bluebell
Hyacinthoides non-scriptus
- Bell-shaped, deep blue flowers
- A tall stem
Often grow so closely together they form a unique carpet - one of nature’s most stunning displays. Britain has the finest bluebell carpets in the world.
Where found
All over the country, in woodland, grassland, heath, scrub and hedgerows.
Find a bluebell wood near you..
When to look for
- Bluebells usually flower in April and May

View our live map for this season's bluebell sightings!
Did you know?
- Archaeological evidence has shown that Bronze Age people used bluebell glue to attach feathers to, or 'fletch', their arrows
- Bluebell sap was used to bind pages into the spines of books
- According to folklore, one who hears a bluebell ring will soon die. A field of bluebells is especially dangerous, as it is intricately interwoven with fairy enchantments
- Bluebell bulbs were crushed to provide starch for the ruffs of Elizabethan collars and sleeves
- Bluebells are important early flowers for bees, hoverflies and butterflies which feed on the nectar
- Honeybees can 'steal' the nectar from bluebell flowers by biting a hole in the bottom of the bell, reaching the nectar without pollinating the flower