Challenge: English Bluebell, Spanish Bluebell or hybrid?

There are few sights more enchanting  than that of a woodland carpeted with an expanse of the English Bluebell, Hyacinthoides non-scripta.

Alarming then, that in recent years there has been talk of an alien invader, a conquistador, in the form of the Spanish Bluebell, posing a threat to our much-loved English native.

You can hear Isabel Hardman and Mick Crawley discussing this very topic on the latest Wildflower Half Hour podcast!

For this week’s challenge we thought it would be a bit of fun for you to find a Bluebell and then work out whether it’s English, Spanish or the hybrid between the two!

So how do you tell the difference between the Spanish and the English and what does their hybrid off-spring look like?

English Bluebell

Above is a lovely English Bluebell spotted  by wildflowerhour member @juhaynes_93.

In a nutshell, the English Bluebell, Hyacinthoides non-scripta has narrow leaves between 1-1.5cm with hooded tips, slender sky-blue flowers which are sweetly scented.

The flowers also have straight parallel sides and droop elegantly to one side. Look inside the flower and the anthers are creamy-white.

Spanish Bluebell

Rarely encountered outside gardens, the Spanish Bluebell, Hyacinthoides hispanica has broader, fleshier leaves, 3cm wide.

Generally scentless, the flowers are a paler blue and the overall shape is a wider, flared bell-shape. Each flower is held more erectly on the stem. Look inside and the stamens are pale blue.

Hybrid Bluebell

Above is a lovely image of a hybrid Bluebell snapped by @Airerys.

As you may expect, the hybrid off-spring, Hyacinthoides x massartiana has a blend of its parents’ characteristics.

This plant is variable, the leaves may be between 1-3.5cm wide. The flowers are paler and more widely bell-shaped than its English parent.

The flowers are arranged stiffly and spirally around the stem and so has an upright look. Peer inside and the stamens may be blue or cream.

This is a very simplified round up! Don’t worry if you can’t identify your Bluebell. The lovely wildflowerhour community will be on standby to help.

Post your pics for #wildflowerhour this Sunday on Twitter, Instagram or in our Facebook group using the hashtag #bluebellchallenge.

Happy Bluebell hunting!

For inspiration below are some other #wildflowerhour members Bluebell finds.

#bluebellchallenge – Curated tweets by wildflower_hour

from #wildflowerhour http://www.wildflowerhour.co.uk/blog/2018/04/26/challenge-english-bluebell-spanish-bluebell-or-hybrid/