ROYAL BLUEBELL
(Wahlenbergia gloriosa)

Royal Bluebell belongs to the genus Wahlenbergia, in the Campanulaceae family.

The flower was named in honour of G G Wahlenberg, a former Professor of Botany from Uppsala in Sweden.

On 26 May 1982 the Hon. Michael Hodgman, the Minister for the Capital Territory, announced the Royal Bluebell as the floral emblem of the Australian Capital Territory.

It is a small perennial herb with oblong leaves about 2.5 cm long; the leaf margins are conspicuously waved. The violet blue flowers are up to 2.3 cm in diameter and often appear to have a paler centre due to the light blue base of the petals combined with the purple style which ends in two white stigmas.

The flowers may be erect or nodding and are carried on long slender stems.

Flowering time is normally from October to March.

The Royal Bluebell is restricted to the high mountain areas of the ACT, south eastern NSW and eastern Victoria.

CULTIVATION Propagation is possible from seeds, cuttings or root division. It is suitable for growing in sunny or semi-shaded positions in cool regions, as a ground cover, and in shallow pots or hanging baskets.

It does best in light soil enriched with organic material, in a sunny or semi-shaded situation. Established plants respond to applications of soluble fertiliser.

The flowers are short-lived when cut but potted specimens in flower are suitable for indoor decoration in brightly lit positions.

The Royal Bluebell is protected in the wild and should not be picked or collected.