AZURED HAREBELL

23rd April 2024

Photo Credit: Seona Anderson, Methven Woods, Perthshire

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AZURED HAREBELL (BLUEBELL: Hyacinthoides non-scripta)

There is one single mention of the Harebell in Shakespeare. John Gerard (1597) includes a drawing and a description of the plant which is now called Bluebell (Hyacinthoides non-scripta) and he calls it Blue Harebell, English Iacinth or Hyacinthus anglicus. He also tells us that it is very common throughout England and the fluid in the bulbous root was used to make a gluey paste for arrows and book binding.

The Bluebell is native to parts of Western Europe down to North-west Portugal, although the UK does have a significant proportion of the global population. Bluebells are protected under section 13.2 of Schedule 8 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. Wild Bluebells are still relatively common in woodlands and in full flower at the moment. One of the biggest threats is the loss of habitat. There is some threat from hybridisation with the garden plant, Spanish Bluebell (Hyacinthoides hispanica).

More Information

BSBI Plant Atlas 2020: Hyacinthoides non-scripta

Folger Shakespeare: Search Shakespeare’s Works

Gerard, J. (1597) The Herball or Generall Historie of Plantes (1636 edition accessed via Archive.org)

Kew Plants of the World Online: Hyancinthoides non-scripta

Plantlife: Bluebell