Does anyone know why Bluebells will not grow in Canada. They are a flower from the u.k. and i have tried growing them here in ontario but never been lucky enough for them to grow. I know thw weather is a lot colder then the u.k. but tulips and daffs get through our winters and they are a bulb..a lot bigger bulb i know. Mary Parry.
You are right. When we lived near Kingston I never saw any bluebells. Hyacinths and grape hyacinths returned and flowered quite happily in the garden and this is strange because I think that they and bluebells are related. In all honesty I never planted any either but I never saw them in friend's gardens! My guess is that it must be because of the climate or that they were never introduced into lightly wooded areas such as those in England where they thrive. I am sure that others on the site will also have ideas. Anyone in Ontario who does grow them? They are certainly very happy in an area of figs and roses (sounds like a Crabtree and Evelyn perfume) of my garden in BC and I find them spreading to areas under the grape vines but not under the cedars. Margaret
The English bluebell (Hyacinthoides non-scriptus) is a different species than the bluebell that is (too) common in gardens here. Sold as Spanish bluebell (H. hispanicus) most plants may actually be hybrids between Spanish and English. "It appears that Seattle's weediest BLUEBELLS are neither English nor Spanish--but hybrids. To combat an infestation, dig the bulbs and drown, mash, microwave, or dry them before composting. The leaves and flowers can be composted with no fear of resurrection. Other names are WILD HYACINTH, WOOD HYACINTH, and SQUILL." (Jacobson, Wild Plants of Greater Seattle)
What winter soil freezing depth do you have in Ontario? I seem to remember reading somewhere it is over a metre. Here in Britain where bluebells are native, the soil never freezes more than about 20cm deep (in exceptionally severe winters), 5-10cm deep in ordinary winters. That's not deep enough to harm the bulbs, which will never experience temperatures below about -1 or -2 (their cell sap will still be liquid at that temperature).
Most around Vancouver are Spanish bluebells, and hybrids. The English bluebell Hyacinthoides non-scriptus, does grow here in The Fraser Valley, quite well. We have been planting English Bluebells under trees, native to Europe on the Riverview Hospital grounds, for a number of years. The Grounds also have extensive naturalized plantings of the Spanish Bluebells, and their hybrids, I also agree with RonB, overplanted, almost weedy. They should tolerate cold, if a cover of mulch is placed over them in colder areas. You can always dig them up, and store them for winter, they move fairly easy.
I've got Spanish bluebells in my garden in Kingston, Ontario and they're doing quite well. The were pathetic during their first spring but now in year #2, they look great! I didn't attempt English bluebells mainly because the geographic reference of 'Spanish' is much more appropriate to our summer climate than 'English' is.
