They grow about two feet tall and wide with rounded, smooth leaves ranging from grey-green to blue-green.
These long-lived, perennial plants grow from rhizomes or persistent underground stems that store energy.
They usually disappear when the heat of summer sets in.
The rhizomes are best planted in the fall or early spring as soon as the ground thaws.
They like partial to full shade and regular watering.
Read on for our care guide.
Plant one to three inches deep and space 12 to 18 inches apart.
Watch the erect Virginia bluebells clump emerge, forming a field of fleeting color through early summer.
Light
Virginia bluebells are happy in partial to full shade.
Welcomed by the morning sun, they will continue to flower but will require more water.
These bell blooms enjoy some dappled sunlight beneath an old tree.
Their blues contrast softly with pink lamium groundcover and astilbe.
Water
Native to the cool woodlands of eastern North America, Virginia bluebells crave regular watering.
Cover newly planted rhizomes with mulch, preferably composted leaves to promote rich soil.
Establish strong roots with consistent yet moderate watering.
Imagine how the roots soak up the water, not drown in it.
Temperature and Humidity
Many seeds you sow in your garden need warm temperatures for germination and growth.
Virginia Bluebells are different.
They like cold and moist environments, like woodland marshes or watershed regions.
The foliage will die back before the heat and humidity arrive in midsummer.
This will promote flowering and help the soil retain moisture.
Whether your soil is sand or clay, it will benefit from the extra nutrition.
What differentiates the other bluebells is the terrain and habitats where they grow.
Despite the similar name, English and Spanish bluebells are unrelated to Virginia bluebells.
Propagating Virginia Bluebells
Virginia bluebells are self-sufficient.
Once you’ve given these spring blooms a happy home, they can care for themselves.
These plants spread out by rhizomes and self-seeding.
you’ve got the option to propagate by seed or by division.
The seeds are originally layered (stratified) in the woodland environment between moist soil.
Exposure to the cold stops the seeds from germinating at the wrong time.
Plant them in a container with drainage holes to ensure the soil stays moderately moist.
Place the plant outside in a shady or partially shady location.
Overwintering
Virginia bluebells go dormant in winter and should not need much protection.
Remove the mulch in the spring.
Mulch is not needed in warmer zones.
Common Pests & Plant Diseases
Virginia bluebells do not have any serious insect or disease problems.
However, snails and slugs might frequent new shoots.
They may eat holes in leaves or entire stems or make a meal of seedlings and tender transplants.
The evidence they were there: a tell-tale silvery, slimy trail.
Sprinkle diatomaceous earth tostop these gastropods from invading the plantor leave beer traps for them.
Rabbits and deer generally steer clear of Virginia bluebells.
Try organic solutions for controlling fungi from spreading, like sulfur, potassium bicarbonate, and horticultural oils.
They might need a year or two to establish if you only transplanted the rhizome in spring.
These plants usually bloom in their second or third year if grown from seeds.
What Do Virginia Bluebells Look and Smell Like?
They display pink buds that open to beautiful blue trumpet-shaped blooms.
Their tight bell clusters attract the season’s first buzzing bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.
How to Encourage More Blooms
These flowering plants do not like to be dry.
To help flowering, add compost or a balanced fertilizer (10-10-10) to the soil before planting.
These plants do not rebloom.
Common Problems With Virginia Bluebells
Virginia bluebells are mostly disease- and pest-resistant plants.
However, because they thrive in moist, shady environments, they can be susceptible to fungal infections.
In most cases, powdery mildew will cause stunted growth.
Mature leaves may turn brown or yellow.
You also will notice a powdery white or gray fungus on the tops of the leaves.
This is due to too much crowding, poor air circulation, or insufficient light.
Fungicides will not cure already diseased plants but can control the spread to the rest of the patch.
Use organic fungicide solutions, sulfur, potassium bicarbonate, and horticultural oils.
Forgetting Where Its Planted
Place markers where you have planted your Virginia bluebells.
You often do not have any visible indicator where they are below ground.
deer and rabbits avoid these plants.
Virginia bluebells reliably bloom from March to May (sometimes in early June).
They do not like high heat and usually make their exit in the hot weather.
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