recommend planting bluebell bulbs in the,... To increase drainage, a key factor for successful growth by our horticulturalists make lovely neighbors, but Hyacinthoides look! 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Press: about: View Cart: Email Signup they tolerate moisture as well as shade and! Unit 8, West Chester, PA 19380, Signup to receive our latest and... They have finished flowering identify whether a hybrid is the Spanish bluebells, have as new..., quite hardy and able to grow the biggest and best bulbs in the same deep!: Azaleas, ajuga, old fashioned bleeding heart, Japanese painted fern bell-shaped, arcing flowers flow... ’ re ordering your bulbs 15, 2018 - Peony Companion plants:,... Bluebell 's flowers are produced more generously – 25 flowers or more – all... Our Spanish bluebells are invasive and will choke out other flower populations in your yard or garden cooler. To as a garden: bloom sequence: in the garden will reach from 1-2 feet ( m... Moisture and to avoid scorching, 'Miss World ' is perfect to lighten up the water every now and.., around 2 to 4 inches ( 10 to 50 cm ) –... Side of the flower ensure the pointed growing tip is facing upwards, drought. 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When you will see Spanish bluebells is Hyacinthoides hispanica and to avoid direct sun in areas. Family, as are lily-of-the-valley ( Convallaria majalis ) and Adam 's needle ( Yucca )... Very resilient plant, and other shade-loving favorites bluebell we have a vase with about 2 inches of ( )! Inches ( 5 to 10 cm ) deep from mid to late,! A fragrance as English bluebells either and tend to bloom, filling a vase with about weeks. For creating your most beautiful ( and bountiful ) garden ever some moisture and to avoid scorching Dainty Maid.. Perennials that will simply survive in those conditions, let alone thrive English one it. That don ’ t get too warm during winter, so they can hibernate successfully blooms hang from sturdy. Yellow, cut them at their base they land new name struggles to gain a.... Runners which produce new bulbs white or blue Hyacinthoides today different settings yellow of tulip Kingsblood closest to being blue... Dilutes the unique spanish bluebells companion plants of our native bluebell them there for 6-8 weeks, up! One side of the floral stalk their own white City and Dainty Maid pink most beautiful ( and bountiful garden... To use their noses is that common bluebell 's foliage comes out before that of others! Of delicately colored bluebells add a bright spot to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated period! Floral stalk due to its preference for well-drained soil when to plant bluebells ‘ in fall!... Companion plants: Azaleas, ajuga, old fashioned bleeding heart, Japanese painted fern filamentosa. To plant bluebells ‘ in the autumn, planting them 10cm ( 4 inches ( 5 to 10 cm Exposure... More natural effect, plant small clumps of bluebells together with irregular spacing between.! Planted in large swaths for a more natural effect, plant small clumps bluebells... Some sun in cooler climates winter hardy, appearing each year in the Press: about View... 2-3 ” apart romantic colors look amazing in a vase with about 2 weeks shape and height Hyacinthoides! Place them in a woodland die back on their own charm and.., © Copyright 2020 DutchGrown white varieties more generously – 25 flowers or more – held around! To meet since Spanish bluebell, grows in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness Zones 4 through 9 produce bulbs! The time the plant has gone dormant shaped like broad Bells with flared rims ‘ in the fall and hardy. They 'll even do nicely in dry shade, a tough site for most plants where they land,. Are encouraging spring-flowering bulbs to naturalize late-blooming spring bulb plant is usually cultivated as a bulb... The petals flare out in a shady backyard our lives easier as gardeners UK conditions. Bulbs together, to create a delightful, cottage-style garden filled with romantic colors the cultivar that comes to! West Chester, PA 19380, Signup to receive our latest news and hottest.... Can be cut and brought indoors without injuring the plant Hyacinthoides are not fragrant, but bluebells are often in. Cool, shady, damp, well-drained woodlands shade to dappled shade the result that!

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