Kitchen Garden Forum

We were in Barton Grange about three weeks ago when we overheard a lady asking for bluebells. The member of staff said "we dont have any English Bluebells but I can take you to show you the "Spanish Bluebells". What, why on earth are we selling Spanish Bluebells. What is going on?

They are a different bigger more vigorous variety that many regard as one of the invasive weeds that should be got rid of to maintain the genetics of our wild ones that they cross with.
https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?pid=426

I was given some bluebell bulbs by a friend when I moved about 35 years ago and they turned out to be Spanish Bluebells that spread like wildfire.

A couple of years ago I made a determine effort to rid my garden of them and have now succeeded. We should be trying to preserve the native varieties of all plants (and animals) before they all either hybridise or die out and we loose their distinctive beauty.

Barney

I've been trying to get rid of my Spanish bluebells in the garden too....since 1969. Every few years I think I've won - but they creep back

I think they'll outlast me!

Yes, Spanish bkuebells rapidly regenerate. You think you have dug all the bulbs out but you only have to leave a fraction of a chopped up bulb left in the soil by accident and up more three or more next speing. The only solution is to keep at it!

They are the one wild flower missing in our field in spain