Gateshead Birders

Identification of Bluebell, Spanish Bluebell and their hybrid

	Native Bluebell	Hybrid Bluebell	Spanish Bluebell
Leaf-width	Fairly narrow, usually about 7-15mm but can be up to 20mm wide (about half an inch).	Usually broad, 10-30mm, and often quite variable on one plant.	Broad, usually about 20mm-35mm (about an inch).
Top of Flower stem	Droops or nods distinctly to one side.	Curves or nods slightly to one side.	Is stiff and upright.
Arrangement of Flowers	Almost all are on one side of stem, hanging down to one side.	Mostly all around the stem, but may droop to one side (especially at the top).	Usually all the way around the stem, flowers sticking out.
Colour of Flowers	Deep violet-blue.	Dark to pale blue (sometimes also white or pink).	Pale to mid blue (often also white or pink).
Flower shape	A narrow, straight-sided bell, with parallel sides.	Usually an open bell.	A wide open, almost cone-shaped bell.
Petal tips	Roll back on to the tube part.	Curl outwards or slightly upwards.	Flare outwards slightly.
Pollen colour on the anthers	Pale cream.	Usually pale blue.	Deep blue.
Flower scent	They have a quite strong sweet scent.	Only a slight scent.	Little or no scent at all.
Habitat	In old woodland and old hedgerows, and on moorland, under bracken or on sea cliffs.	In woods and hedgerows and on roadside verges, usually not far from houses; also in gardens and parks and on waste-ground.