18 May 2011

Bluebell Wood

The woods at Poltarrow are currently carpeted in Bluebells. The Bluebell is a perennial herb that grows in spring from bulbs that stay in the soil over winter. 


The shoots emerge from early January, before trees’ leaves block a large proportion of the available sunlight. The bluebell sets seeds profusely and also multiplies by offshoots from its bulbs. As a result it can be a dominant species that carpets the woodland floor early in the spring. The drooping, blue bell shaped flowers, which give the plant its most common name, appear from April to June; we hope you enjoy these photos.