Start the Week with a Wildflower No 13. Bluebell. Hyacinthoides non-scripta

 

These beautiful bluebell photos were taken by Catherine Truscott in Monks Wood, Colerne Park. Bluebells are an indicator of ancient woodlands, so finding them on our verges is a window into our wooded past. Native Bluebells can range in colour from deep violet-blue to white (quite common), through to grey, pale blue, lilac to dark cobalt. Spanish and hybrid bluebells can’t hope to compete with their simple beauty.

The entire plant is poisonous but has had practical uses over the centuries.  The sap’s adhesive and insect repelling properties made a useful glue for bookbinding, or fixing feathers into arrows. Crushed bluebell bulbs provided starch to stiffen ruffs in Tudor times. 

In folklore bluebells were strongly associated with fairies. Wandering amongst them carried the risk of being spirited away.  Plants can take 5 years to grow from seed to flower and readily die if their leaves are crushed - so let’s respect the bluebell fairies and keep our distance.   The uk is home to 50% of the wild bluebell population. How lucky are we!Native, Spanish and hybrid bluebell identification help