Gerald L. Klingaman
Family
Boraginaceae
Botanical Name
Mertensia virginica
Plant Common Name
Virginia Bluebells
General Description
The ephemeral Virginia bluebells is one of those "must have" spring-blooming wildflowers in the woodland garden. A clump-forming perennial with pink flower buds that open to dainty, sky blue flowers, it hails from eastern North America.
Emerging in early spring, the upright, branching stems yield soft, oval, bright-green to slightly blue-green leaves. At the tips of the stems clusters of pink buds appear and open to tubular, flared blossoms that range in color from sky blue to blue-violet, and, rarely, white. Flowering begins by mid-spring and ends soon thereafter. The leaves and stems disappear by midsummer.
Grow Virginia bluebells in average, fertile, moist soils in dappled shade. More sun is acceptable if midday shade is provided. The clumps will slowly spread, in chorus with seedlings, creating a nice drift of plants. Use it as a springtime groundcover in a woodland or under border shrubs, keeping in mind that summer annuals or other perennials are needed to fill the void once the bluebells die away. The cultivar 'Alba' is a white-flowered Virginia bluebells.
Characteristics
-
AHS Heat Zone
7 - 1
-
USDA Hardiness Zone
3 - 7
-
Sunset Zone
1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21
-
Plant Type
Perennial
-
Sun Exposure
Partial Sun, Partial Shade
-
Height
16"-22" / 40.6cm - 55.9cm
-
Width
12"-18" / 30.5cm - 45.7cm
-
Bloom Time
Spring, Late Spring
-
Native To
North America, United States, Northeastern United States, Mid-Atlantic United States, Southeastern United States, Central United States, South-Central United States, Canada
Growing Conditions
-
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral
-
Soil Drainage
Average
-
Soil type
Clay, Loam
-
Growth Rate
Medium
-
Water Requirements
Average Water
-
Habit
Clump-Forming
-
Seasonal Interest
Spring
Ornamental Features
-
Flower Interest
Showy
-
Flower Color
Sky Blue, Blue Violet
-
Fruit Color
Tan
-
Foliage Color (Spring)
Green
-
Foliage Color (Summer)
Green
-
Fragrant Flowers
No
-
Fragrant Fruit
No
-
Fragrant Foliage
No
-
Bark or Stem Fragrant
No
-
Flower Petal Number
Single
-
Repeat Bloomer
No
-
Showy Fruit
No
-
Edible Fruit
No
-
Showy Foliage
Yes
-
Foliage Texture
Medium
-
Foliage Sheen
Matte
-
Evergreen
No
-
Showy Bark
No
