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Key characteristics

Family: Asparagaceae
Height: 12 to 18 in
Width: 6 to 9 in
Flower color: Pure white, bell-shaped flowers held on upright stems
Foliage color: Medium green, narrow strap-shaped leaves
Bloom time: Mid to late spring
Light: Full sun to partial shade
Water: Moderate moisture
Maintenance: Low, allow foliage to yellow and die back naturally after flowering, divide clumps if overcrowded
Growing zone: USDA zones 3 to 8
Wildlife: Bees and other spring pollinators

Bulbs

Hyacinthoides hispanica 'Alba'

White Spanish Bluebells

Hyacinthoides hispanica 'Alba' produces upright stems bearing open, bell-shaped flowers in pure white, arranged in loose, graceful clusters. Blooming in mid to late spring, the blossoms rise above narrow, glossy green leaves that form tidy clumps at the base. The lightly scented flowers face outward, creating a bright, airy effect that lasts several weeks as spring transitions toward early summer.

Native to the Iberian Peninsula, this white-flowering selection has long been cultivated in European gardens.

Light

Full sun to partial shade

Water

Moderate moisture

Bloom time

Mid to late spring

Find this plant

Works well in

Borders
Cottage Gardens
Under Trees
Woodland Gardens
Containers

Companion plants

Lady's mantle · Hellebores · Tulips · Astilbes · Foxgloves · Bergenias

Design tip

Spring bloom is its headline moment, and it reads best in a group rather than as a single plant. Drift them in uneven groups for a natural look, and interplant with perennials that fill the gap after the leaves die back.

Printable plant sheet (PDF)