Virginia Bluebell (Mertensia virginica)


          Virginia Bluebell is an erect, native, perennial wildflower in Wisconsin. It grows ten to 24 inches tall. It bears nodding, terminal clusters of pink buds that open into light blue trumpet-shaped flowers. Each flower is an inch long with five petals that fuse into a tube. It has eight-inch basal leaves and two to four-inch, alternating, bluish green stem leaves, which are smooth, round, and toothless. It has one to two-foot, branched and arching stems. It grows in part shade to shade in rich, moist, and sometimes rocky, moist soil. (EW)