Spanish bluebell: location, care & varieties

The Spanish bluebell is a tolerant and prolific perennial that adds colourful accents to any garden or balcony.

Spanish bluebells (Hyacinthoides hispanica) are an eye-catcher in any garden and are low maintenance too. Read on to find out more about the characteristics and varieties of this bulb, including how to propagate, plant and care for the Spanish bluebell.

Spanish bluebell: origin and properties

As the Spanish bluebell (Hyacinthoides hispanica) was long assigned to the genus Scilla, experienced gardeners may still know it by this name. However, recent research has shown that this beautiful spring flowering bulb is far more closely related to the asparagus family (Asparagaceae). The Spanish bluebell is native to mixed forests and rocky landscapes in Portugal, western Spain and North Africa, but it is now naturalised in the UK and many other European countries as well as North America and Australia.

The multi-leaved bulbous plant grows between 25 and 40cm high, depending on the variety and forms bell-shaped, bee-friendly flowers between April and May. These stand in loose clusters on the upright stem. The linear, entire-edged leaves develop in a basal rosette from the yellowish-white bulb.

In the garden, the Hyacinthoides hispanica usually grow in groups formed by lateral daughter bulbs. This is only one of the propagation methods of this plant. It has a strong urge to spread – so in autumn the flowers become small capsule fruits that contain the Spanish bluebell seeds. These are black and spherical. Both of these methods of propagation make the Spanish bluebell competitive.

Tip: there are two other species of the genus Hyacinthoides that look very similar to the Hyacinthoides hispanica: its relatives the common English bluebell (Hyacinthoides non-scripta), which is native to the UK and Hyacinthoides x massartiana. The latter is a hybrid of the common English bluebell and the Spanish bluebell and is considered invasive in the UK. Because of their similarity, they are often sold under the wrong name.

The most beautiful varieties

The different varieties of Spanish bluebell differ mainly in their height and the colour of the flowers. Here is a list of the most beautiful and durable Hyacinthoides hispanica varieties. All of them are considered hardy.

• Hyacinthoides hispanica ‘Excelsior’: blue to purple flowers, 30 – 40cm high

• Hyacinthoides hispanica ‘Alba’: shiny white flowerheads, 25 – 30cm tall, also as ‘Alba Maxima’ with a height of 30 – 40cm

• Hyacinthoides hispanica ‘White Triumphator’: white flowers, 30cm high

• Hyacinthoides hispanica ‘Miss World’: pink flowers, grows 30 – 40cm tall

• Hyacinthoides hispanica ‘Blue Queen’: blue to purple flowerheads, 25 – 30cm tall

Planting Spanish bluebells

In principle, the hardy Spanish bluebell has no special requirements regarding its habitat. It thrives best in a semi-shady to shady spot, with increased humidity in spring being ideal. A well-drained soil with a high nutrient and humus content is suitable. For planting in the garden, topsoil is sufficient for now – but you can add some high-quality compost to support the plant. Our Plantura Organic Enriched Compost, for example, is ideal for this and also for planting in pots. It is peat-free and provides the Spanish bluebell plant with everything it needs.

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The optimal time of year to plant Hyacinthoides hispanica is autumn – between September and November. Plant the bulbs 5 to 10cm deep and press the soil down a little so that the plant is stable later. It is important to leave a space of 3 to 5cm between two specimens and accordingly use a pot that has enough space for the Spanish bluebell. The plant pot should in any case have a water drainage hole and it is advisable to add a drainage layer of, for example, expanded clay. This is usually not necessary in the bed – but if you have very dense soil in the garden, you can add a layer of gravel or grit for drainage to avoid waterlogging. Late-sprouting plants such as ferns or sweet woodruff (Galium odoratum) are suitable companion plants. Later these will cover the rather unsightly and yellowed foliage of the bluebell.

Tip: all parts of the Spanish bluebell plant can cause skin irritation, so gloves should be worn for safety when planting.

Plant care

The Spanish bluebell is uncomplicated and in most cases no special care is necessary. Only in spring can a little compost be spread on the soil to add nutrients. In addition, the soil should always be kept slightly moist. The Spanish bluebell does not tolerate prolonged drought or waterlogging well. To prolong the flowering period, you can remove wilted flowers regularly.

In addition, the foliage should never be cut off after flowering. The nutrients from the leaves are stored in the bulb and are essential for successful overwintering. When all the leaves have dried out completely, they can be removed. The Hyacinthoides hispanica then usually survives the winter without problems. It is assigned to winter hardiness zone H6 and is thus hardy down to -20 °C. However, if there is a lot of waterlogging, the bulbs can freeze even at milder temperatures, so water less in autumn and not at all in winter. Do not fertilise Spanish bluebell plants in winter.

Propagating Hyacinthoides hispanica

The uncomplicated Spanish bluebell is a very prolific perennial. It forms daughter bulbs and seeds independently, which is why it usually does not need much help to propagate. If you want to prevent self-seeding, you should cut back the stems of the plant to the basal leaf head before the seeds ripen. If you want the pretty bluebells in a different location in the garden, you can take the Hyacinthoides hispanica out of the ground in autumn and divide it carefully by hand. Simply remove the daughter bulbs and place them in the soil in their new location as described above. You can also collect ready-made seeds from the capsule fruits in autumn and sow them in spring.

Tip: if you place two varieties with different colours together, with a bit of luck new combinations of the plants can emerge. This results in flowers with beautiful colour mixes the next year. However, if monochrome bluebell flowers are preferred, you should buy seed to ensure varietal purity.

Are Spanish bluebells poisonous?

Due to the saponins and cardiac glycosides contained in all parts of the plant, Spanish bluebells are classified as slightly poisonous. We therefore recommend wearing gloves during planting. Spanish bluebells are also poisonous for dogs and cats — accidental consumption can lead to symptoms of poisoning and nausea.

If you would like to learn more about plants in the asparagus family, read our articles on the Star of Bethlehem (Ornithogalum umbellatum) and the glory-of-the-snow (Scilla, syn. Chionodoxa).