Hyacinthoides

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A genus of about 10 species spread across western Europe and the mountains of Spain, Portugal and Northern Africa. They were formerly included within Scilla, but gradually their distinct nature has been accepted.

Hyacinthoides non-scripta, the English Bluebell, surely familiar to all, now falls here and gives a good general idea of the genus as a whole. Increasingly Hyacinthoides non-scripta this is being replaced in the wild in the UK by the hybrid x massartiana, which has the Spanish Bluebell (Hyacinthoides hispanica) as its other parent.

All Hyacinthoides are blue-flowered perennial bulbs and those that we have grown here do well in sun or light shade, in a well drained, humus rich soil, out in the garden.

Order from Autumn list only.

Hyacinthoides aristides

A lovely dwarf species, excellent in a pot, bulb-frame or raised bed in a sunny spot, where its dwarf growths and large flowers can be appreciated.

The leaves are broad but short and make a perfect foil for the flowers which come in shades of powder blue, all with a deep blue ovary and anthers which are deeper still.

Gorgeous, and the last time we offered this it sold out within 5 days. Just a few, flowering sized bulbs this season, a very good offering, from a new stock traceable to an original I. Schneider collection made in oak forest near Yakouren in Algeria.


Hyacinthoides aristideshyaariari	£7.00
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Hyacinthoides lingulata ciliolata

MK.2984

Strap-like hairy-edged leaves below compact spikes of medium sized soft china blue flowers, in autumn.

A North African plant, by repute possibly tender (although hardy here) but superb in a pot under glass for autumn blooming.


Hyacinthoides lingulata ciliolatahyalincil	£3.50
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Hyacinthoides non-scripta Wavertree

Many years ago I was privileged to be taken to the garden of the late Frank Waley at Sevenoaks in Kent, by a good friend and colleague, the late Michael Hoog of Haarlem. There Frank was slowly gifting away a magnificent collection of plants collected over many decades, since he anticipated that his garden (and its acres of Narcissus cyclamineus) would eventually be developed for housing.

One of the plants that he passed on that day was this Bluebell - Wavertree, called after his house and garden of the same name (and nothing whatsoever to do with the Liverpool suburb).

Wavertree was selected for the particular blue colouration of its flowers. The stock is a clone, it was originally a single bulb, so the display is even and this is the true English Bluebell, not a hybrid, but pure and English Hyacinthoides non-scripta (i.e. without any Spanish-bluebell genes).

An excellent plant, a good pedigree and a happy memory of Frank.


Hyacinthoides non-scripta Wavertreehyawavwav	£3.00
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Hyacinthoides reverchonii

Narrow blue-green leaves followed by a very short conical spike of deep blue flowers in February. These persist until late April, gradually expanding as the spike extends, so that after flowering has finished the spike may be some 20cm tall. Each 1cm methyl-violet bloom has a sky blue ovary, the whole being held away from the main stem by a 3cm stalk.

Good outside in a well drained sunny spot selected with due attention to its 20-25cm height, but excellent under glass also where you can enjoy earlier flowers and the captive scent.

Well drained loam-based soil or compost.


Hyacinthoides reverchoniihyarevrev	£6.50
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Hyacinthoides vicentina

VH.702

This is a super little, May flowering plant, related to Scilla verna but with soft blue flowers of heavy texture, made reliably every year. These have the characteristic paired bracts under each flower and contrasting navy-blue pollen.

We grow it in a raised bed in full sun, but it is very tolerant.

From a collection at Cabo san Vicente by the late Vic Horton many years ago.


Hyacinthoides vicentinahyavicvic	£3.50
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