FLASH SALES: 30% off selected Clematis until Tuesday night!
Share your pictures? Hide split images
I have read and agree the terms and conditions of service.
Not to be missed!

Virginian bluebells

Mertensia virginica
Virginian Bluebells, Blue and pink Ladies, Chiming Bells, Kentucky Bluebells, Roanoke Bells, Smooth Lungwort

8 reviews
3,8/5
4 reviews
2 reviews
0 reviews
0 reviews
2 reviews

I didn't go out this spring, but I got reimbursed.

Véronique H., 29/05/2017

Leave a review → View all reviews →

Select delivery date,

and select date in basket

This plant carries a 12 months recovery warranty

More information

Graden Merit
A lovely spring plant. Its bluish-grey foliage and sky-blue bell-shaped flowers form a harmonious combination.
Height at maturity
40 cm
Spread at maturity
30 cm
Exposure
Partial shade, Shade
Hardiness
Hardy down to -29°C
Soil moisture
Moist soil, Damp soil
plantfit-full

Does this plant fit my garden?

Set up your Plantfit profile →

Best planting time February to March, September to October
Recommended planting time February to April, September to November
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Flowering time April to May
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D

Description

Mertensia virginica is a lovely spring plant. Its bluish-grey foliage and sky-blue bell-shaped flowers form a harmonious combination.

 

 

This perennial herbaceous plant is native to the understory of the eastern United States. It has a fleshy stump. In spring, it bears beautiful oval, glabrous, thick, bluish-grey foliage. Its sky-blue flowers appear in the shape of small open trumpets. They are arranged in pendulous clusters. The foliage disappears shortly after flowering and the plant enters a complete dormancy in the heart of summer.

Mertensia virginica is very hardy. It grows in partial shade in all acidic, humus-bearing, moist soils. Plant it at the edge of an understory or in a cool, shaded rock garden, alongside tiarellas, dodecatheons, epimediums, and mellitis.

Flowering

Flower colour blue
Flowering time April to May

Foliage

Foliage persistence Deciduous
Foliage colour medium green

Plant habit

Height at maturity 40 cm
Spread at maturity 30 cm
Growth rate normal

Botanical data

Genus

Mertensia

Species

virginica

Family

Boraginaceae

Other common names

Virginian Bluebells, Blue and pink Ladies, Chiming Bells, Kentucky Bluebells, Roanoke Bells, Smooth Lungwort

Other Perennials A to Z

  1. Eryngium variifolium
    Eryngium variifolium
    60
    From €5.90 8/9 cm pot

  2. Thermopsis chinensis
    Thermopsis chinensis
    12
    From €6.90 8/9 cm pot

  3. Centaurea montana Amethyst Dream
    Centaurea montana Amethyst Dream
    6
    From €7.90 8/9 cm pot

    Available in 2 sizes

  4. Geum Pretticoats Peach
    Geum Pretticoats Peach
    28
    From €5.90 8/9 cm pot

    Available in 2 sizes

  5. Panicum virgatum Prairie Sky - Switchgrass
    Panicum virgatum Prairie Sky - Switchgrass
    17
    -20% €6.32 €7.90 8/9 cm pot

    Available in 2 sizes

  6. Anemone hupehensis September Charm
    Anemone hupehensis September Charm
    22
    From €12.50 2L/3L pot

    Available in 3 sizes

  7. Aloe brevifolia
    Aloe brevifolia
    Out of stock
    From €16.90 2L/3L pot

  8. Carex oshimensis Evergold - Oshima Sedge
    Carex oshimensis Evergold - Oshima Sedge
    3
    From €11.50 2L/3L pot

    Available in 3 sizes

  10. Monarda Cambridge Scarlet - Beebalm
    Monarda Cambridge Scarlet - Beebalm
    Available to order
    From €4.90 8/9 cm pot

  12. Chasmanthium latifolium
    Chasmanthium latifolium
    117
    From €4.90 8/9 cm pot

    Available in 2 sizes

  13. Agastache Kudos Yellow
    Agastache Kudos Yellow
    32
    From €6.90 8/9 cm pot

  14. Brunnera macrophylla Jack of Diamonds - Siberian Bugloss
    Brunnera macrophylla Jack of Diamonds - Sibe…
    15
    From €5.90 8/9 cm pot

    Available in 2 sizes

  15. Hosta Forbidden Fruit
    Hosta Forbidden Fruit
    17
    From €9.50 1.5L/2L pot

  16. Iris Pastel Printanier - Tall Bearded Iris
    Iris Pastel Printanier - Tall Bearded Iris
    43
    From €16.90 8/9 cm pot

    Available in 2 sizes

  17. Spartina pectinata Aureomarginata
    Spartina pectinata Aureomarginata
    6
    From €4.90 8/9 cm pot

Planting and care

Mertensia virginica thrives in moist to wet, peaty and humus-bearing soil, that is not too compact. Plant it in sun or shade. It is very pretty in a damp understory with pale-yellow daffodils. It remains dormant longer than it is awake, and is used advantageously between clumps of hostas, which are late risers and fill the space after them.

Planting period

Best planting time February to March, September to October
Recommended planting time February to April, September to November

Intended location

Suitable for Woodland edge
Type of use Border
Hardiness Hardy down to -29°C (USDA zone 5) Show map
Ease of cultivation Amateur
Planting density 5 per m2
Exposure Partial shade, Shade
Soil pH Acidic, Neutral
Soil type Silty-loamy (rich and light)
Soil moisture Moist soil, Damp soil, light, rich in humus

Care

Pruning No pruning necessary
Overwinter Can be left in the ground
3,8/5
4 reviews
2 reviews
No reviews
No reviews
2 reviews

Spring flowering perennials

  1. Euphorbia glauca - Spurge
    Euphorbia glauca - Spurge
    Out of stock
    From €14.90 12cm pot

  2. Paeonia lactiflora Cytherea
    Paeonia lactiflora Cytherea
    Available to order
    From €9.90 3L/4L pot

    Available in 2 sizes

  3. Paeonia Itoh Pastel Splendour
    Paeonia Itoh Pastel Splendour
    41
    €37.50 Bare root 3-5 eyes

    Available in 2 sizes

  4. Salvia officinalis Aurea
    Salvia officinalis Aurea
    41
    From €5.90 7/8 cm pot

  5. Paeonia lactiflora Tom Cat
    Paeonia lactiflora Tom Cat
    20
    From €7.90 Bare root 3-5 eyes

    Available in 2 sizes

  6. Pulmonaria saccharata Silver Bouquet - Lungwort
    Pulmonaria saccharata Silver Bouquet - Lungw…
    Available to order
    From €5.90 8/9 cm pot

    Available in 4 sizes

  7. Paeonia lactiflora Coral Charm
    Paeonia lactiflora Coral Charm
    55
    -30% €24.43 €34.90 3L/4L pot

    Available in 2 sizes

  8. French Lavender Seeds - Lavandula stoechas
    French Lavender Seeds - Lavandula stoechas
    15
    €4.90 Seeds

  9. Rosmarinus officinalis Pointe du Raz
    Rosmarinus officinalis Pointe du Raz
    Out of stock
    From €4.90 8/9 cm pot

  10. Iris Re La Blanche - Tall Bearded Iris
    Iris Re La Blanche - Tall Bearded Iris
    1
    From €7.90 8/9 cm pot

    Available in 2 sizes

  11. Paeonia lactiflora Diana Parks
    Paeonia lactiflora Diana Parks
    39
    From €13.50 Bare root 3-5 eyes

    Available in 2 sizes

  12. Aubrieta gracilis Kitte White
    Aubrieta gracilis Kitte White
    Out of stock
    From €12.50 2L/3L pot

  13. Arisaema griffithii
    Arisaema griffithii
    Out of stock
    From €14.90 Bulb

  14. Heucherella Cracked Ice
    Heucherella Cracked Ice
    22
    From €8.90 8/9 cm pot

  15. Dianthus plumarius Heidi
    Dianthus plumarius Heidi
    10
    From €4.90 8/9 cm pot

  18. Dianthus plumarius Maggie
    Dianthus plumarius Maggie
    6
    From €4.90 8/9 cm pot

  19. Viola odorata Reine Des Blanches
    Viola odorata Reine Des Blanches
    Out of stock
    From €5.90 8/9 cm pot

  20. Paeonia lactiflora Coral Magic
    Paeonia lactiflora Coral Magic
    57
    -30% €24.15 €34.50 3L/4L pot

    Available in 2 sizes

Haven't found what you were looking for?

Let's find plants fitting with your garden!