Quite contrary how bluebells grow

Many plants are now recognised as being endangered in the wild.

This means that they are not known to be growing anywhere where they were discovered as wild plants, although they may be grown from seed in a nursery.

One of the most well known of these is the monkey puzzle tree, which is growing in just one place in Chile as a wild tree.

Recently there was a fire at that place, and people thought that could be the end of the wild monkey puzzles.

However, seed has been available from those trees for a long time, and, ever since the Victorians discovered it and planted lots in their gardens, it has been known in England.

If we want to grow one now, we would need to get a seed grown one, probably from Germany, and it would cost quite a lot.

Recently there has been a lot of fuss about our native bluebells, which are protected. This means that people are not allowed to dig them up from a bluebell wood and take them home.

Most people buy them from a garden centre, where they are probably the Spanish type which grows well and comes in pinks and white as well as blue.

The true native English bluebell, Hyacinthus non-scripta holds its blue, or maybe white flowers on one side of the raceme, making the flower droop to one side. It also has a sweet scent, which the Spanish one does not.

When it is introduced to a garden, the bluebell can become a weed, being almost impossible to dig out, as the bulbs go down very deep.

In May, a true bluebell wood is very beautiful and it would be a shame if we were to lose the sight, and scent, of a true English bluebell wood.

Another wild flower that is in danger is the fritillaria.

It grows in damp meadows, and is irresistible to pick, as the flowers are so pretty, a chequerboard pattern on the petals of purple or white.

The trouble is that the leaves grow all up the stem, and if it is picked the leaves are also picked, so they are not there to replenish the bulb for next year, so it dies,

I grow them at Swallow Hayes, and keep the seeds, which must be sown immediately.

They come up quickly, looking just like grass, so are easily lost in the first year, but will flower the year after, so it is well worth the trouble.

There are many other bulbs, which, in their native lands are considered weeds, so the people dig them up and sell them to us for our gardens here in the UK.

If these are pointed out they can be grown as a sustainable crop, giving work to the poor folk in that country, and saving the plants for our delight.

By Pat Edwards