Zone: 3 to 8
Soil: Sand to clay
Light: part sun to shade
Bloom colour: Pink to blue
Bloom period: Early spring
Height: 1 to 2 feet
Moisture: moist in spring
Attracts: Queen bumblebees
Notes: It is native ephemeral of floodplains where moist and rich soil can be found. However, it can grow in a much wider range of conditions in gardens where it will tolerate sand and summer dryness. It must be given plenty of water during the spring when it is growing. Once the tips of the plant appear above ground, it springs into life fairly quickly and is one of the first plants to flower in the garden. The production of anthocyanins and phenols in the purple leaves probably gives them protection from herbivory. As the plant develops further, the leaves go green. Similarly, the flowers initially appear as pink and change to blue. It is one of those plants that must be planted en masse to make an impact although the odd individual at the base of a tree here and there can also be quite enchanting.
When compared to other woodland plants, Virginia bluebells is a great source of nectar for queen bumblebees and perhaps hummingbirds. If you are planting this species with the intention of attracting pollinators, you need to let a decent sized patch develop over a period of many years. They reseed themselves at a moderate and it takes 4 - 5 years for blooming to occur. The plants go dormant during the summer so have something else there to take up some space. In my garden it is interplanted with white wood aster which flowers in the fall and is of similar height.
There are many gardeners who have never seen Virginia bluebells and they have missed out on such a delightful plant. |
