Bluebells

Bluebells in Hangrove Wood, Downe Bank.  Hyacinthoides non-scripta.  16 April 2016.

The bluebells have mostly died back by now.  There are some quite spectacular bluebell woods in this area.  This one can be seen to the sides of the track leading down to Downe Bank, one of Charles Darwin's haunts. 

These are the true English bluebells.  In Scotland, you call Bluebells what we English call Harebells.  They are just as pretty individually, if not more so, but they don't carpet the woods like these ones.

If you have bluebells in your garden, they are probably hybrids.  Here is the English bluebell.

English Bluebell, Hyacinthoides non-scripta.  Hayes Common, 27 April 2016.

Narrow leaves.  A long slender stem that is weak at the top, so that the flowers usually nearly all droop to one side.

The petals only curl open at the tip, because the anthers are attached to the insides of the petals for most of their length.

This is illustrated in the photo on the right.

There exists a much more robust bluebell, the Spanish Bluebell.  I only have one photo because they are not commonly seen.

Spanish Bluebell, Hyacinthoides hispanica.  Hutchinson's Bank, 20 April 2016.

And unfortunately this grassy trackside had been mown not long before I came along!  But you should be able to see wide leaves, stout flower stems and wide-open flowers that don't droop at all.

Spanish Bluebell, Hyacinthoides hispanica.  Hutchinson's Bank, 20 April 2016.

And blue anthers, unlike the English Bluebell's yellow anthers.  The flowers can open wide because the anthers are not attached, or only at the base of the petals.  And the flowers don't droop to one side because of those strong flower stems.

Garden bluebells are often mistaken for this robust flower, but in fact they are a hybrid between the two species and have completely intermediate characteristics.

Hybrid Bluebell, Hyacinthoides x massartiana.  Hayes, 25 April 2016.

The stems and leaves are strong, but not as solid as the Spanish species.  The flowers don't droop to one side, though they droop a little on their own individual stems.  They open a bit more widely than the English bluebell ..

Hybrid Bluebell, Hyacinthoides x massartiana.  Hayes, 25 April 2016.

Because the anthers are only attached for half the length of the petals.  This gives them more visual impact per plant, while still looking fairly delicate.  And this is a tough plant that likes to spread.  It survives handily even when not well cared for, and will spread into the woods given half a chance. 

It comes in white and pink varieties.  The native bluebells throw up occasional white flowers,  but if you see pink, you'll know it's the hybrid.