Further to earlier postings on the site regarding the two species
[a] the English Bluebell - Hyacinthoides nonscripta, and
[b] the Spanish Bluebell - Hyacinthoides hispanica.

These two species in diploid form do very much hybridise and it is a
matter of serious regret, as well as irresponsibility,
that gardeners in Europe seem either ignorant of the environmental damage
they do to the conservation of wild populations
of [a] above or that there are increasing numbers who frankly don't care.

In the case of [b] this is a very, relatively, aggressive species which
rapidly cross pollinates those of [a] when imported to
the British Isles from continental Europe. Because it is a criminal
offence to dig up bulbs of [a] from nature, bulb dealers
and importers are plundering populations of [b] in Spain to satisfy demand
from gardeners. The situation in England in some areas especially has
become a real threat to the wild populations of [a]. In Scotland however
where wild populations are rather
less common and largely restricted to the Lowlands where broadleaf forest
dominates, rather than elsewhere, e.g. the Highlands where coniferous
boreal type forest exists there is either there more appreciation of the
issues and or a different gardening ethos and a conservation
awareness or bias with the result that there is now active discrimination
against those who behave like this. Ironically we have with the full
sanction of the government here the ecological disaster associated with
two tree species both from the Pacific northwest, Picea sitchensis and
Pinus contorta var. latifolia, both of which grow faster here in Scotland
than they do on their home turf but produce useless timber fit only for
low value pulp and chipboard when we need timber that will stress grade
for structural purposes, but both are now seeding themselves around at a
frightening pace aggressively intruding themselves into out native
forests, and seriously screwing our local native ecology,
a situation keenly felt here at Auchgourish Botanic Garden right now.

We are all coming soon to the pass where gardeners either behave
responsibly in the future with their selection of plants which might
escape into nature and cause unforeseen repercussions for the local
ecology, or governments will increasingly be enticed,
or driven, to legislate to protect wild ecology from such escapes. Under
legislation in Scotland the list of plant species which
it is forbidden to buy, sell or grow is increasing year on year. Those of
us who play the game as it were always seem to fall
foul of legislation brought down on our heads by those who don't.

This is a thorny issue no doubt and I am sure it has analogues in North
America too. Clearly where conditions are optimum
either [a] or [b] above will get along just fine but when they do, what of
the native flora gets displaced? Please be very careful how
enthusiastic you get with either or both, you might find you have invited
in a most unfortunate floral 'guest'.

Iain
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