Spanish Bluebells (Hyacinthoides) in my garden

Spanish Bluebells (Hyacinthoides hispanica) in my garden came about by accident. Maybe accident isn’t the right word but when I dug them up in the woods behind a friend’s house last April I knew they were not native and they grew from bulbs. I had seen them before in her backyard years before but I always forgot to go back and dig them up after they were done blooming. I was worried about digging them up in full bloom but I did not want to forget again because, just like tulips and daffodils, the leaves die back never to be seen until late winter/early spring.

I dug part of the large clump up and brought it home. 99% of the time I have had success transplanting and moving plants so I was not too worried.

Fast forward a year and find that they have already started to naturalize in my backyard gardens. I have learned a lot about this naturalizing plant- it grows in my red -brown clay soil and spreads by seed (and bulb). It is growing in part sun under the Magnolias and Oak trees and mixed in with my ferns and variegated Solomon Seal. About 30+ feet away in another bed in more shade the Spanish Bluebell showed up this spring! It might have helped that these beds were not mulched but now that I know they spread by seed I will be collecting the seeds for future garden sites or to share.

The Spanish Bluebell (or sometimes called wood hyacinth) grows about 16-19″ tall in dappled shade to full sun (they do seem to like some sun). The Spanish bluebells started to emerge (zone 7) in early March and the first blooms appeared late March. A week in to April and they are still blooming. They like well drained soil – so do not plant in soggy areas in your garden. This would be a great flower to naturalize in drier garden beds. Anyone in zones 3-8 can grow Spanish Bluebells with bloom times ranging from April-May. Plus Spanish Bluebells make great cut flowers.

Just remember that the leaves will die back in mid summer so mark the area so you do not accidently dig them up! I planted mine right next to other plants so when the leaves start to die back they are kind of camouflaged by other leaves.

I am always saving plants and bringing them home. My green thumb life is filled with beauty and blooms. Thanks for stopping by!