Hyacinthoides nonscripta Bluebell PFAF Plant Database

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Hyacinthoides nonscripta - (L.)Chouard. ex Rothm.

Common Name

Bluebell

Family

Liliaceae

Synonyms

Endymion non-scriptus. Scilla non-scriptus.

Known Hazards

The bulb (and the whole plant?) is poisonous[4].

Habitats

Deciduous woodland[28], usually on slightly acid soils[17].

Range

Western Europe from the Netherlands and Britain o Belgium and France.

Edibility Rating

Medicinal Rating

Care

Summary

Physical Characteristics

Hyacinthoides nonscripta is a BULB growing to 0.3 m (1ft) by 0.2 m (0ft 8in).
It is hardy to zone 5 and is not frost tender. It is in flower from May to June, and the seeds ripen from Jul to August. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Flies, beetles.

Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and can grow in heavy clay soil. Suitable pH: acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers dry or moist soil.


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Habitats
Woodland Garden Sunny Edge; Dappled Shade; Shady Edge;

Edible Uses
None known

Medicinal Uses
Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally. Diuretic; Styptic. The bulb has diuretic and styptic properties[4]. It is used as a remedy for leucorrhoea[4].

Other Uses

Adhesive; Starch.

A glue is obtained from the sap in the bulb and stem[4, 6, 66]. Simply cut open a bulb and apply the sap to whatever needs to be joined[K]. It makes an excellent paper glue, the join is stronger than the surrounding paper[6]. It would not work on non-absorbent materials such as plastics and glass[K]. A starch from the bulb has been used in laundering[4], it is very harsh on the skin[6].

Cultivation details
Easily grown in a soil rich in leafmold[90], preferring semi-shade[28, 31] but tolerating full sun. Succeeds in most soils but prefers a heavy one[200]. Succeeds in the dry shade of trees[188, 233]. Bulbs like to be quite deep in the soil[200]. The flowers diffuse a balsam-like scent in the sunshine[245].

Propagation

Seed - sow early spring or as soon as ripe in a cold frame. It usually requires stratification. If you have plenty of seed it can be sown in situ, but it is usually more economical to sow it in a frame. If sown thinly, the seedlings can be left in their pots for the first year, though give them regular liquid feeds to make sure that they get sufficient nutrient. Prick out the seedlings about 3 to a pot and grow on for 1 - 2 more years before planting out into their permanent positions when they are dormant[K]. Division of the bulbs in summer after the leaves die down. Larger bulbs can be replanted direct into their permanent positions, but it is best to pot up smaller bulbs and grow them on for a year in a cold frame before planting them out when dormant in late summer.

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Expert comment

Author
(L.)Chouard. ex Rothm.

Botanical References
17200

Links / References

[K] Ken Fern Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.

[4]Grieve. A Modern Herbal.

Not so modern (1930's?) but lots of information, mainly temperate plants.

[6]Mabey. R. Plants with a Purpose.

Details on some of the useful wild plants of Britain. Poor on pictures but otherwise very good.

[17]Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles.

A very comprehensive flora, the standard reference book but it has no pictures.

[28]Knight. F. P. Plants for Shade.

A small but informative booklet listing plants that can be grown in shady positions with a few cultivation details.

[31]Brown. Shade Plants for Garden and Woodland.

[66]Freethy. R. From Agar to Zenery.

Very readable, giving details on plant uses based on the authors own experiences.

[90]Phillips. R. and Rix. M. Bulbs

Superbly illustrated, it gives brief details on cultivation and native habitat.

[188]Brickell. C. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers

Excellent range of photographs, some cultivation details but very little information on plant uses.

[200]Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.

Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.

[233]Thomas. G. S. Perennial Garden Plants

A concise guide to a wide range of perennials. Lots of cultivation guides, very little on plant uses.

[245]Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World.

An excellent, comprehensive book on scented plants giving a few other plant uses and brief cultivation details. There are no illustrations.

Readers comment

Elizabeth H.
s. newman	Sun May 11 18:41:52 2003

I have a lot of bluebells in my garden. one of them is pink colour is this possible?

Elizabeth H.
	Fri May 6 09:00:28 2005

yes, pink is possible, a genetic variation, causing a change or lack of colour, may survive from year to year, viz the ellusive white forms that can usually be found after searching an extensive drift of bluebells, usually in a more shaded area, but not always

Elizabeth H.
	Mon Sep 11 2006

don't they grow in clones too, Why?

Elizabeth H.
	Mon Mar 2 2009

If i spread the in june-July,how long will it take for the bluebell to appear?

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