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Bluebell Seeds or

Bluebell Bulbs

     Native British 

Bluebells

Latin:  Hyacinthoides non-scripta

Other Names:  Crowtoes, Jacinth (Elizabethan times)
Distribution:  This is the native British bluebell, which was once common in the wild throughout British woodlands, but with the clearance of woodland the numbers of wild bluebells has reduced.
Habitat:  It thrives in woodland, hedgerows and scrubland.  It is suitable for naturalising in grass, dappled shade and open woodland.
Description:  Perennial.  It is a short plant (25-45 cm), with nodding, fragrant blue flowers from April to May.  [The Spanish Bluebell or hybrids between the two are scentless.]  The bulbs are 4 years old and so will flower this spring.
Uses: The bulbs were used to make glue at one time and the Elizabethans used the starch in the bulbs to stiffen their ruffs.  

Sowing Instructions for Seeds: Bluebell seeds should be sown in a damp, shady site in autumn or early spring.  They will benefit from a period of cold stratification. Cover the seeds with a 3mm soil if planting in a seed tray or rake in if sown in the open. The seeds will germinate in spring.  In the first spring the leaves will be small, thin and grass-like, but each year the plants will produce stronger leaves.  The leaves will die down every summer.  You should have your first flowers after 4 years and by the sixth year, all plants should be producing flowers.  

Planting Instructions for Bulbs:  Bluebell bulbs should be planted in the autumn and are best planted where they can be left undisturbed.  Plant with about 10cm of soil above the bulb, so that the soil covering does not dry out during the Spring.  If the soil dries out, the plant may not have sufficient moisture to build up the bulb for flowering the following year.