How to Plant & Grow Bluebell Flowers

Bluebell flowers appear in spring and grow in temperate areas.

Bluebell, also known as wild hyacinth, is a bulbous perennial commonly grown as a ground cover because of its aggressive propagation. Gardeners value the plant for its ornamental flowers, strong scent and ease of cultivation in the home garden. Bluebell flowers bloom during spring, producing multiple dark-blue blossoms that emit a pleasing, balsam-like fragrance in the sunshine. Native to Europe, bluebells thrive in USDA hardiness zones 5 through 7 and require only basic care to flower year after year in temperate areas of the United States.

Things You'll Need

• Mulch
• Fertilizer

Instructions

1. Plant bluebell flowers during fall about six weeks before the first hard freeze. Choose a planting site with moist, well-drained soil in an area that receives partial shade throughout the day. Dig a hole 3 inches deep and place the bluebell bulb inside. Cover with soil and water lightly only if the soil is exceedingly dry. Space bluebell flowers 6 inches apart.

2. Spread a light 1-inch layer of mulch over the soil after shoots have emerged to increase moisture retention, deter weeds and provide insulation for the plant's roots. Replenish the mulch as often as necessary to keep it at least 1 inch thick throughout the year.

3. Water plants about once per week during spring and early summer to prevent the soil from drying out completely. Cease watering after flowering has ended. Apply water directly to the soil to avoid wetting the leaves, as moist foliage is more vulnerable to foliar diseases.

4. Feed bluebell flowers twice per year, once during early spring when the plant first emerges from the soil and again after flowers begin to fade. Use an all-purpose 10-10-10 NPK bulb fertilizer, following the instructions on the package for the best results.

5. Remove faded and dead bluebell flowers, a process known as dead-heading, as often as possible to encourage the plant to form new blossoms and extend the blooming season. Pinch off the flowers where they meet the stem to minimize damage to the plant.

Tips & Warnings

• Use chopped leaves or pine straw to mulch bluebell flowers.

• Failure to remove spent bluebell flowers will result in invasive propagation. Left unchecked, the flowers will cover an entire yard in only a few years.

References

• Martha Stewart Home & Garden: English Bluebell
• Plants For a Future: Hyacinthoides Nonscripta
• Victoriana Nursery Gardens: Bluebell Seed (English)
• "Making the Most of Shade;" Larry Hodgson; 2005

Resources

• United States National Arboretum: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map