Well its out - the bulb came out whole so hopefully I got it all and it flowered much earlier than the rest of them so hopefully the rest should be safe. Its a shame though because it really is quite pretty and it has a lovely perfume so I can understand why some people keep them. It also feels kind of wrong to kill something for simply not being the "right" thing I suppose that's because we're encouraged to embrace diversity in so many other areas.
OK this thread got me thinking and the white native bluebell may in fact be either Spanish or a hybrid. If so I'm not best pleased because I distinctly remember the label saying bred from native stock. Its the only one beginning to flower so far
To be honest there are Spanish bluebells grown by neighbours so I may just give up on them because they'll only get cross-pollinated
I have lived next to bluebell woods for 40 years and occasionally come across a pure white one...very rare but it happens, like the one Fidgetbones posted. I have yet to see any pale blue or pinkish ones in the woods. The Spanish BB is a threat to our natives through crossbreeding. My opinion is that it happens mostly in woods near gardens where the Spanish BB is growing. Bees do the work. So please gardeners, don't grow the Spanish variety or the globally rare English BB will be hybridised out eventually. Help the natives by growing and planting only the English BB.
Fidgetbones: your pure white one looks one of the true flukes if it is not at all cream coloured and has the flowers only growing up one side of the stalk as it appears in your picture.
The comparison with Ruddy Duck is relevant.
Based in Sussex, I garden to encourage as many birds to my garden as possible.
The second pic is a spanish bluebell - the leaves are a lot broader than the native variety. The flowers are more open and the tips do not curl back as in the native bluebell ........ and it's pink and I've spent the last few years ridding my garden of these darned things. Please take it up before it spreads and before it seeds. Red wing is absolutely right.
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I think you have a hybrid of two species. Don't let it pollinate your English bluebells or you will spread more hybrids.
Well its out - the bulb came out whole so hopefully I got it all and it flowered much earlier than the rest of them so hopefully the rest should be safe. Its a shame though because it really is quite pretty and it has a lovely perfume so I can understand why some people keep them. It also feels kind of wrong to kill something for simply not being the "right" thing
I suppose that's because we're encouraged to embrace diversity in so many other areas.
Ruddy ducks come to mind. (I'm not swearing
)
Had to Google that - interesting reading, and yep a very similar situation.
I have seen blue, pink and white bluebells this year in the woods which surprised me as only expected to see blue.
I bought bluebell bulbs last autumn which were sold as natives and have one which is white
OK this thread got me thinking and the white native bluebell may in fact be either Spanish or a hybrid. If so I'm not best pleased because I distinctly remember the label saying bred from native stock. Its the only one beginning to flower so far
To be honest there are Spanish bluebells grown by neighbours so I may just give up on them because they'll only get cross-pollinated
I have lived next to bluebell woods for 40 years and occasionally come across a pure white one...very rare but it happens, like the one Fidgetbones posted. I have yet to see any pale blue or pinkish ones in the woods. The Spanish BB is a threat to our natives through crossbreeding. My opinion is that it happens mostly in woods near gardens where the Spanish BB is growing. Bees do the work. So please gardeners, don't grow the Spanish variety or the globally rare English BB will be hybridised out eventually. Help the natives by growing and planting only the English BB.
Fidgetbones: your pure white one looks one of the true flukes if it is not at all cream coloured and has the flowers only growing up one side of the stalk as it appears in your picture.
The comparison with Ruddy Duck is relevant.
The second pic is a spanish bluebell - the leaves are a lot broader than the native variety. The flowers are more open and the tips do not curl back as in the native bluebell ........ and it's pink and I've spent the last few years ridding my garden of these darned things. Please take it up before it spreads and before it seeds. Red wing is absolutely right.