Horton Wood, Small Dole, Henfield, W Sussex. English Bluebells differ from Spanish Bluebells in that they have narrower flowers down their length which do not flare out until the very end where the petals recurve back and the stem is less robust meaning English always droop down and to one side. Spanish instead are more erect and robust..

Common or English Bluebell (Hyacinthoides non-scripta) (16/04/2021) Horton Wood, Small Dole, Henfield, W Sussex. English Bluebells differ from Spanish Bluebells in that they have narrower flowers down their length which do not flare out until the very end where the petals recurve back and the stem is less robust meaning English always droop down and to one side. Spanish instead are more erect and robust..

Horton Wood, Small Dole, Henfield, W Sussex. English Bluebells differ from Spanish Bluebells as the latter have bluish anthers, not creamy-pale ones as here. However hybrids between English and Spanish do occur which can have pale anthers, but the rest of the plant gives away that it is not a true English Bluebell.

Common or English Bluebell (Hyacinthoides non-scripta) (16/04/2021) Horton Wood, Small Dole, Henfield, W Sussex. English Bluebells differ from Spanish Bluebells as the latter have bluish anthers, not creamy-pale ones as here. However hybrids between English and Spanish do occur which can have pale anthers, but the rest of the plant gives away that it is not a true English Bluebell.

Common or English Bluebell (Hyacinthoides non-scripta) (30/03/2024) Horton Wood, Small Dole, Henfield. Pollen-covered anthers.

Common or English Bluebell (Hyacinthoides non-scripta) (30/03/2024) Horton Wood, Small Dole, Henfield.

Horton Wood, Small Dole, Henfield. The strong recurve on the petals which are more tubular than Spanish Bluebell. Under certain flash exposures you really get to see the beauty of these flowers.

Common or English Bluebell (Hyacinthoides non-scripta) (30/03/2024) Horton Wood, Small Dole, Henfield. The strong recurve on the petals which are more tubular than Spanish Bluebell. Under certain flash exposures you really get to see the beauty of these flowers.

Common or English Bluebell (Hyacinthoides non-scripta) (16/04/2021) Horton Wood, Small Dole, Henfield, W Sussex. Nestling against an Oak tree.

New Hall Lane, Small Dole, Henfield, W Sussex. A young plant - flowers open bottom to top.

Common or English Bluebell (Hyacinthoides non-scripta) (01/05/2021) New Hall Lane, Small Dole, Henfield, W Sussex. A young plant - flowers open bottom to top.

Southbank Equestrian, New Hall Lane, Small Dole, Henfield, W Sussex (footpath towards Horton Wood). What impressed me about this one is the large number of flowers on the stem!

Common or English Bluebell (Hyacinthoides non-scripta) (16/05/2021) Southbank Equestrian, New Hall Lane, Small Dole, Henfield, W Sussex (footpath towards Horton Wood). What impressed me about this one is the large number of flowers on the stem!

Footpath down the side of Southbank Equestrian, Henfield. As they age the stems lengthen so that the flowers appear more spaced out along the stem.

Common or English Bluebell (Hyacinthoides non-scripta) (08/05/2022) Footpath down the side of Southbank Equestrian, Henfield. As they age the stems lengthen so that the flowers appear more spaced out along the stem.

New Hall Lane, Small Dole, Henfield, W Sussex (bank outside entrance to New Hall). Playinng with my flash!

Common or English Bluebell (Hyacinthoides non-scripta) (02/05/2022) New Hall Lane, Small Dole, Henfield, W Sussex (bank outside entrance to New Hall). Playinng with my flash!

Horton Wood, Small Dole, Henfield. Another thing Spanish doesn't have is these narrow blue bracts peeling away from where the flower stalk meets the stem.

Common or English Bluebell (Hyacinthoides non-scripta) (30/03/2024) Horton Wood, Small Dole, Henfield. Another thing Spanish doesn't have is these narrow blue bracts peeling away from where the flower stalk meets the stem.

Common or English Bluebell (Hyacinthoides non-scripta) (30/03/2024) Horton Wood, Small Dole, Henfield.

Common or English Bluebell (Hyacinthoides non-scripta) (11/04/2020) Horton Wood, Small Dole, Henfield, W Sussex.

Common or English Bluebell (Hyacinthoides non-scripta) (07/05/2021) Horton Wood, Small Dole, Henfield, W Sussex.

Common or English Bluebell (Hyacinthoides non-scripta) (18/04/2022) Horton Wood, Small Dole, Henfield, W Sussex. Panoramic shot. An absolute sea of it.

Horton Wood, Small Dole, Henfield, W Sussex. What they look like before coming into flower.

Common or English Bluebell (Hyacinthoides non-scripta) (01/04/2022) Horton Wood, Small Dole, Henfield, W Sussex. What they look like before coming into flower.

Common or English Bluebell (Hyacinthoides non-scripta) (30/03/2024) Horton Wood, Small Dole, Henfield. Young flower head.

Common or English Bluebell (Hyacinthoides non-scripta) (30/03/2024) Horton Wood, Small Dole, Henfield.

Common or English Bluebell (Hyacinthoides non-scripta) (16/04/2021) Horton Wood, Small Dole, Henfield, W Sussex. Several babies here.

New Hall Lane, Small Dole, Henfield, W Sussex (bank outside entrance to New Hall). Classic leaves.

Common or English Bluebell (Hyacinthoides non-scripta) (02/05/2022) New Hall Lane, Small Dole, Henfield, W Sussex (bank outside entrance to New Hall). Classic leaves.

Footpath down the side of Southbank Equestrian, New Hall Lane, Small Dole, Henfield, W Sussex.

Common or English Bluebell (Hyacinthoides non-scripta) (08/05/2022) Footpath down the side of Southbank Equestrian, New Hall Lane, Small Dole, Henfield, W Sussex.

Common or English Bluebell (Hyacinthoides non-scripta) (12/05/2020) Horton Wood, Small Dole, Henfield, W Sussex. Going to fruit.

Common or English Bluebell (Hyacinthoides non-scripta) (09/05/2020) Horton Wood, Small Dole, Henfield, W Sussex. The fruits.

Common or English Bluebell (Hyacinthoides non-scripta) (15/06/2021) Horton Wood, Small Dole, Henfield, W Sussex.

Horton Wood, Small Dole, Henfield, W Sussex. Is English not Spanish because note the drooping stems and the flower shape. Spanish have more upright stems but notably have blue, not cream, anthers. You always get some albiinos in any population (and also lilac ones).

Albino Common or English Bluebell (Hyacinthoides non-scripta) (07/05/2021) Horton Wood, Small Dole, Henfield, W Sussex. Is English not Spanish because note the drooping stems and the flower shape. Spanish have more upright stems but notably have blue, not cream, anthers. You always get some albiinos in any population (and also lilac ones).

Horton Wood, Small Dole, Henfield, W Sussex. And the narrow bracts peeling away from where the flower stalk meets the stem which are normally blue, are white in the albino variety.

Albino Common or English Bluebell (Hyacinthoides non-scripta) (07/05/2021) Horton Wood, Small Dole, Henfield, W Sussex. And the narrow bracts peeling away from where the flower stalk meets the stem which are normally blue, are white in the albino variety.

Albino Common or English Bluebell (Hyacinthoides non-scripta) (07/05/2021) Horton Wood, Small Dole, Henfield, W Sussex.

Horton Wood, Small Dole, Henfield, W Sussex. Every year there are populations of these white versions in amongst the mass of "blue" bells. Indicative of ancient woodland where gradually the bluebells evolve over time and produce these white variations.

Albino Common or English Bluebell (Hyacinthoides non-scripta) (07/05/2021) Horton Wood, Small Dole, Henfield, W Sussex. Every year there are populations of these white versions in amongst the mass of "blue" bells. Indicative of ancient woodland where gradually the bluebells evolve over time and produce these white variations.

New Hall Lane, Small Dole, Henfield, W Sussex (bank outside entrance to New Hall). You also get lilac ones as well as white ones. Definitely English (not hybrid) as cream anthers and bell like flowers that don't open fully and instead have strongly recurved petal ends.

Lilac Common or English Bluebell (Hyacinthoides non-scripta) (02/05/2022) New Hall Lane, Small Dole, Henfield, W Sussex (bank outside entrance to New Hall). You also get lilac ones as well as white ones. Definitely English (not hybrid) as cream anthers and bell like flowers that don't open fully and instead have strongly recurved petal ends.

New Hall Lane, Small Dole, Henfield, W Sussex (bank outside entrance to New Hall). Taken with a flash.

Lilac Common or English Bluebell (Hyacinthoides non-scripta) (02/05/2022) New Hall Lane, Small Dole, Henfield, W Sussex (bank outside entrance to New Hall). Taken with a flash.

New Hall Lane, Small Dole, Henfield, W Sussex (bank outside entrance to New Hall). Now without a flash.

Lilac Common or English Bluebell (Hyacinthoides non-scripta) (02/05/2022) New Hall Lane, Small Dole, Henfield, W Sussex (bank outside entrance to New Hall). Now without a flash.

New Hall Lane, Small Dole, Henfield, W Sussex (bank outside entrance to New Hall). The leaves of the lilac variety in the previous pics.

Lilac Common or English Bluebell (Hyacinthoides non-scripta) (02/05/2022) New Hall Lane, Small Dole, Henfield, W Sussex (bank outside entrance to New Hall). The leaves of the lilac variety in the previous pics.

Southbank Barn, New Hall Lane, Small Dole, Henfield, W Sussex (verge alongside rear of house). It's not Spanish as those have blue anthers, and it's not English because those have flowers only on one side of the stem (which is why they droop). So this is a hybrid, also note the flowers are much wider opening than English Bluebells.

Hybrid Bluebell (H. non-scripta x H. hispanica) (16/04/2022) Southbank Barn, New Hall Lane, Small Dole, Henfield, W Sussex (verge alongside rear of house). It's not Spanish as those have blue anthers, and it's not English because those have flowers only on one side of the stem (which is why they droop). So this is a hybrid, also note the flowers are much wider opening than English Bluebells.

Southbank Barn, New Hall Lane, Small Dole, Henfield, W Sussex (verge alongside rear of house). Annoyingly we've got these hybrids here - lesson learned, make sure to get bulbs from a reputable source, e.g. Plantlife, if you want proper wild bulbs.

Hybrid Bluebell (H. non-scripta x H. hispanica) (16/04/2022) Southbank Barn, New Hall Lane, Small Dole, Henfield, W Sussex (verge alongside rear of house). Annoyingly we've got these hybrids here - lesson learned, make sure to get bulbs from a reputable source, e.g. Plantlife, if you want proper wild bulbs.

Southbank Barn, New Hall Lane, Small Dole, Henfield, W Sussex (verge alongside rear of house). Hybrid Bluebells are between Spanish and English, so can vary quite a lot having "bits" of each of those species.

Hybrid Bluebell (H. non-scripta x H. hispanica) (16/04/2022) Southbank Barn, New Hall Lane, Small Dole, Henfield, W Sussex (verge alongside rear of house). Hybrid Bluebells are between Spanish and English, so can vary quite a lot having "bits" of each of those species.

Southbank Equestrian, New Hall Lane, Small Dole, Henfield, W Sussex (arena bank). Spanish always has these blue anthers, plus very upright stem with flowers all around it, plus petals spread outwards. English has cream anthers, flowers on one side which makes the stem droops to one side, and it has strongly recurved petal ends.

Spanish Bluebell (Hyacinthoides hispanica) (26/04/2021) Southbank Equestrian, New Hall Lane, Small Dole, Henfield, W Sussex (arena bank). Spanish always has these blue anthers, plus very upright stem with flowers all around it, plus petals spread outwards. English has cream anthers, flowers on one side which makes the stem droops to one side, and it has strongly recurved petal ends.

Spanish Bluebell (Hyacinthoides hispanica) (22/04/2020) Henfield Road just up from Small Dole Stores, Henfield, W Sussex.

New Hall Lane, Small Dole, Henfield, W Sussex. Note the petals splayed outwards. English Bluebell has more bell-like flowers with the petal ends strongly recurved.

Spanish Bluebell (Hyacinthoides hispanica) (26/04/2021) New Hall Lane, Small Dole, Henfield, W Sussex. Note the petals splayed outwards. English Bluebell has more bell-like flowers with the petal ends strongly recurved.