Mertensia virginica

RHS Plant Profile
Virginian bluebells

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Virginian bluebells Dorling Kindersley 2003
Virginian bluebells RHS
Virginian bluebells RHS

Other common names

blue and pink ladies, chiming bells, Kentucky bluebells, Roanoke bells, smooth lungwort, tree lungwort, Virginian cowslip, Virginian spiderwort, blue iris, bluebells

Synonyms

Mertensia pulmonarioides

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Herbaceous Perennial
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A compact herbaceous perennial with branched stems to 45cm in height, with oval, greyish leaves and terminal clusters of nodding, funnel-shaped violet-blue flowers 2cm in length

Position

Partial shade

Soil Types

Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

0.1-0.5 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
2–5 years
Max Spread
0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height
0.1-0.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Clay Loam Sand
Moisture
Moist but well–drained
pH
Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Partial shade
Aspect
East–facing or South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

  • H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
  • H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
  • H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
  • H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
  • H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
  • H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
  • H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
  • H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
  • H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)
H4

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Boraginaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Clump forming
Genus
Mertensia are herbaceous perennials with usually grey-green or blue-green leaves and nodding, blue, tubular or narrowly bell-shaped flowers
Name Status
Correct
Plant Range
E North America

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in moist but well-drained, humus-rich soil in partial shade

Propagation

Propagate by root cuttings in autumn or early winter

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • Flower borders and beds
  • Underplanting of roses and shrubs

Pruning

Cut back after flowering

Pests

May be susceptible to slugs and snails

Diseases

Generally disease-free