After a long, dark winter, spring is a magical time when gardens come alive with color. A lot of blue bell-shaped flowers swaying in the wind is one of the most beautiful sights. Their delicate blooms evoke a whimsical, fairy-tale like charm.
If you want to fill your garden with these delightful flowers, here are 10 beautiful blue bell-shaped blooms that flower in spring
1. English Bluebells
English bluebells (Hyacinthoides non-scripta) blanket woodlands in a haze of violet-blue in spring. The tubular nodding bell-shaped flowers dangle from arching stems up to 18 inches tall. They are sweetly scented and bloom for several weeks starting in April.
These short-lived spring flowers come from bulbs and need well-drained soil and some to all shade. Other spring flowers that look good with English bluebells are hellebores and primroses. They spread easily to form eye-catching carpets of color.
2. Spanish Bluebells
Spanish bluebells (Hyacinthoides hispanica) produce clusters of purple, pink or white bell-shaped flowers on upright stems in spring. They are bigger and taller than English bluebells, growing up to 2 feet tall.
While beautiful, Spanish bluebells are considered invasive in many regions. They aggressively spread via bulblets and seeds. Site them carefully in part shade borders or woodlands where they have room to naturalize.
3. Virginia Bluebells
In the early spring, Virginia bluebells (Mertensia virginica) have pink buds that open to show light blue flowers that look like bells and are tubular. The blooms hang from up to 2-foot-tall stems that are ringed by oval-shaped green leaves.
These North American native wildflowers thrive in moist woodlands and stream banks. Their cheery blue color lights up shady areas. Plant en masse for an impressive display. Virginia bluebells go dormant after spring, disappearing until the following year.
4. Grape Hyacinths
Grape hyacinths (Muscari) produce vivid violet-blue bell-shaped flowers packed tightly together on spikes resembling bunches of grapes. The fragrant blooms appear in early spring, sometimes as early as March.
Grape hyacinth bulbs are winter hardy and easy to grow. Plant them in groups in the fall for a beautiful show in the spring. They pair well with daffodils and other spring bulbs. There are also white and pink flowering varieties.
5. Bluebell Beardtongue
Bluebell beardtongue (Penstemon campanulatus) is a North American native perennial with showy lavender-blue bell-shaped flowers. It blooms in late spring on tall upright stems growing up to 3 feet tall.
With long tubular blooms that attract hummingbirds and butterflies, beardtongue thrives in full sun and well-drained soil. It is drought tolerant once established. Plant it in borders, rock gardens, or wildflower meadows.
6. Bellflower
Bellflowers (Campanula) encompass over 250 species of perennials with bell-shaped flowers. Popular varieties for the spring garden include:
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Canterbury Bells (Campanula medium) – Tall spires lined with pink, purple or white blooms.
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Carpathian Bellflower (Campanula carpatica) – Low mounds smothered in upward facing blue bells.
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Clustered Bellflower (C. glomerata) – Dense clusters of purple bells on tall stems.
Plant these easy-care bellflowers in borders or rock gardens. They grow 1 to 3 feet tall and prefer full sun to partial shade.
7. Snakeshead Fritillary
Snakeshead fritillary (Fritillaria meleagris) produces unique checkered bells in shades of pink and maroon atop thin stalks rising above grassy foliage in spring. This exotic looking flower thrives in moist soils and makes a distinctive addition to the spring garden.
8. Snowflake
Snowflake (Leucojum) offers graceful, nodding white bell-shaped blossoms on slender stems in early spring. They deliver a subtle beauty, often flowering at the same time as snowdrops. Plant snowflake bulbs in fall for a delightful spring display.
9. Snowdrop
Snowdrops (Galanthus) provide a hopeful sign that winter is ending, with nodding, bell-shaped white blooms that appear while snow still blankets the ground. These small bulbs multiply easily, creating carpets of white flowers in late winter and early spring.
10. Glory-of-the-Snow
Glory-of-the-snow (Chionodoxa) produces starry blue flowers with white centers on short stems in early spring. Their upward facing blooms add a bright spot of color. Plant the bulbs in fall in groups for a cheerful display.
With their nodding, bell-shaped flowers in shades of blue and purple, these spring-blooming beauties bring an elegant, whimsical look to the garden. Plant them in borders, rock gardens, or wooded areas for a charming floral display.
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