Hyacinthoides non-scripta

Hyacinthoides non-scripta (20/04/2011, London, Kew)

Position: Full sun but will tolerate partial shade.

Soil: Moist, well drained.

Flowering period: Spring

Eventual Height: 40cm

Eventual Spread: 8cm

Hardiness: 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b

Family: Hyacinthaceae

Hyacinthoides non-scripta is a spring flowering bulb with a clump forming habit. The foliage is spreading, linear to lance shaped and a dark glossy green in colour. The flowers are borne in umbels of 6 to 12 pendant, narrowly bell-shaped, mid-blue fragrant flowers. It will spread by both seed and underground runners that produce new bulbs at the tips.

Hyacinthoides non-scripta Flower (14/04/2014, Torquay, Devon)

Hyacinthoides non-scripta, commonly known as the English Bluebell or just Bluebell, is native to most of Europe (including the UK). The bulbs were historically used as a starch to stiffen Elizabethan ruffles, as a glue for fletchings and also in book binding as its poisonous nature discouraged damage by silverfish. In the wild it has become extremely rare as hybridization with the Hyacinthoides hispanica produces plants which out compete the native species. nurseries will usually stock hybrids as they are finding it difficult to source in the wild due to the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 which prevents collecting of material from the rare few pure-bred colonies in the wild. The Act even covers seed, although recently licenses for seed collection are being granted.

The etymological root of the binomial name Hyacinthus is derived from the Greek Hyakinthos who was a lover of the god Apollo, he had tried to catch a discus thrown by Apollo but the God of wind, Zephyrus, jealous that Hyakinthos preferred Apollo blew it off course killing Hyakinthos. Apollo then unwilling to let him be taken by Hades turned him into a flower. Non-scripta is derived from the Latin meaning ‘without writing’, is to distinguish it from the Hyacinth of myth, which Apollo had marked with his tears spelling  ai, meaning ‘alas’.

Hyacinthoides non-scripta Leaf (14/04/2014, Torquay, Devon)

Hyacinthoides non-scripta is useful to the landscape architect as a bulbous ground cover shady location, particularly under deciduous canopies.

In our temperate region, near the highest temperatures of its range, Hyacinthoides non-scripta prefers dry shady spots. In colder regions however, it may require more light and moisture.

Ecologically, Hyacinthoides non-scripta will attract pollinating insects such as bees that will feed on its nectar.

Hyacinthoides non-scripta requires no maintenance. The removal of this plant may be problematic as no known garden weed killer will kill them or even check their growth and manual removal is difficult as they send out runners that may be missed.