The Hyacinthoides non-scripta, or simply the Bluebell is a type of flower belonging to the Hyacinthaceae family, a lavender blue flower which appears in the spring. One should not confuse this flower, which is usually referred to as the “common bluebell” or the “English Bluebell”, with the classical Hyacinth or even with the harebell. We’re talking about different species that share only a few similarities of appearance and that should be clearly distinguished by the flower connoisseurs.
Easily recognizable by its blue or white flowers in the shape of a bell, these plants are very popular not only because of their beauty, but also because of their strong and revitalizing scent. They are known to spread quickly and to form impressively large colonies if the soil is appropriate. They usually occur starting with the month of April and are bulbous perennial plants with stems that can reach almost a 30 cm height and which tend to bent at the top because of the abundance of the blossoming flowers. The common bluebells do not possess a thick and resistant stem, they are delicate plants which, even though they appear in large colonies, they are very vulnerable and susceptible to damage.
A field with common-bluebells is nothing less that a masterpiece of nature and vegetation, as you stay there surrounded by hundreds of bluebells, each emanating a comforting and peaceful scent.
The bluebell colonies usually are formed by blue bluebells, but the color variations also include white or pink. The seeds of these bluebell flowers are quite resistant, the bluebells can occur even after many years of absences depending on the weather conditions or the soil’s qualities.
The amazing frequency with which these bluebell flowers occur have given birth to extensive hybridization, creating exemplars that can resist to various conditions and which are not confined to weather or to the properties of a certain soil. Although they are known to form even larger colonies that the original bluebells, they do not emanate a scent as strong as the bluebells. Sites in Great Britain show how these amazing hybrids can adjust to conditions in which a normal, original bluebell could never occur.
The colonies they form are often referred to as “bluebell woods” and are most popular in Great Britain, although many bluebell woods have been reported to occur in many north –western European countries as well.
The bluebell is protected in Great Britain by the Wildlife and Countryside Act adopted in 1981 and it enjoys an amazing notoriety worldwide. Famous singers have named their daughters Bluebell, while ice cream companies have chosen this name to represent their brand.
Bluebell Pictures Gallery
