ASK DIARMUID
Q What’s the difference between a Spanish and English bluebell?
Anne
A There are several differences between the two. The English bluebell, or Hyacinthoides non-scripta, has flowers on one side of a drooping stem, whereas the Spanish plant has flowers on all sides of a stouter, upright stem.
English bluebells also have a wonderful fragrance, which is lacking in the Spanish bluebell. Colours differ too – our native bluebell has an intense violet-blue colour, compared to the Spanish pale blue.
The English plant is under threat from the invading Spanish bluebell so you can help protect the species by only buying the native variety.
They are a protected species and it is a criminal offence to remove bulbs from the wild.