Mertensia virginica - VIRGINIA BLUEBELL

A favorite spring ephemeral wildflower with smooth bluish-green leaves and clusters of heavenly blue bells with pink buds. This perennial forms nice erect clumps and becomes dormant in the summer (it will appear again in the spring). Perfect herbaceous wildflower that will happily self-seed in your shade garden, woodland garden or under the canopy of big trees.

Looks great in combination with yellow flowers of Wood Poppy (Stylophorum diphyllum), but also with native ferns, Phlox divaricata and many other woodland species of native and non-native perennials. It develops quickly and can form colonies that protect lots of wildlife before the leaves start to die back. It is not the top hummingbird plant, but it does attract them.

Blooming Time: April-May
Size: 18-24” high x 12-18” wide
USDA Zones: 3 to 8
Culture: Half-sun, half shade, shade, dappled shade, average medium moist soil that is somewhat drained
Moisture Needs: medium, medium-moist
Origin: native wildflower to central and eastern parts of USA, in moist, rich woods and river floodplains.
Deer/Rabbit Resistant: yes/yes
Attracts Butterflies or Pollinators: good plant for pollinators – native bees, bumble-bees, mason bees, giant bee flies, hummingbird moth, butterflies, skippers and sphinx moths.
Attracts Hummingbirds: yes
Pot Size: 3.5" x 4" perennial pot (1.22 pt/580 ml)