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)
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With the Winter Solstice now upon us, let's discuss a harbinger of spring, a species that thrives in the shade of the forest, feeds foraging female Bumble Bees beginning their season, and is often found gilded with Fritillary and floating Satyr Butterflies. A long loved favorite ephemeral of both fauna and humans alike, let's ring in 2026 with;
Virginia Bluebells (Mertensia virginica)
Mertensia virginica is the scientific name for the species more commonly known as Virginia Bluebells, Virginia Cowslip, Lungwort Oysterleaf, and Roanoke Bells. Virginia Bluebells are a spring ephemeral plant in the Boraginaceae (Borage) family, adorned with bell-shaped sky-blue flowers, native to eastern North America.
Virginia Bluebells are native across a broad swath of the United States, ranging westward to Kansas, southward through Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia, and reaching northeast to Maine. In Canada, they naturally occur in Ontario and Quebec. This delicate spring wildflower is typically found in rich, moist woodlands and on low, shaded hillsides with well-drained, humus-rich soils.
They can often form large colonies, on which female bumblebees that fly in early spring will be seen and often heard from a distance, visiting the flowers. Several butterfly species are also known to visit Virginia Bluebells for nectar, including swallowtails, fritillaries, and other common woodland butterflies. Skippers (Hesperiidae spp.) frequently feed on the blooms, as do hummingbird moths/sphinx moths (Sphingidae spp.), along with syrphid flies, bee flies, and even hummingbirds.
Virginia Bluebells plays a valuable role in supporting local ecosystems and contributes to a balanced, biodiverse landscape. The plant's easy acclimation to shaded areas makes it a great choice for woodland gardens or naturalized settings. Native Americans used Virginia Bluebells to treat tuberculosis and whooping cough, and the roots were used as an antidote for poisons.
By incorporating Virginia Bluebells into your garden, you can enhance the ecological value of your space and contribute to the health of local ecosystems.
This species should be planted in place of, and only after the careful eradication of, the invasive non-native Forget-me-not (Myosotis sylvatica).
This species seed needs to remain refrigerated until sowing. Seed will be fine in the time of transit, but please return it to the fridge upon receiving it, or sow it immediately if in late fall or winter.
Plant Details:
USDA Zones: 3 - 8
Germination Needs: Needs 60 Days Cold Moist Stratification. Does best sown directly outdoors.
Life Cycle: Perennial
Sun Exposure: Partial to Shade
Soil Moisture: Medium-Wet, Medium
Plant Spacing: 1 - 2 feet
Height: 2 feet
Bloom time: April, May
Bloom Color: Blue
Advantages:
Pollinator Favorite: butterflies, moths, bees, wasps, beetles
Bird Favorite: seeds, insects, fruit, nectar, nesting, perches.
Deer Resistant: Yes
Native to or present in: Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware, West Virginia, Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas, Missouri, Kansas and Nebraska.
This species is considered present but rare in several counties of the states of Michigan, New Jersey, Delaware, North Carolina, Georgia, Mississippi and Kansas.
This species is considered present but introduced in several counties of the states of Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, Massachusetts.