Features

• Many bluebells bloom from late spring to early summer, producing slender stems of greenery that bear eye-catching clusters of blue, bell-shaped blossoms. In informal gardens, single plants or straight rows tend to look stiff; however, when planted in drifts or when mixed with other early bloomers, they create a dazzling springtime display. In general, bluebells have a tendency to spread, forming progressively larger stands of foliage that die down to the ground at the end of the growing season.
  
  

History

• While many consider the blooming of the bluebells to be a sure sign of spring and, therefore, associate the flower with hope and new life, it has historically been liked to death. The Spanish bluebell, or wood hyacinth, is one of the principal representatives of the bluebell group. The flower gets its scientific name from an ancient legend. According to a classic Greek myth, as Prince Hyacinthus lay dying at the feet of the god Apollo, a bluebell arose from his pooling blood and it was, thereafter, seen as a symbol of grief.
  
  

Types

• In the United States, the term bluebell is often used to describe the Virginia bluebell, a perennial wildflower that has been naturalized and is now commonly found in flowerbeds and informal gardens throughout North America. The mountain regions of the U.S. are home to a number of wild bluebells, such as the Aspen bluebell and the Alpine bluebell. These plants are both taller and more robust than their low-land cousins but are no less beautiful. In most parts of Great Britain, the word bluebell refers to the Spanish bluebell. This spring-blooming bulb is their national flower and is, therefore, protected by law and beloved by many. In Scotland, bluebells are perennial plants that bloom in summer, rather than spring, though given the climate of Scotland in the summer, the growing conditions may be comparable to those in many parts of the U.S. in April or May.
  
  

Growing

• Bluebells are shade-loving plants that bloom best in cool weather. Those grown from bulbs should be planted in the garden in early fall, before the arrival of the first frost. Bulbs must be exposed to winter weather in order to bloom properly in the spring. Bluebells grown from seed should be started indoors 8 weeks before the expected date of the final frost. Transplants can be moved into the garden in early spring. As cold-loving specimens, they can handle the fluctuations commonly associated with spring weather; however, their colorful flowers and fine-textured foliage will wither and fade as soon as summer arrives. A notable exception to this general rule is the Mexican bluebell, an eye-catching perennial that flourishes in hot climates.