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Old 05-05-2017, 10:07 PM posted to rec.gardens
John McGaw John McGaw is offline
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First recorded activity by GardenBanter: Aug 2006
Posts: 321
Default White English Bluebell -- Huh?

On 5/4/2017 1:56 PM, Bob Hobden wrote:
On 13 Apr 2017 14:36, John McGaw wrote:
On a hike across the northern counties of England a while back I was
enchanted by the sometimes-vast swathes of bluebells. I managed to get 100
real Hyacinthoides non-scripta bulbs and planted them in various places
hoping to find somewhere that they would succeed in my climate (Tennessee)
which is eminently not suitable for them. In places in dead shade they seem
to be prospering but in what should be light shade under deciduous trees
they don't do well since they come up well before the trees leaf out.

Last week I noticed that one plant in the non-favored location was showing
white flowers while all the others which were in bloom were the normal
shade. Do I have some sort of exotic sport with white blooms or is this
something that happens often? I failed to mark the odd plant but if it does
the same next year and if it seems worthwhile I'll try to move it to a
better location where it might multiply.

It happens in the UK amongst the wild plants. They also vary n the
intensity of the blue. A walk in any UK bluebell wood would prove my
point.



I guess I never studied the individual plants in detail being taken by the
natural beauty of the mass display. I'm considering hunting up another
hundred bulbs this Autumn for planting in areas that I now know are suitable.

Oh, and I do hope to get back at least a few more times for walks. The
Cleveland Way is the next destination. There are probably some bluebells
there too in need of appreciation.