Shade Perennial

Virginia Bluebells

Botanical Name: Mertensia virginica
Height: 18" to 24" +
Spread: 18" to 24" +
Exposure: Light Shade, or Shade under Deciduous Trees
Care: Cut to ground when foliage yellows
Deer Resistant
Breathtaking delicate multi-color blooms of pink and blue in April on this native plant make it a worthwhile addition to the shade garden. It has pink flower buds, that open to blue flowers. Beautiful planted in front of 'Old Fashioned Bleeding Hearts', with 'Spring Bulbs'. By the end of June the plants are completely dormant. (Don't think they died, this is normal) They prefer rich, moist, well drained soil, but will grow in good ordinary garden soil. Since they go dormant early, it is a good idea to interplant them with some other, later arriving plants, such as 'Hardy Begonias', 'Hostas' or 'Ferns' (deciduous types) or plan on (carefully) filling in with shade annuals to hide the bare spots they leave behind.