Hyacinthoides is a genus in the family Hyacinthaceae. The three species in this genus have had several names (Scilla, Endymion) and have reverted back to a previous name. Commonly known as Bluebells or Wood Squills these are woodland plants with bell-shaped predominantly blue lavender flowers. They are distinguished from Scilla by the bulb being renewed yearly and having each flower subtended by two ( rather than one ) bract. Jerry Flintoff discussed this genus in his 
introduction to Scilla when it was the topic of the week.
Hyacinthoides italica , known as the Italian Bluebell, is found in France, Spain, Italy, and Portugal. This is a smaller plant that the other more commonly grown species, but I think it is very charming with the intricate blue and purple flowers. Flowering February and March 2006 in Northern California. Photos from Mary Sue Ittner. The first two show the plants and flowers.
This is a picture of the bulbs before I repotted in July on a 1 cm grid
Hyacinthoides non-scripta is a native of Western Europe where it is found growing in woods and meadows. It grows in masses in the British Isles and is quite showy in spring. In England these plants are called Bluebells and in Scotland Wild Hyacinths. The photos below were taken in the UK in May 2004 by Bob Rutemoeller. The first two were taken in the Lake District and shows a mass of blue under the trees framed by a wall and a close up of the flowers which are usually blue and occasionally white.
This picture was taken in central Scotland showing a trail bordered by flowers.
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