Bluebell

Coinnle Corra
Latin name: Hyacinthoides non-scripta

Like daffodils, bluebells come to life early in spring. You know that spring has truly arrived when the woodland floors are covered in a thick blanket of bluebells and their fragrant scent fills the air. These delicate flowers shoot up very quickly, using the energy stored in their bulbs from the previous year.

Bluebells growing along a woodland path
©Dept. of Environment, Community and Local Government

Do you remember why the daffodils flower early in spring? Well, the bluebells flower early for the same reason. When the leaves on the trees all open out, they create a roof over the woodland floor and block out the sunlight. The bluebells are very busy little flowers, making their food through photosynthesis while the sunlight can still reach the woodland floor. All of this food gets stored as energy in their bulbs for the following year, in the same way as the daffodil.

Bluebells

©Dept. of Environment, Community and Local Government

Bluebells
©Dept. of Environment, Community and Local Government

Bluebells

©Dept. of Environment, Community and Local Government

Enlarge image

Can you remember what photosynthesis means? It is when the plant absorbs sunlight in through its leaves and combines it with carbon dioxide from the air to make food.

Take a close look at the photo of the bluebells on the right. Can you guess where they get their name? The blue flowers look just like a set of tiny bells.