The Natural Gardener
At this time of year I prepare to wage war in my garden. I’ve got some inherited thuggish bluebells – no, not our beautiful native Hyacinthoides non-scripta, but its coarser cousin, the Spanish bluebell
(H. hispanica). Many can’t tell the difference, but look closely and they’re like chalk and cheese.
Our species has deep blue flowers (with some pink and white exceptions) that are small, tightly curled and hang from a drooping, fishing rod stem. It has narrow leaves and smells lovely en masse. Spanish bluebells are still quite pretty but act like big bruiser cousins. They’re much stouter and more upright, with larger, lilac flowers up and down a thick stem. They've no scent and their leaves are like thick tongues, covering the soil around. Hybrids can be confusing as they take characteristics of the two and can vary.
These meaty Spaniards were introduced centuries ago into gardens and can be seen as problem spreaders in the wild, threatening to take over our own bluebell. As if like clockwork, early May sees me ripping them out straight after flowering, unearthing poor, suffocating plants underneath that have been gasping for light and air under blanket-like leaf straps. I wouldn’t want them to creep around any further – plus they just want to be the star of the show, nudging out anyone else who dares to try and grow.
However, each year I’m defeated as they pop up, happy as Larry again. This year I’m easing up on my battle as I think I’ve got somewhere – the plants I’ve added in some spots (an Oriental poppy, pittosporum, heucheras, hollyhocks, ox-eye daisies and more) have been fighting back for me. They’ve struggled through and grown nicely, now sitting harmoniously alongside the admonished Spanish.
The other reason I’ve decided to put my trowel down and accept them is that recent research by RBG Edinburgh showed our natives are better ‘parents’, with much more viable pollen; non-natives and hybrids have less pollen and therefore lower fertility. Hybrids are more common in urban areas than original Spanish bluebells now, indicating the strength of our own species. This greater fertility combined with superior native numbers means we needn’t fear Spanish bluebells as much. The best we can do is favour planting our own species instead of these incomers. It seems they’re all mouth and no trousers!