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Virginia Bluebell

Mertensia virginiana

  • Pink-to-Blue Color-Changing Blooms Transform Your Shaded Garden All Spring Long
  • Cold Hardy: Thrives in Zones 4-9
  • Grows 1-2 ft Tall, 1 -2 ft Wide
  • Showy Blue, Purple, Pink Blooms in Late Spring
  • Fast-Growing in Full Shade
Regular price $4096
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Planting & Care

Where to Plant

  • Sunlight: Choose a spot with partial shade to full shade, providing about 2 to 4 hours of soft morning sun. Too much direct afternoon sunlight will scorch the delicate leaves and force the plant into an early summer dormancy.
  • Soil: These plants crave rich, loamy soil that mimics a forest floor, so mix in plenty of compost or leaf mold before planting. If you have heavy clay, add organic matter to improve drainage because soggy soil during the winter dormant period can lead to root rot.

Watering Requirements

Provide consistent moisture during the spring growing season to support the lush foliage and bell shaped flowers. Once the plant goes dormant in mid summer, you can cut back on watering, but avoid letting the soil bake into a hard crust. Inconsistent watering while the plant is active often leads to premature wilting and a shorter bloom cycle.

Pruning Tips

Virginia Bluebells are spring ephemerals that naturally die back to the ground after they finish flowering. Do not prune or remove the foliage until it has turned completely yellow or brown, as the leaves are busy sending energy down to the roots for next year. Think of this yellowing phase as the plant recharging its internal battery for a successful return next spring.

Fertilizer Needs

Top dress the area with a layer of compost or apply a balanced, slow release fertilizer just as the first sprouts emerge from the soil in early spring. Avoid using high nitrogen fertilizers late in the spring season because this can produce weak, succulent growth that is more attractive to garden pests. Using a natural mulch like shredded leaves will also provide a steady stream of nutrients as it breaks down over time.

Delivery and Shipping

Preorder Shipping Schedule

We ship your plants when it's safe to transport them to your zone. Dates are estimated and subject to weather delays.

Zone 3-4 Week of March 30th
Zone 5 Week of March 16th
Zone 6-12 Week of March 2nd


Shipping Rates

Ships in 7-10 business days • Tracking provided • Weather protected

Under $50 $9.99
$50 - $99.99 $14.99
$100 - $149.99 $16.99
$150 - $198.99 $24.99
$199+ FREE

✓ Zone-specific timing • ✓ Professional packaging • ✓ Health guarantee

Description

A perfect, shade-loving flower, the Virginia Blue Bell (Mertensia virginica) is a native plant to the eastern United States, and can be grown throughout much of the country. The curious color-changing flower buds emerge a pink color and gradually turn to their lovely shade of light blue, as they open fully while blooming through the spring before taking on a more lavender hue at maturity.

Forming clusters of bell-shaped blooms with their nodding buds atop long slender stems, they attract early spring pollinators to sip the nectar. Beneath the Virginia Bluebell blooms lies the large, green, oval leaves of this attractive herbaceous perennial. The plant stands upright, reaching up to 2 feet tall, and produces arching ends with pendulous clusters of bell-shaped flowers. It looks more beautiful than it sounds too and your whole neighborhood will be able to attest to that!

Virginia Blue Bell is a very hardy plant and will even grow beneath Black Walnut trees! You will have no worries about anything stopping this flower from standing out amongst the crowd! Remarkably cold-hardy throughout USDA growing zones 3 through 8, Blue Bells are easy-to-grow wildflowers for shade! Blue Bells are deer and rabbit resistant too!

Planting and Application:

Just imagine the Virginia Blue Bell planted in natural clumps in shaded areas of your landscape or lining a wandering path. These lovely blooms add color to shaded gardens and early spring landscapes. Because these shy blooms recede in the heat, Bluebells appreciate being underplantings beneath larger shrubs and trees, especially ones that leaf out later in the season giving these delicate perennials a place to hide.

Pollinators will still love the plant, and butterflies, moths, and bees will flock to the small blooms. And who can really blame them? This flower is absolutely stunning! Plant in shady pollinator and wildflower gardens, in dappled forest meadows and cut flower gardens, and beneath the shade of large trees where they happily ramble and spread. They appear like spring ephemerals and shyly hide once the summer's heat kicks in.

  • Color-Changing Blooms - Pinkish to Blue to Lavender
  • North American Native
  • Shade-Loving, Flowering Bulb
  • Fast Growing Ephemerals
  • Rows and Groupings, Shade Gardens & Spring Bulb Plantings

#ProPlantTips for Care:

Plant your lovely flowers in well-drained soil with partial shade to full shade for the best, healthy growth possible, while also enhancing the overall physical appearance of your landscaping! Blue Bells in the hotter of their preferred growing zones do best in full shade. Plant in very rich organic soil that is well-drained and consistently moist. Enrich the soil with a 3-4 inch layer of arborist bark chips that insulate and better the soil as it breaks down. In the late summer or fall, after the foliage has yellowed, clean the mounds of old foliage.

  • Partial Shade & Full Shade
  • Organic Humusy Soil & Mulched Beds
  • Consistent Moisture & Fertility
  • Juglone Tolerant & Deer and Rabbit Resistant
  • Clean Mounds After Foliage Yellows

Make that a reality today by ordering your very own Virginia Blue Bell today at Nature Hills Nursery! It will be a landscaping-changing decision! Order your perennial spring ephemerals today and we'll ship your order to your growing zone at the right planting time.

Frequently Asked Questions

What planting zones are Virginia Bluebells hardy in?

  • Virginia Bluebells are remarkably cold-hardy in USDA zones 3 through 8. These native wildflowers thrive in cooler climates and can handle harsh winters with ease. Plant them in shaded areas where they'll naturalize and return reliably each spring.

How tall and wide do Virginia Bluebells grow at maturity?

  • Virginia Bluebells reach 2 feet tall and spread naturally into attractive clumps. These hardy perennials thrive in zones 3-8 and work beautifully as underplantings beneath trees and shrubs. Shop quality Virginia Bluebells at naturehills.com for your shade garden.

Do Virginia Bluebells prefer full sun, partial shade, or full shade?

  • Virginia Bluebells thrive in shade and are perfect for areas where most flowering plants struggle. These hardy perennials naturally grow as forest understory plants in zones 3-8. Plant them beneath trees or large shrubs where they can bloom in spring before retreating as temperatures rise.

What type of soil do Virginia Bluebells need to thrive?

  • Virginia Bluebells thrive in moist, well-draining soil rich in organic matter. These woodland natives prefer slightly acidic to neutral pH and appreciate consistent moisture, especially during their spring growing season. Plant them where they'll get natural leaf litter and compost to mimic forest floor conditions.

When do Virginia Bluebells bloom and what color are the flowers?

  • Virginia Bluebells bloom in spring with flowers that start pink in bud, open to light blue, then mature to lavender. This color-changing display creates a stunning spring show in zones 3-8. Plant them in shade where they can naturally retreat as temperatures warm.

Are Virginia Bluebells deer resistant?

  • Yes, Virginia Bluebells are both deer and rabbit resistant. This native perennial's natural properties make it an excellent choice for areas where browsing animals are a problem. Plant them in shade gardens or woodland settings where deer typically forage.

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