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Unknown bulb

simonwimblessimonwimbles Posts: 15
in Plants
Hi, does anyone know what this bulb is? I've been digging the borders in the garden of a house I've just moved into and found a load of these small bulbs. Thanks. 

Posts

  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    edited December 2019
    Bluebell? Bulbs look bluebell-ish bit the shoots dont look right.
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • fidgetbonesfidgetbones Posts: 17,618
    Look like alliums of some sort.  I dug up something similar when I was planting the last of the tulips today.
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    edited December 2019
    Put them in a pot and see what happens.  If they turn out to  be Spanish bluebells you can then dispose of them.  Otherwise, you can keep and nurture them them.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • EsspeeEsspee Posts: 274
    They look like bluebells to me too. My garden is full of Spanish bluebells, has been since I moved in, and I know they interbreed with our native bluebells but could someone tell me why people are determined to wipe them out in their gardens?  Many of my plants are imports from other countries and the Spanish bluebells look stunning when in bloom.
  • ElothirElothir Posts: 94
    edited December 2019
    Basically the Spanish bluebells interbreed with the native ones producing a hybrid. Because of that the concern is that unless steps are taken to prevent it, eventually the native bluebells will be completely replaced (I:E rendered extinct) by the hybrids.

    Since the native ones look lovely as well and are seemingly ridiculously easy to grow I'd just go for them personally. You still get a nice lot of flowers, and there's no worry about any potential future harm to the natural plant life. 
  • EsspeeEsspee Posts: 274
    Thank you Elothir.  I probably would choose native ones but inherited all these Spanish ones which I would feel terrible trying to kill off. (Probably a very difficult task). As I am in the city I imagine they are no real threat to the wild ones.
  • simonwimblessimonwimbles Posts: 15
    Many thanks for all the responses. It looks like Bluebells are the frontrunner. Fingers crossed they're natives, as I believe they have a rather nice scent, whereas the Spanish are scentless. I have potted a couple as suggested and brought them inside, so hopefully I'll find out sooner rather than later. 
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