Virginia bluebells Mertensia virginica
Virginia bluebells (Mertensia virginica) is a deciduous perennial flowering plant in the Boraginaceae family, native to Eastern North America (floodplain woods). It grows 30–60 cm (12–24 in) tall and 30–45 cm (12–18 in) wide, wants shade and moderate water, and is hardy to about -37 °C (-35 °F). Space plants about 35 cm (14 in) apart.
Plan Virginia bluebells in your garden →
Free. Draw your beds, then watch it grow through the year in 2D and 3D.
Virginia bluebells at a glance
| Type | Perennial flowering plant, deciduous |
|---|---|
| Family | Boraginaceae |
| Mature height | 30–60 cm (12–24 in) |
| Mature spread | 30–45 cm (12–18 in) |
| Spacing | 35 cm (14 in) centre to centre |
| Sun | Shade, at least 2 h of direct sun a day |
| Water | Moderate; drought tolerance low, waterlogging tolerance moderate |
| Soil pH | 5.5–7.5 |
| Cold hardiness | About -37 °C (-35 °F) once established (roughly USDA zone 3) |
| Heat stress | Likely above about 30 °C (86 °F) |
| Flowering | from about April for 3–4 weeks (northern hemisphere; later in cold climates, earlier in warm ones) |
| Wind tolerance | Low |
| Pollinator value | High |
| Edible | Not grown as food |
| Native to | Eastern North America (floodplain woods) |
| Common in gardens of | 🇺🇸 United States |
Is Virginia bluebells toxic?
- People: not known to be toxic
- Cats: not known to be toxic
- Dogs: not known to be toxic
No toxicity reported in ASPCA or standard poison references.
If a child or pet may have eaten part of a plant, call a poison centre or vet straight away.
Companion planting: what to grow with Virginia bluebells
No well-documented helpful pairing. Group it with plants that like shade and moderate water.
See Virginia bluebells in a botanical garden
It grows in these sample gardens, which you can walk through in 3D:
- Brooklyn Botanic Garden (10 plants)
- Missouri Botanical Garden (10 plants)
- New York Botanical Garden (12 plants)
Questions about Virginia bluebells
- How far apart should I plant Virginia bluebells?
- About 35 cm (14 in) apart, centre to centre. A mature plant spreads 30–45 cm (12–18 in).
- Does Virginia bluebells need full sun?
- Shade: at least 2 hours of direct sun a day.
- How much water does Virginia bluebells need?
- Moderate water. Drought tolerance is low and waterlogging tolerance moderate.
- How cold-hardy is Virginia bluebells?
- It tolerates about -37 °C (-35 °F) once established, roughly USDA zone 3.
- When does Virginia bluebells flower?
- From about April for 3–4 weeks (northern hemisphere; later in cold climates, earlier in warm ones).
- Is Virginia bluebells poisonous to cats and dogs?
- For cats it is not known to be toxic; for dogs not known to be toxic; for people not known to be toxic. No toxicity reported in ASPCA or standard poison references.
- What grows well with Virginia bluebells?
- There is no well-documented companion pairing for Virginia bluebells. Group it with plants that like the same sun (shade) and water (moderate).
Sources and evidence
Evidence grade B (B: extension service or peer-reviewed).
- Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder, Missouri Botanical Garden
- USDA PLANTS Database, USDA NRCS
- Thain Family Forest and native plant collections, New York Botanical Garden
Notes and assumptions
- Spring ephemeral: pink buds open to sky-blue bells in April, then the plant vanishes underground by June.
Reference values for planning, not horticultural, veterinary or medical advice. Varieties, soils and local climates differ: check with a local nursery or extension service.
Related plants
- Borage Borago officinalis
- Comfrey Symphytum officinale
- Woodland forget-me-not Myosotis sylvatica
- Lungwort (pulmonaria) Pulmonaria officinalis
- Heliotrope Heliotropium arborescens
- Tree echium (giant viper's bugloss) Echium pininana
- Pride of Madeira Echium candicans
- Chatham Island forget-me-not Myosotidium hortensia