What Established Virginia Bluebells (Mertensia virginica) Look Like in Every Season of the Year

See what established plants and patches of Mertensia virginica (Virginia Bluebells) look like in each season. You will follow 2 locations (maintained/shade and semi-maintained hiking/partial sun) of Mertensia virginica from when they first emerge in the Spring, to when they get buds, flower, form a fruit (schizocarp) which contains seeds (nutlets), and then fall over. You will also learn about how the seeds are distributed (ants), how the flowers get to be that blue color (anthocyanins), ways to care for your own Mertensia virginica, the ideal number of Mertensia virginica plants for pollination and pollinator visitors, and about nectar robbery.
Scientific Name: Mertensia virginica
Common Names: Virginia Bluebells, Bluebells, Roanoke Bells, Virginia Cowslip, Lungwort Oysterleaf
Sun: Partial, Shade
Soil Type: Loam, Clay, Sand
Soil Moisture: Medium to medium-wet (well-drained)
Height: 1.5 to 2 feet
Bloom Time: March-May (for 3-4 weeks)
Pollinators: Bees, moths, butterflies, skippers, flies, hummingbirds
Endangered Status: Vulnerable or critically imperiled in some areas, overall considered secure
Nail Polish Seen in Video:
"Coral Reef" by Colores de Carol (www.coloresdec...)
"Saturdays in the Park" by Colores de Carol (www.coloresdec...)
"Pixel Pink" by ILNP (www.ilnp.com/).
"Strawberry Shake" by ILNP (www.ilnp.com/)
"Instant Re-Leaf" by Cupcake Polish (www.cupcakepol...)
"Lucky Little Leprechaun" by Nail Hoot (nailhoot.com/)
Primary Scientific References:
Enz, John J. Reproductive biology and pollination ecology of Mertensia virginica (L.) pers. 1998.  University of Louisville ProQuest Dissertations Publishing. 9907052. www.proquest.c...
Mare Nazaire, Xiao-Quan Wang, Larry Hufford. Geographic origins and patterns of radiation of Mertensia (Boraginaceae). 2014. American Journal of Botany 101 (1): 104-118. doi.org/10.373...
Schneck, J. How Bumblebees extract nectar from Mertensia Virginica DC. 1887. Botanical Gazette 111. www.journals.u...
Williams, Louis Otho. A Monograph of the Genus Mertensia in North America. 1937. Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden 24 (1): 17-159. doi.org/10.230....
Willis, O. R. Note on Mertensia Virginica. 1881. Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club 8 (7): 79-80. www.jstor.org/s....
Other References:
Illinois Wildflowers: www.illinoiswil...
U.S. Department of Agriculture Plants: plants.usda.go...
Wisconsin Horticulture Division of Extension: hort.extension...
North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox: plants.ces.ncs...
Native Plant Trust Go Botany: gobotany.nativ...
Lake Forest College Environmental Studies: www.lakeforest...
Nature Serve Explorer: explorer.natur...
bplant.org: bplant.org/pla...
Virginia Wildflowers: virginiawildfl...
Prairie Moon Nursery: www.prairiemoo...
Prairie Nursery: www.prairienur...
Grow It Build It Blog: growitbuildit....
Grow It Build It Blog (2): growitbuildit....
Flora Pittsburghensis Blog: florapittsburg...
All video and images are created by the Native Flower Power channel creator, unless otherwise noted.

[@Conus426]

Very interesting perennial flower, very beautiful! And great info video, really professional!

[@nativeflowerpower9942]

Thank you for saying so, much appreciated! I'm glad it was informative for you.

[@marky3131]

You and your video makes me smile. Just planted my first bluebells in our woods. Looking forward to seeing them start to spread.

[@nativeflowerpower9942]

Thank you! 🙂This is exciting and great for you -- and since you say "in our woods", that sounds like just the right location to get some serious spread. Oh man, it's going to be beautiful!

[@glorifiedlungfish]

Thank you for this! I got a few rhizomes on a whim to put under my trees and they're just starting to shoot out new growth - so neat to get an idea of what they will look like in the coming year(s). I was worried the brown/purple coloration of the new growth meant there was something wrong and it's nice to have confirmation that that is normal.

[@nativeflowerpower9942]

Oh yes, that's so wonderful!! And I'm glad I could provide a little calm in knowing that the brown/purple is quite normal. :-)