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Hyacinthoides hispanica

Garden Bluebell · Hispanic Hyacinthoides · Spanish Bluebell

Family AsparagaceaeGenus Hyacinthoides

Nodding blue-violet bells on an arching stem, rooted in a limestone cliff edge above a valley
FlowerKrzysztof Ziarnek, KenraizCC BY-SA 4.0

About the plant

What it is and where it grows — not part of any germination protocol.

The plant

Habit
Bulb, Ground Cover, Herbaceous PerennialExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Habit
bulbous geophytePlants of the World Online
Height
0.5-1.5 ft15-45 cmExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Spread
0.5-1 ft15-30 cmExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Flower
Blue, Pink, Purple/LavenderExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Blooms
SpringExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Native range
Portugal, SpainGBIF Backbone Taxonomy
Hardiness zones
3-8Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Growing conditions

Sun
Dappled Sunlight; Full sun; Partial ShadeExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil
Clay, High Organic Matter, Loam (Silt), SandExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0)Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Moisture
Good Drainage, MoistExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Toxicity is noted only where a source states it. No note here is not a finding of safety.

Sources: Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — NC State Extension; Plants of the World Online — Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; GBIF Backbone Taxonomy — Global Biodiversity Information Facility.

Worth knowing

  • Brought to Britain in the late 17th century, the Spanish bluebell has crossed often with the native bluebell; the invasive hybrids have left the native bluebell seen as threatened. Wikipedia: Hyacinthoides hispanica

This source reports 4 treatments. All are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around September 17, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on September 16, 2026.

  1. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

    7 germinated in this phase.

  2. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  3. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  4. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

Steps after step 3 run on after germination.

about 6 months from start to step 3. Germination happens during step 3; time not stated, 21 days assumed.

70% germination.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Scilla p. 212Public domain
Show the original text
Scilla (Liliaceae). S. campanulata germ. best in 70-40(60-75% in 3-11 w). Germination was the same for fresh seed or seed DS 6 m at 70 or 40. A prior 3 m at 40 not only gave lower germination, but germination extended over a cycles as shown by 40(7%)-70-40(70%)- 40 for fresh seed and 40(7%)-70(5%) for seed 05 6 m at 70 or 40.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Scilla p. 212. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 2

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around October 21, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on October 20, 2026.

  1. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

about 3 months from start to step 2. Germination happens during step 2, in 77 days.

60% germination in 21–77 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Scilla p. 212Public domain
Show the original text
Scilla (Liliaceae). S. campanulata germ. best in 70-40(60-75% in 3-11 w). Germination was the same for fresh seed or seed DS 6 m at 70 or 40. A prior 3 m at 40 not only gave lower germination, but germination extended over a cycles as shown by 40(7%)-70-40(70%)- 40 for fresh seed and 40(7%)-70(5%) for seed 05 6 m at 70 or 40.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Scilla p. 212. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 3

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around January 25, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Cold moist stratification

    Temperature: 40°F 4°C

Germination happens during step 1, in 70 days.

32% germination in 70 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Scilla p. 212Public domain
Show the original text
Scilla (Liliaceae). S. hispanica germ. best in 40(32% in 10th w) using fresh seed. Germination is hypogeal. The seedlings need to be kept at 40 for 1-2 m after germination and until the true leaf starts to emerge in order to get proper development on the shift to 70. Germination failed completely for fresh seed sown at 70 or for seed DS 6 m at 70 or 40 sown at either 70 or 40.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Scilla p. 212. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 4

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Very high Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around September 17, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on September 16, 2026.

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 180 days

  2. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  3. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

    5 germinated in this phase.

Steps after step 2 run on after germination.

about 6 months from start to step 2. Germination happens during step 2; time not stated, 21 days assumed.

7% germination.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Scilla p. 212Public domain
Show the original text
Scilla (Liliaceae). S. campanulata germ. best in 70-40(60-75% in 3-11 w). Germination was the same for fresh seed or seed DS 6 m at 70 or 40. A prior 3 m at 40 not only gave lower germination, but germination extended over a cycles as shown by 40(7%)-70-40(70%)- 40 for fresh seed and 40(7%)-70(5%) for seed 05 6 m at 70 or 40.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Scilla p. 212. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

How each step is done, in Deno’s words, and what Verified and Derived mean.

Germination trials

Readers’ own records of sowing this species, published after review. Share your trial · All trials

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