Which Hyacinthoides is this?

Papi Jo

Just came across this newcomer to my garden. I want to give it a chance before deciding whether to chuck it to the compost. Is it:

• Hyacinthoides non-scripta, the common bluebell
• Hyacinthoides hispanica, the Spanish bluebell
• something else

steephill

It can be hard to tell sometimes. Tubular flowers on one side - non-scripta. Broad leaves, 3cm, hispanica. So maybe a hybrid. Any scent? Scented, non-scripta.

Obelixx

Definitely not pure non-scripta but maybe not pure Spanish either.  Doesn't look like any of the scillas so I reckon it's a hybrid.

Papi Jo

Thanks for trying @Obelixx & @steephill. The leaves are fairly large. I'll have a sniff tomorrow. Could it be a horticultural variety? I'm sure I never planted it so it must have come from a neighbour 's garden.

Dovefromabove

I believe the defining attribute is the colour of the pollen

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

Papi Jo

Thanks for the link, @Dovefromabove

Just had a sniff, this specimen has a very faint smell, reminiscent of the scent of Hyacinthoides non-scripta.

Took a close-up scan of dissected flower, showing blue anthers.

Conclusion, this looks more like Hyacinthoides hispanica, than Hyacinthoides non-scripta.

I'm not keeping it.

BobTheGardener

I don't blame you @Papi Jo !

When I moved here about 35 years ago, there were a few patches of native bluebells in parts of the garden which hadn't been cultivated in a decade or more.  Every year, they came up, looked wonderful and didn't noticeably spread.  Then I bought a 'bulb collection' from one of the big names which contained Spanish bluebells.  30 years later, hybrids are  in all of my borders and every time I plant or move something, the secondary task is to dig out the bluebells.  I think there are still some unhybridized ones, but I no longer bother checking and just remove them whenever seen.