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Virginia Bluebells

Herbaceous Perennial Flower, Wildflower

Also known as Virginia Cowslip
Mertensia virginica
Boraginaceae Family
Synonym: Mertensia pulmanarioides

This woodland wildflower and garden classic is well known for its dainty, nodding, bell-like blue-purple blooms in spring. Likes moist, partly shady sites.

	Site and Plant Characteristics
	Growing Information
	Varieties

Site Characteristics

Sunlight:

part shade

Soil conditions:

requires damp soil

Prefers rich soil that is kept moist but not overly soggy.

Hardiness zones:

4 to 9

Plant Traits

Lifecycle: perennial

Ease-of-care: easy

Height: 1 to 1.5 feet

Spread: 0.75 to 1 feet

Bloom time:

mid-spring
late spring

Flower color:

blue
violet

Flowers are purplish-blue.

Foliage color: medium green

Foliage texture: medium

Shape: upright

Shape in flower: flower stalks with flowers hanging downward

Bell-like blooms nod from erect flower stems.

Special Considerations

Special characteristics:

non-aggressive
non-invasive
native to North America - Eastern U.S.

Growing Information

How to plant:

Propagate by seed, division or separation - Sow seeds where desired in spring or fall. Divide in early fall.

Maintenance and care:

Keep soil moist but not soggy. The plants die back after flowering (early to midsummer), and so should be planted near later growing plants that will mask the gap they leave after disappearance.
More growing information: How to Grow Perennials

Varieties

�Alba�: pure white blooms.
�Rubra�: pink blooms.