Spanish Bluebells – The Easy Beauties
Tulips, narcissi, hyacinths, snowdrops…. there are so many beautiful flower bulbs, and they all have their own charm and characteristics. In this blog series we would like to introduce you to a variety of them, helping you to make the best choices for your garden and grow the spring display of your dreams!
Resilient & Reliable
The official name of Spanish Bluebells is Hyacinthoides Hispanica, but they’re also known as Wood Hyacinths. Native to Spain, Portugal and northwest Africa, these flower bulbs are a reliable addition to any garden, looking spectacular when planted in large drifts. The Spanish Bluebells is a very resilient plant, and is especially great for the more difficult areas in your garden. And due to their shape and height, Hyacinthoides look amazing in a vase or bouquet.
Plant Passport
- Height
Spanish Bluebells in bloom measure about 16 inches in height.
- Fragrance
Hyacinthoides are not fragrant, but they are still very attractive to bees, butterflies and other pollinators.
- Color
Spanish Bluebells come in bright white, pale blue and dusty pinkish lilac. Especially the pale blue variety is a great companion to pretty much any other flowers, as this color enhances the yellows, pinks, whites and reds of the flower bulbs growing next to it.
- Bloom time
Mid to late spring is when you will see Spanish Bluebells everywhere.
- Longevity
Being perennials, Hyacinthoides come back year after year, and will naturalize very fast when left undisturbed.
- Different types
All DutchGrown’s Spanish Bluebells are members of the same variety, but they differ in color. We are proud to grow the biggest and best bulbs in the industry: Excelsior Blue, White City and Dainty Maid Pink.
- Planting
In fall, find a well-draining spot that gets full sun or partial shade. Hyacinthoides are quite forgiving of poor soil, tolerating drought and sandy soils. Plant the bulbs 4 inches deep, 3 inches apart, with their pointy ends up. Water well after planting to help the soil settle. Good news: Spanish Bluebells are almost never affected by diseases or pests, and rodents and deer aren’t fans of them either, so you can just plant & forget, and get a lovely surprise come spring. One thing to beware of though: full sun will help them flower better, but it can also fade Hyacinthoides’ pretty colors.
- Forcing
To enjoy the pretty charm of Spanish Bluebells indoors in winter time, you can fool them into thinking it’s winter when it’s actually still fall, a process called forcing. There are various forcing methods, but Hyacinthoides will look very pretty when forced using water. Start 12 weeks before you want them to bloom, filling a vase with about 2 inches of (glass) pebbles. Place the bulbs on top of the pebbles with their pointy ends up, and add around two more hands of pebbles to anchor the them. Fill the vase with water in such a way that the water almost reaches the bottom of the bulbs, but doesn’t touch them. Place the vase in a cold and dark space like a garage, shed or basement, where the temperature will remain a steady 45-55 degrees Fahrenheit. Leave them there for 6-8 weeks, topping up the water every now and again. After their prechilling period is over, bring the vase to a lighter and warmer room, keeping them out of direct sunlight. After a week spent there, you can bring the vase to the place you want your Spanish Bluebells to bloom, and place them in direct sunlight. Here they will start flowering after about 2 weeks.
- Container Planting
When it’s getting colder in fall, find a pot with drainage holes, and plant Spanish Bluebell bulbs 4 inches deep with their pointy ends up, close but not touching. Water well and place them in a spot that won’t get too warm during winter, so they can hibernate successfully. Come spring, place them on your deck, balcony or windowsill, and watch as the pink, white and blue colors come out to play their part in nature’s big spring symphony!
- Pricing
DutchGrown’s high-quality Hyacinthoides are very affordable, with Excelsior Blue and Bluebell Mix starting at $0.68 / bulb for 10 bulbs, but going all the way down to a whopping 50% discount at $0.34 / bulb for a thousand. White City and Dainty Maid Pink are a bit rarer, starting at $0.82 / bulb for 10, but going down more than 45% to $0.44 / bulb for a thousand.
- Combinations
The pale blue Spanish Bluebell is a great companion to pretty much any other flower, as its color actually enhances the yellows, pinks, whites and reds of all other flower bulbs. How about combining it with the yellow of tulip Monsella or tulip Ravana, or the bright red of tulip Kingsblood?
A garden full of bluebells
Want to create a delightful, cottage-style garden filled with romantic colors? Order you pink, white or blue Hyacinthoides today! Our easy-to-use website guides you through the purchasing process, and once you’ve ordered you can expect our top-quality bulbs to arrive at the perfect planting time.
