Summary
A sure sign of spring’s impending arrival is the masses of bright blue flowers of Virginia bluebells (Mertensia virginica) borne above its fresh green foliage. This herbaceous perennial wildflower happily seeds itself in the garden, quickly forming large drifts. Virginia bluebells grows 18″ tall and thrives in moist, well-drained soils that are slightly acidic to neutral. They prefer a location that offers bright sun in early spring followed by shade later as the forest canopy expands. Like other spring ephemerals, Virginia bluebells die back to the ground by summer, allowing other perennials to extend the gardening season. Plant them with woodland phlox (Phlox divaricata), wild geranium (Geranium maculatum), blue-stemmed goldenrod (Solidago caesia), and blue wood aster (Symphyotrichum cordifolium). Zones 3-8.
More Details
- Plant Type
perennial-rhizome - Sun/Shade Conditions
partial-to-full-shade - Foliage Character
deciduous - Soil Moisture
average-to-moist - Flowering Period
early-to-mid-spring - Soil PH
adaptable - Flower Color
blue, pink, white - Summer Foliage Color
blue-green - Fall Foliage Color
dormant - Other Common Names
Bluebells - Fruit/Seed Color
green
Additional Information
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, Illinois Wildflowers, Missouri Botanical Garden