Virginia Bluebells
Mertensia virginica
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Boraginaceae
- Genus:
- Mertensia
- Species:
- Mertensia virginica
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Forb/herb
- Height:
- 2-3 ft
- Light Requirements:
- Part Shade, Shade
- Drought Tolerance:
- High
- Bloom Months:
- mar, apr, may, jun
- Bloom Colors:
- Pink, Blue, Purple
Native Range
United States: Alabama, Arkansas, District of Columbia, Delaware, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Wisconsin, West Virginia, Canada: Ontario, Quebec
Keystone Species Ranking
- Caterpillar Keystone:
- ★★★★★ Based on number of butterfly and moth species using this genus as host plant (Source: National Wildlife Federation)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Gnophaela latipennis
Reported Fauna Sightings
Bees: Black and gold bumble bee (Bombus auricomus), Black and gold bumble bee (Bombus auricomus), Common eastern bumble bee (Bombus impatiens), Common eastern bumble bee (Bombus impatiens), Confusing bumble bee (Bombus perplexus), Confusing bumble bee (Bombus perplexus), 🛑Rusty-patched bumble bee (Bombus affinis), 🛑Rusty-patched bumble bee (Bombus affinis), Two-spotted bumble bee (Bombus bimaculatus), Two-spotted bumble bee (Bombus bimaculatus) Butterflies:Azure sp. (Celastrina Tutt), (Pieris rapae), (Pieris rapae), Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Pterourus glaucus), Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Pterourus glaucus), Horace's Duskywing (Gesta Evans)
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- rich, well-drained loamy soil
- pH:
- 5.5 - 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- tolerates poor drainage
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- Prefers floodplain forests and moist woodlands
Germination Information
Pre-treatment: Seeds are cold stratified
Source: npn.rngr.net