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Plant Spotlight: English Bluebells

May 1st, 2012

Last fall I planted some Hyacinthoides non-scripta back in the maple grove. I planted them along the pathway interspersed with some daffodils. I’ve been patiently waiting for them bloom and late last week they finally started blooming. I read about these lovely in A Year at North Hill : Four Seasons in a Vermont Garden and added them to my list of must have plants. Since we have a lot of shade due to the many large trees, I’m always looking for beautiful things to plant among the woodlands.


English Bluebells. Circa 1500s, this fragrant, woodland naturalizer features dark violet-blue, pendant flowers on strong spikes. Commercially grown in the Netherlands as Scilla nutans (synonymous with Scilla non-scripta), this is most closely related to the indigenous English Bluebell, also known as the Wild Hyacinth. (from Van Engelen)


These little beauties should spread and eventually carpet this area of the garden, which I’m especially happy about because nothing grows in this area. Another great benefit is that these are deer resistant, since we have a big problem with deer eating everything in site that makes bluebells all the more attractive.

What’s your biggest issue that you have to keep in mind when choosing garden plants?

8 Comments to “Plant Spotlight: English Bluebells”
  1. Louisa on May 1, 2012 at 6:07 am

    I love bluebells. They always make me think of “I Capture The Castle”

    Reply to Louisa's comment

  2. daisy on May 1, 2012 at 6:21 am

    What gorgeous blue flowers! We use mostly natives here. I have no shade in the garden, so I have to choose plants that will tolerate a lot of heat and full sun.

    Reply to daisy's comment

  3. Rhonda on May 1, 2012 at 8:39 am

    I always have to worry about leaving room in the yard for my girls to play. That, and sunshine.

    Reply to Rhonda's comment

  4. Mark and Gaz on May 1, 2012 at 9:07 am

    Stunning colour, especially in the sunshine!

    Reply to Mark and Gaz's comment

  5. KimH on May 1, 2012 at 7:18 pm

    What little beauties! I think I may have some out in my sanctuary now.. I’ll have to go look at them closer.

    I always have to keep 2 things in mind..
    1. I have no more space… unless I get rid of something, and
    2. my back yard sanctuary is full shade to mostly shade and my front yard is full sun.

    Reply to KimH's comment

  6. Debra on May 1, 2012 at 9:14 pm

    Thanks for sharing your pix. The flowers look gorgeous planted amid the rocks

    Reply to Debra's comment

  7. elizabeth on May 1, 2012 at 9:36 pm

    So pretty!
    I planted something similar from Van Engelen last Fall, http://vanengelen.com/catview.cgi?_fn=Item&_recordnum=3068&_category=Best:Camassia.
    Mine are just starting to poke through the soil though.

    Reply to elizabeth's comment

  8. elizabeth on May 1, 2012 at 9:37 pm

    I planted my bulbs in a raised bed last Fall, hoping to move them this year to different areas. Do you know when the best time to transplant would be?

    Reply to elizabeth's comment

About

This is a daily journal of my efforts to cultivate a more simple life, through local eating, gardening and so many other things. We used to live in a small suburban neighborhood Ohio but moved to 153 acres in Liberty, Maine in 2012.

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