Do there look like english or spanish bluebells?

[user17353]

I have been given masses of bluebell bulbs. Don't know whether they are spanish or English but I suspect they might be spanish due to the sheer volume of them (or at least Spanish/English hybrids).

I would like to use them since I have a large area which is devoid of colour. However on the other side of the house is an area which already has bluebells. I think these are probably hybrids anyway (in which case I will plant the bulbs Ive been given) since there are some white ones and a few pink but would appreciate a second opinion in case they are English and I need to separate them a bit more.

First pic makes me think english and second makes me think hybrid (photos not from this year of course).

I think you've got English bluebells, how wonderful!
Spanish bluebells have flowers all the way around the stem. They do cross pollinate, though, so some may have both genes/dna or whatever the plant equivalent is.
https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/wildlife/how-identify/spanish-or-native-bluebell

another picture of the larger area. Im wondering if I have both in together?

The third photo looks very like a mix. The Spanish ones will outcompete the English ones eventually I believe.

Your first two pictures look like English bluebells. In the last picture, the white ones look much more upright and with flowers around the stem, not all on one side. So they are Spanish.

They hybridise readily so it's unlikely you will be able to keep the new ones pure.

Im feeling encouraged having read this this afternoon
https://www.rbge.org.uk/news/articles/sex-in-the-country-is-better-for-british-bluebells/
apparently the latest thinking is that they don't actually hybridise very easily after all. As a result the new ones are going in! I'll have to see what type they are when they come up..

It looks like you have a lot of hybrids in the mix there, sorry. English bluebells are quite dark and delicate, and bend over a lot.

Since you have a fairly large area there, maybe ask someone from your local Wildlife Trust or Woodland Trust to come and have a look when they are in flower.

I don't really mind if the new ones are hybrids/spanish, I just didn't want to plant them too close to the english ones if they are. However the article I linked to suggests that there is not quite the cause for concern that was previously thought

They look English to me. We have some Spanish bluebells at the top of our garden, but we have a bluebell wood further down. I don't think there has been much hanky-panky!
The ones in the wood are English, even the white ones. They can vary in size quite a bit but the flowers are always on one side and are scented, unlike the Spanish. The difference is obvious.

The picture on the left in the OP definitely shows and English bluebell, they are quite unmistakable.

I planted some two years ago and they are just coming up in spite of having builder’s rubble and all sorts dumped on them last year!