Out of the Blue

And then there is the smell - fresh, sweet and exhilarating - a perfumed reminder that our native bluebell is a wild hyacinth.

Scotland is rich in bluebell woods, especially on the west coast where they thrive in the temperate, maritime conditions. More than half of the world's trove of Hyacinthoides non-scripta, grows in the UK, where their appearance every spring adds to the pleasurable rhythm of the seasons.

But we shouldn't be complacent, because these treasures of our woodlands are under threat from the flower's Mediterranean cousin, the Spanish bluebell.

It may seem harmless, but the Hyacinthoides hispanica which arrived here during Victorian times and is found frequently in gardens, has been infiltrating our woodlands, crossing with the natives and producing hybrids that are out-performing the natives.

Richard Thompson is a native woodland ecologist with the Forestry Commission and he says the interlopers are spreading outwards from areas of population, and while woodland in remote areas remains unaffected, closer to towns and suburbs,  the process of cross-pollination has begun.

But there's still time to stop it, he says, and gardeners can do that by digging up and destroying the Spanish bluebells.

"The bulbs can survive the composting process, so the best way to deal with them is to leave them somewhere to dry out completely before adding them to the compost heap."

Bluebells don't just occur under trees. They are found too amongst bracken where the leafy fronds provide the lacy cover that they need.

"The bracken performs like a surrogate woodland."

Amongst the thousands of square miles of land managed by the Forestry Commission, sites in Argyll and the Trossachs contain some of the finest bluebell woods, says Richard.

"Some of the best are around Loch Katrina but perhaps the best are the hazel woods on the Morvern Peninsula, which are absolutely stunning."

Left: Native Right: Interloper

Native or Interloper?
At first glance they may seem similar, but it is really quite easy to tell native bluebells from the Spanish strain. Hyacinthoides non-scripta produces flowers on just one side of the stem. These are deep blue and hang pendulously, causing the stem to droop. They have creamy white pollen and carry a delicious, hyacinth scent.

Hyacinthoides hispanica, is upright and has flowers all around the stem. It can vary in colour from pale blue to pale pink and its pollen is blue. It has no scent.

What's In A Name
The flower commonly known as the bluebell should not be confused with the Scottish bluebell, which is another species entirely. Campanula rotundifolia ( which also goes by the name 'harebell'), favours dry grassland and doesn't flower until July.

Where To See Bluebells
Bluebell Woods, Johnstone – Wander where the bluebells grow.  The open woodland at Johnstone is criss-crossed with paths that meander between the trees and bridge the peaceful Craigbog Burn.  There are around 4.5 miles of paths through the woods. 

Garscadden Woodland, Drumchapel – Garscadden Woodland is a young woodland with oak, ash, birch, rowan, fruit trees and lovely old hawthorn hedges.  There is also a great selection of wildflowers in the high meadow in summer, however during the spring it is awash with beautiful bluebells.

Carman Hill, Renton - The path that leads through the woodland above Renton and onto Carman Muir, is strewn with bluebells. Carry on to the Iron Age fort at the top of the hill and you are rewarded with views to Ben Lomond and across the Clyde.

Growing Bluebells
Bluebells are a native wildflower and their seed can only be collected under licence. If you are buying bulbs, then make sure you are getting them from a reputable source and not from the trade that deals in bulbs dug up from the wild.

Growing bluebells from seed takes patience - it can take up to seven years before flowers start to be produced - but it is one way of guaranteeing that your bluebells have not been stripped from a native woodland.

Seed needs to be chilled for a period before germination will occur, and you can mimic this natural process by storing it in the fridge for several weeks. Sow into pots of compost and keep moist and out of direct sunlight until seedlings appear.

Once the seedlings are large enough, plant them in clumps under deciduous trees or around the fringes of shrubs.

Non-hybridised bluebell seeds are available from Scottish wildflower specialists, Scotia Seeds.

www.scotiaseeds.co.uk.