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English or Spanish; remove or not?

yorkiethorntonyorkiethornton Posts: 80
in Plants
They look nice for now, and have popped up in numerous places. Hear a lot about digging out the Spanish variety but not sure what these are? Any confirmation please? TIA.
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  • BenCottoBenCotto Posts: 4,116
    I’d say Spanish and would take them out unless you particularly wanted to keep them in that spot. This article tells you the differences

    https://granthamecology.com/2012/05/16/whats-the-difference-between-english-and-spanish-bluebells/
    Rutland, England
  • bcpathomebcpathome Posts: 839
    If they are standing straight up and look like mini hyacinth they are Spanish and need to be controlled.If they are hanging their lovely heads and are quite skinny they are native and can be left to grow. 
  • BigladBiglad Posts: 2,832
    Viva Espana! Or not, as the case may be ;) 
    East Lancs
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 3,498
    Native flowers only grow on one side of the stem. Yes I would remove the Spainish ones.
    RETIRED GARDENER, LIVES IN SOUTH NOTTS, SOIL CLAY.

    'Tis sweet to visit the still wood,where springs. The first flower of the plain. Longfellow.
  • FireFire Posts: 17,116
    I would take out all the Spanish, yes. 
  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 13,246
    People seem to think it is easy to tell the difference, unfortunately that is not always the case, especially as there are so many hybrids now out there.
    The Spanish ones are a bit thuggish, but can still be very beautiful.
    There are ashtrays of emulsion,
    for the fag ends of the aristocracy.

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
  • Busy-LizzieBusy-Lizzie Posts: 20,910
    I have English ones in the front and Spanish ones in the back and neither have been invasive. I think they are both very pretty and both have merits. 
    Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 13,246
    Pollen colour is thought to be a good guide, but even this can be difficult as some hybrids have blueish pollen too.

    There are ashtrays of emulsion,
    for the fag ends of the aristocracy.

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
  • AnniDAnniD Posts: 11,147
    You do have to keep a close eye on them as they can run rampant. Every Spring after flowering l dig out any that are in the wrong place and also thin out the clumps. 
    They can go down quite deep though, so you need to get the fork right in  :)
  • FireFire Posts: 17,116
    It might be tricky to detect the hybrids, but surely a straight English blue bell is pretty distinctive - habits of blooms and leaves ? 
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