The attractive blue flowers and light green foliage of North American native Virginia bluebell offers cool color for the spring woodland garden from early- to mid-spring. Photo submitted by the University of Tennessee Department of Plant Sciences. >>>download photo

Submitted by Natalia Bjorklund

Virginia bluebell, or Mertensia virginica, is among the ephemeral spring beauties of the woodland garden. Like many woodland plants, Virginia bluebells melt into the landscape with the arrival of summer. The foliage can even die back to the ground until the next season.

Virginia bluebell, also called Virginia cowslip, is a North American native perennial that can easily be added to your home landscape. The plant makes a nice addition to any woodland garden, with their attractive flowers and light green foliage.

The flowers of Virginia bluebell are tubular, or bell shaped, and light blue-violet in color. The flower buds are light pink, and when bloom is initiated, they flush to their mature color. The flowers grow in clusters on the plant and bloom from early- to mid-spring, depending on the weather.

The plant itself grows from 18 to 24 inches in height and roughly 12 to 18 in width. The stems are erect, with the flowers slightly drooping. The foliage of Virginia bluebells is a light green that looks beautiful when planted next to darker foliage, such as that of wild ginger (Asarum splendens), windflower (Anemone blanda) or Glaucidium (Glaucidium palmatum).

Always plant woodland perennials with other plants that can take over when the early spring plants lose their luster. It's important to have a multi-layered garden to keep year-round interest. Hostas, for instance, will just begin to shine by the time the bluebells are done.

Virginia bluebells can tolerate moist soil conditions but prefer the well-drained soil that is common to woodland areas. They also prefer partial to full shade, but Virginia bluebells sometimes can tolerate more sun. Once plants are established, however, they don't like to be disturbed, so make sure you are planting them where you want them.

Virginia bluebells are beautiful when planted in large groups or they can be mixed easily with other woodland plants. Barrenwort (Epimedium sp.), lungwort (Pulmonaria sp.), and foamflower (Tiarella cordifolia) are just a few plants that would blend well.

###

Submitted by Natalia Bjorklund, graduate student in the University of Tennessee Department of Plant Sciences. Bjorklund works under the guidance of Dr. Susan Hamilton, director of the UT Gardens. The UT Gardens are located on Neyland Drive in Knoxville. They are free and open to the public seven days a week during daylight hours.