Virginia Bluebells
Mertensia virginica
Virginia Bluebells is a perennial for bulb layer, edging, groundcover, suited to shade and partial shade and loam or moist ground, flowering Mar, Apr, May.
| Type | Perennial |
|---|---|
| Mature height | 45 cm |
| Spread | 45 cm |
| Aspect | shade and partial shade |
| Foliage | Deciduous |
| Hardiness | USDA 3a-8a |
| Pollinator-friendly | Yes |
| Pet-safe | Yes |
Where to use it in a border
At around 45 cm, it sits best along the front edge, where a low, spreading habit reads best. Give it about 45 cm of room to spread, roughly 2 to the metre when planted in a drift. It is hardy across USDA zones 3a to 8a, so check it suits your area before planting.
It appears in our lists of shade, wet soil, pollinator-friendly plants, pet-safe plants.
Border Builder uses Virginia Bluebells's height, spread, soil, bloom months and companions to place it in a full border plan for your own conditions, on iPhone and iPad.
Flowering through the year
Worth knowing
- It copes with ground that stays wet, which most border plants will not.
- It tolerates a shaded, north-facing spot.
- Its flowers are valued by bees and other pollinators.
Good companions
Plants that share its conditions and style, chosen to complement its place in the border:
- Anise/Blue Sagefor height behind it
- Black Cohoshfor height behind it
- Blue Mistflowerto edge in front
- Blue Wood Asterto edge in front
- Blue-Stem Goldenrodto flower when it does not
- Bottlebrush Buckeyefor height behind it
Garden styles
Native Wildlife garden Woodland
Sources
Bloom timing and hardiness drawn from: