Identifying your bluebells

The genus Hyacinthoides is a small group of 11 species endemic to Western Europe and North Africa. They were generally regarded as belonging to the larger genus Scilla until the mid-1930s. Identifying a plant as a bluebell is relatively easy. Trying to identify what type of bluebell it is can be more difficult and needs a little patience.

Quick key

Question One

1. Leaves narrow, usually less than 15mm broad. Flowers normally narrow, straight-sided bells and strongly scented in warm weather. Petals strongly rolled back. Anthers creamy-white = Bluebell (H. non-scripta).

1a. Leaves usually wide, often greater than 15mm broad. Flowers broader flaring bells and not scented in warm weather. Petals not rolled back or slightly rolled back. Anthers pale to dark blue. Go to question two.

Question Two

2. Flower spike often droops slightly to one side. Flowers spreading, 10-20mm diameter. Petals rolled back slightly. Anthers pale creamy-blue (occasionally creamy-white) = Hybrid Bluebell (H. x massartiana).

2a. Flower spike usually stiff and upright. Flowers broadly spreading, 15-25mm diameter. Petals usually not rolled back. Anthers clear mid-blue = Spanish Bluebell (H. hispanica).

A note about this key

When measuring parts of the plant you should measure 5 - 10 samples and then take an average.

Try and choose flowers from the same clump. Also, it is best to look at flowers that have recently opened as these are likely to bear the closest resemblance to the identification key. Flowers often spread out with age and the anther colour changes once the pollen has shed. This makes them harder to identify.

Separating the hybrid bluebell from the Spanish bluebell can be very difficult, even for experts. If you are unsure, have a look around you, if there are native plants nearby it's most probably the hybrid plant.

More detailed information

Bluebell-like plants

In spring, throughout the British Isles, you can find several types of bulbous plant with blue six-petalled flowers, especially in gardens and parklands.