Bluebells: Linked by Legend

Hyacinths and Harebells, one a spring flowering woodland plant and the other a summer flowering grassland plant. Both are tied together in legend and lore by a common name that is “Bluebells”. Both are to be admired with care, for fear of summoning the faeries, the witches or even the Aul’ Man himself….

Bluebells in amongst the faerie mounds - Ariundle Oakwood near Strontian

A Mesmerising Sight

As my fourth Spring of living here on the Peninsulas comes to an end and we move towards Summer, I find myself reflecting on a sight that never ceases to mesmerise me during April and May. It is the sight of delicate Bluebells creating intense blankets of colour in the woodlands, on the hillsides and along the verges throughout the length and breadth of the peninsulas. However, things might not be as they seem. Are these really bluebells that I am seeing in this incredible wildflower spectacle?

Bluebells, Hyacinths and Harebells

​Well, it turns out that these beautiful little flowers, that spend most of the year as bulbs underground in our ancient woodlands and on our undisturbed hillsides, are what botanists call ‘wood hyacinths’ or “Hyacinthoides con-scripta” to be more precise. However, they have been given the common name English Bluebell because the flowers that emerge in April and May are indeed blue and they are indeed shaped like a bell. Who am I to argue with that?

English Bluebell (Hyacinth)

Scottish Bluebell (Harebell) [Image Credit: Tigerente CC BY 3.0]

​What about the Scottish Bluebell, I wonder? It would appear that this flower is something quite different. It is “Campanula rotundifolia”, a creeping, rooted perennial (not a bulb) that flowers from July to September and is more commonly known as the Harebell. Instead of woodland, the Harebell prefers dry, grassy places. You are more likely to see it in the dry land around our sandy beaches as opposed to in our damp and shady woodlands.

​Are you sure the Harebell is a Bluebell, I hear you ask? Well, do you remember Scottish Bluebell Matches? If you do, just compare the shape of the flower on the matchbox label with that of the wood-hyacinth and that of the harebell and you will easily see which one is the Scottish Bluebell. The Harebell, of course.

Legends and Lore

There are many legends and much folklore associated with both the English Bluebell (Hyacinth) and the Scottish Bluebell (Harebell). Over the years, both have been referred to as the same thing, so it is often difficult to decide what tales apply to which flower. 
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However, it would appear that many of the English Bluebell tales involve dark fairy magic with bluebell woods being portrayed as scary, forbidding places that should be avoided. They say that if you do enter, you should never pick or step on a bluebell. This is because the faeries hang their spells on the bluebell flowers and if you break their spells, they get extremely upset and seek you out. It is believed that once visited by an upset faerie, you will be led astray and find yourself wandering lost in the woods for evermore.

Legend and folklore say that you need to be equally careful with the Scottish Bluebell as its alternative name, Harebell, has its roots in magic. As well as being called the Harebell, the Scottish Bluebell is also referred to as Witch's Thimbles, Witch Bells, Fairies’ Thimbles, Dead Man’s Bells, Aul’ Man's Bells, the Devil’s Bells, and Milk-ort to name but a few. 

Some would argue that Harebell was the name given to the flower because witches would turn themselves into hares and hide among them. This may also be the reason why the names Witch's Thimbles and Witch Bells were used.

Fairies' Thimbles was given to it because it was widely thought that fairies live among the flowers, while Dead Man's Bells arose from the belief that fairies cast lethal spells on those who would dare to trample on or pick the delicate blooms. 

“Aul’ Man” is an old Scottish nickname for the Devil himself and was used as a way of naming the Devil without invoking him by speaking his name.  So Aul’ Man's Bells and the Devil’s Bells were used as some thought that if the flowers were disturbed, they would ring and this would attract evil spirits, including the Devil himself.

Finally, Milk-ort (meaning "milk herb), was sometimes used because Harebells (Scottish Bluebells) produce a white milky sap which was thought to be an element in the hallucinogenic “flying ointments” used by some witches. 

A Second Coming of Blue

So there you have it. Hyacinths or Harebells? English Bluebells and Scottish Bluebells? What’s in a name?
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I’m left thinking it doesn’t really matter because, as the wonderful carpets of English Bluebells in our damp and shady woodlands begin to fade, I’m looking forward to a second coming of blue as the Scottish Bluebells emerge from the dry, grassy places that fringe our sandy beaches.

If lockdown allows, I’ll venture to these beaches out to the west of me to capture their delicate papery flowers nodding in the sea breeze, all the while taking care not to summon the faeries, the witches or indeed the Aul’ Man himself.

You will find other images of Bluebells (Wood Hyacinths) in the woodlands of Sunart in the “Sunart”  image gallery on this website.  If you’d like a print of any one of them, please feel free to get in touch. Also get in touch if you’d like to arrange some photography tuition.