Native Bluebells

Native Bluebells ~ Hyacinthoides non-scripta   

Native bluebells used to be a familiar site locally when it was a woodland area and these flowers were were re-introduced to Newington Green when they were planted by NGAG volunteers in September 2009. Some of the bluebells have come into flower this spring but are struggling to get established. We hope that one day we may see swathes of bluebells under the trees on the Green again.

The lightly scented flowers can appear a deep indigo blue and they are a good source of food for bees and the chequered skipper butterfly. In this photo, the buds are much darker than the opened flowers that have the light showing through them and it is also possible to see a tiny fly visiting one of the flowers.

Our native bluebell is a darker somewhat violet blue and is daintier than the larger, more erect form of the Spanish bluebell. The native plant has flowers growing on one side of the stem which arch over, whereas Spanish bluebells grow all around the upright stem. Unfortunately the Spanish bluebell is very invasive and there are already some on the Green, which may eventually cross with our native species to form hybrids.

These bulbs were bought from a reputable supplier and were not taken from the wild.

May 2010