Allium ursinum (Wild Garlic / Ramsons) - six in-the-green bulbs
£9.95This is our native wild relation to the onion and garlic. Milder in taste and smell than cultivated... [full details]
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Proceed To CheckoutAspect: Full Shade
Aspect: Light/Partial Shade
Soil Type: Most Types
Colour: Blue
Also available as potted bulbs here.
Not to be confused with the more widely offered Spanish Bluebell (which quickly become a weed in gardens and a menace in the wild), this is the exquisite true British Native Bluebell.
Bluebells appear in ancient woodlands and along woodland edges in April and May and are one of the ancient woodland indicator species. They are easy to grow in gardens, growing best either from potted bulbs, or bulbs 'in the green'. Their early flowering allows them to make the most of the sunlight that is still able to make it to the forest floor habitat, before the canopy becomes too thick. Grow under deciduous trees and shrubs for best effect.
Will gradually spread to form a carpet.
Available 'in the green' for a limited time in winter only. 'In the green' means that you are buying bulbs which are shooting and/or have leaves (which is the most reliable means of transplanting bluebells). Supplied to us by a trusted British grower who carefully selects and lifts bulbs under license. Plant immediately in the ground or in containers.
You are buying ten 'in the green bulbs' for the price stated above. Add 2 to the basket to buy 20 bulbs and so on.
DELIVERY IS FREE FOR IN-THE-GREEN-BULB-ONLY ORDERS. OR COMBINE WITH PLANT ORDERS FOR OUR STANDARD SHIPPING RATES.
Click here for other wildflowers in-the-green.
Anemone nemorosa's flowering period overlaps with native Bluebells and they look wonderful planted together.
Height: 25cm
Common names: Common bluebells, English bluebells, British bluebells, Wood bells, Fairy flowers, Wild hyacinth, Auld man's bell, Bell bottle, Blue bonnets, Bummuck, Calverkeys, Granfer-grigglesticks, Locks and Keys, Pride of the woods, Ring o' bells.
Myth and Legend
Traditionally you can make a wish when you see the first bluebell open in spring.
It is said that if you turn a bluebell flower inside out without tearing it, you will win the heart of the one you love.
To ensure good luck, you should pick a bluebell and conceal it in your shoe, saying:
Bluebell, bluebell, bring me some luck,
Before tomorrow night.
To dream of bluebells is an ill omen as it indicates that you will have a nagging spouse.
In Scotland, there is a legend that if you hear the Bluebell ring it is ringing your death knell and you will die shortly afterwards. Consequently one of the local names in Scotland is 'Death Bell'. I shouldn't let that put you off growing it though!
Bluebell is the birthday flower of 30 September.
POISONOUS IF INGESTED
Advantages of 'in the green' bulbs:
Note: It is illegal to lift Bluebells for trade without a license. Our bluebell bulbs are supplied to us by a trusted British grower who carefully selects and lifts bulbs under license
Photo 1: MichaelMaggs, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Photo 2: © User:Colin / Wikimedia Commons