White-Blue Bluebell Collection

The White/Blue Bluebell Collection is a true treasure for shady areas of the garden. These bulbous plants, native to our cool undergrowth, offer a subtly fragrant flowering, which takes the form of beautifully curled, small, vivid blue-violet bells for the classic form, or pure white for the Alba form. The flower stalks tower above long, ribbon-like leaves gathered in tufts of cool, shiny green. Give this prolific plant some space, as it forms vast, beautifully blooming colonies in spring.

This collection consists of:

20 x bulbs of Hyacinthoides non-scripta, the wild bluebell with fresh blue flowers

20 x bulbs of Hyacinthoides non-scripta Alba, a selection of the wild bluebell with pure white flowers

The Hyacinthoides non-scripta, sometimes called scille nutans, is a perennial herbaceous plant with a bulb the size of a hazelnut. It belongs to the family Hyacinthaceae or Liliaceae depending on the classification. It is an endemic species to the Atlantic regions of Europe, almost absent elsewhere. Its distribution range extends from the north of the Iberian Peninsula to Belgium, passing through the British Isles. In France, it is native to the west, north of a Bordeaux-Dijon-Reims line. Today, it is threatened by the progressive destruction of its habitat and hybridisation with other species, and is protected in most of Western Europe. It is a plant that prefers bright semi-shade and clear undergrowth, and prefers deep, humus-rich, sandy-loamy soils with a slightly acidic tendency. Its presence is an indicator of ancient forest, qs is that of Lily of the Valley.

In spring, the plant develops a clump composed of 3 to 6 basal; narrow, linear leaves that are initially upright and then trail, about 20 cm (8in) long and 7 to 16 mm (0 to 1in) wide. From the center of the clump, a 30 to 40 cm (12 to 16in) tall flower stalk emerges in April-May. At its tip, there is a recurved, semi-pendant raceme or spike, which contains 5 to 12 flowers all facing the same side. Each pendant flower, 1.4 to 1.8 cm (1in) long, has the shape of a tube that widens into 6 curled lobes. This flowering is slightly fragrant. The foliage dries up in June, while the fruit-laden flower stalk persists until August.

The bulbs are packaged and labeled separately.

The Bluebell, which is now endangered, deserves to find refuge in our gardens. This mix, which combines blue and white forms, will offer the magnificent spectacle of its flowering, planted en masse in slightly wild areas of the garden, where it can spread freely. It will be perfect for bordering a shaded path, running along a wall that supports a fence, or beautifying the ground under a grove of deciduous bushes. It will accompany the flowering of euphorbias, highlight the blossoms of apple or cherry trees, and create a moving and magnificent spectacle at little cost. It can also be associated with Uvularia grandiflora with its lemon yellow flowers, Solomon's seals, and Lilies of the Valley... other robust and carefree woodland perennials.