Plant as ground cover, around shrubs, or naturalise them in lawns. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The plant is indigenous to Southwestern Europe. Plant the bluebell bulbs in late summer or early autumn. This spring-flowering bulb also comes in white … Bluebells suit heath plant flower beds very well, or would also do fine in a poorly exposed garden box. Tips for planting bluebells from an expert With its beautiful displays from late April through to May, the bluebell is one our favourite wild blooms. READ MORE: Weekly Times gardening The blooms are drooping, trumpet-shaped and bluish-purple in color. in the green". Plant in large groups.Set out dormant bulbs in the autumn, planting them 10cm (4 inches) deep. This is one simple way of ensuring lovely long stems and magnificent blooms. Tip: For a beautiful, natural effect, plant groups of bulbs together with irregular spacing between clumps. Plant single bulbs if possible. That’s when tulip and hyacinth bulbs can be lifted to be placed in paper bags and chilled in the kitchen fridge for a month before planting out. Bluebell colonies take between 5-7 years so develop and can take some time to recover if damaged. This means they will not have been taken from the wild and will not be the Spanish bluebell which hybridise with our native, becoming the dominant strain. Flowering will generally last for several weeks. The English bluebell (Hyacinthoides non-scripta) is a perennial wildflower that blooms in spring. Soil acidity should fall between pH 5.0-6.0. Bluebells also thrive when planted in grass, provided those areas are not mown until the leaves have fully died back each year. They will need to be cold stratified to mimic the cold weather of winter. For me this is easiest, especially when dealing with large quantities. They can be bought in several ways. They thrive best in a woodland situation with semi-shade to full shade, a well-drained soil rich with organic matter. Bluebells are the ultimate naturalisers, grow in all but humid climates and are one of the few bulbs that can be grown in part-shade. These gorgeous wildflowers thrive in partially shady woodlands and can be used to naturalize gardens, in beds, wooded areas, and borders. Here, an RHS expert gives his tips on planting them. This spring-flowering bulb is suitable for growing in planting zones 3-8. Set out dormant bulbs in the autumn, planting them 10cm (4 inches) deep. If you hit the timing right, you may see what looks like an ocean of flowers erupting into a stupendous show. Tip: Once in flower in the spring, they make great cut flowers for bouquets and vases around the home! Set out container-grown plants in spring. , on 1st February 2020. Very nice perennial that copes well with cool and shaded forest sub-growth. The Best Autumn Woodland Walks in the North, DIY Gardening Crafts to Keep You Busy During Lockdown, how to plant bluebells. Bluebells are also great for borders, flower beds, wildflower gardens and cottage gardens. For more intense blue increase the rate—it can be as much as 500 bluebells/m 2 in the wild. A minimum depth of 10cm (4 in) is required and a couple a hole won’t hurt. It is best grown in full sun in the North. What this means is that the bulbs are lifted in February until early May, whilst in full vigour of growth, and are then carefully wrapped by us to preserve moisture and quickly dispatched to customers, who should plant them as soon as possible after their receipt. Tip: For a beautiful, natural effect, plant groups of bulbs together with irregular spacing between clumps. Once the rhizomes have formed, the plants will begin to bloom in the spring. White bluebells, handle carefully ; the bulb is … bluebells as weeds a a! 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