Species › Plants › Virginia Bluebells

Virginia Bluebells

Mertensia virginica

CommonPlant
Illustration of Virginia Bluebells (Mertensia virginica)

Virginia Bluebells is a spectacular spring ephemeral wildflower of rich floodplain forests, producing large clusters of sky-blue tubular flowers that begin as pink buds and fade back to pink before falling. It blooms for just 4–6 weeks before the leaves die back completely. It grows in large masses, turning floodplain forests a deep blue in April.

Habitat
Rich floodplain forests and moist bottomland slopes in eastern North America
Diet
Nectar for bumblebees, hummingbirds, and long-tongued bees
How common
Common

Best time to see a Virginia Bluebells

The best time to see a Virginia Bluebells is April, when about 65% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 47,360 research-grade iNaturalist observations.

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