Bluebell bulbs

Medz

Hello, 

Would anyone be able to recommend where, ideally online, I may buy, good quality, bluebell bulbs?

Since I have no experience with bulbs, I would also be grateful if someone might guide me on what is a reasonable price to pay for them. 

Many thanks and best wishes.

Farway

Firstly are we to assume you are referring to English bluebells or Spanish ones?

Being a green fingered forum presumably you are wanting the English ones?

I've not bought any but how many do you want, couple of dozen or  a sack full? Makes a price difference

Quick search shows 6.99 inc VAT for 15, £19 + VAT for 100

Medz

Crumbs. Do Spanish and English bluebells behave differently?  I suppose since it’s the type I’ve grown up seeing wild; English ones. 

Incidentally, does ‘good quality’ in relation to a bulb simply refer to its size? 

Misslayed

Don't buy too many, bluebells are real thugs, they will take over your garden if you don't show them who's boss.

Farway

Medz said:

Crumbs. Do Spanish and English bluebells behave differently?  I suppose since it’s the type I’ve grown up seeing wild; English ones. 

Incidentally, does ‘good quality’ in relation to a bulb simply refer to its size? 

No, means not having manky / mouldy /squidgy ones in the pack.

You will pay more as they will have been graded, and hopefully have some sort of refund available if you get manky ones

Some bulbs are priced by size, larger bulb = more mature bulb = better / large flower [hyacinths & daffs for instance]

Bluebell bulbs are fairly small anyway and do not get much larger as they get older

Personally, CV allowing, and taking account of Misslayed above I'd just mooch around the likes of Wilkinson's & Morrison's to see what there is

Squeeze the bulbs & don't buy any that are soft

Medz

This is really helpful Farway. Folk on these forums explain things in a really understandable way; which is really helpful for the uninitiated like me. 

Do we have a standard bulb grading system in the UK for all bulbs/types? 

elle_may

Just bought from Wilkinsons 15 bulbs £2 but when got to till £1.50 

Medz

Are they English or Spanish bluebells? Poundland are selling Spanish for £1; but the advice I have received today from brighter minds than my own is to plant English bluebells. 

elle_may

English, nutans bluebells nice and firm

twopenny

Ask anyone who has Spanish bluebells and they will dig up hundreds for you with gratitude. They take over borders. lawns and no matter how  you dig or pull there will be more next year. Although beautiful en masse once they stop flowering the leaves turn to a soggy mess all over the place.

English bluebells are smaller, delicate long bells with grace and modesty and die back after flowering in a neat and tidy way. They grown under deciduous trees in grass or open grass land where they get some shade and some sun. Not sure how they'd do in a border.

This picture shows the difference

https://www.plantlife.org.uk/uk/blog/whats-the-difference-between-spanish-bluebells-and-english-bluebells

To me the native ones are worth the extra money

DiggerUK

There is animosity in some quarters towards the Spanish Bluebells because they tend to dominate over English Bluebells. They hybridise English Bluebells, which are declining in the wild, but aren't endangered. 

It is not allowed to dig up English Bluebells from the wild, but you can collect 'moderate' quantities of the seed. You can find suppliers who have 'captive' bluebells not from the wild.......yes, you explain that one to me as well.
Some people have been known to break the law, dig up a few bulbs from a bluebell wood and get away with it. But be warned, they go down deep......honest officer, I transplanted them within my own garden..._
https://wildseed.co.uk/species/view/64