Plant Description
Virginia Bluebells (Mertensia virginica) are native perennial wildflowers found in the eastern United States, including New Jersey. These plants thrive in moist, rich soils in deciduous woodlands and floodplains. In early spring, they produce smooth, gray-green foliage and nodding clusters of pink buds that open into light blue, trumpet-shaped flowers. The branched, arching stems grow 1 to 2 feet tall, with large, oval leaves lining the stems. By midsummer, the foliage dies back as the plant enters dormancy, a typical trait of spring ephemerals (Jersey-Friendly Yards).
When planted in masses, Virginia Bluebells create a breathtaking display. The genus Mertensia is named after German botanist Franz Karl Mertens (1764–1831). Related species include Sea Lungwort (Mertensia maritima), with trailing, rosy-pink flowers found along beaches from Newfoundland to Massachusetts, and Tall Lungwort (Mertensia paniculata), a western species with hairy stems extending eastward into Wisconsin and Iowa (Jersey-Friendly Yards). For gardeners in New Jersey, these flowers are ideal for shade gardens, woodland borders, or as a spring groundcover. For continued interest after dormancy, consider interplanting with ferns or summer perennials.
