How to Plant English Bluebells

English bluebell (Hyacinthoides non-scripta) is a hardy, spring-blooming bulb that will bloom with bright bluish-purple, bell-shaped flowers in April or May. Each English bluebell plant can sport as many as 15 delicate blooms. English bluebells are especially beloved in Britain, where they have been grown in English gardens for centuries. Although English bluebell is a woodland plant often found growing wild in shady, damp soil under deciduous trees, the plant is tough and adaptable to the home garden.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You’ll Need:

• Spade or garden fork
• Organic material
• Trowel or shovel

1. Prepare a planting spot in full sun or partial or dappled shade. Cultivate the soil to a depth of 6 to 8 inches, using a spade or a garden fork. Improve soil quality and drainage by spreading 2 to 3 inches of organic material such as ground bark, decomposed manure or compost on top of the soil, then dig the material into the soil.

2. Dig a hole for each English bluebell bulb. Plant each small, rounded bulb 4 inches deep with the pointed side facing up, then fill the hole with soil. Allow 4 inches between each bulb.

3. Water the planting area deeply so that the soil is saturated. The English bluebells will bloom in spring.

4. Allow the foliage to die down naturally after the English bluebells are finished blooming. The green foliage absorbs the sun’s energy, keeping the bulbs healthy for the coming year. Remove the foliage when it dies down and turns yellow. The English bluebells will bloom again the following spring.

Tips & Warnings

• Feel free to cut the English bluebells blooms for bouquets as often as desired. Cutting the blooms won’t harm the plants.