Bloomipedia
Mountain bluebells (Mertensia ciliata)
Photo: Rory O'Shea via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized

Flower profile

Mountain bluebells

Mertensia ciliata

Mountain bluebells (Mertensia ciliata) is a flowering plant in the Boraginaceae family, native in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly June–August across the U.S.

Native in the lower 48

Mountain bluebells is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. It's on our flower lists for 2 states, and across the U.S. it's most often seen in bloom in June–August.

11states where USDA records it
2Bloomipedia state lists include it
3,614U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: Colorado, Wyoming

Quick look

Mertensia ciliata is a species of flowering plant in the borage family known by the common names mountain bluebell, tall fringed bluebells, and streamside bluebells.

  • It belongs to the Boraginaceae family. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) with a perennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 11 states. USDA PLANTS
  • NatureServe lists it as native to Colorado and Wyoming. NatureServe
  • In Colorado, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in June–August. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS lists its flower color as blue. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS gives its bloom period as late spring. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists a mature height of about 2 ft. USDA PLANTS
  • iNaturalist has 1,739 research-grade sightings of it in Colorado, ranking #95 among the 160 flowers on our Colorado list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 333 research-grade sightings of it in Wyoming, ranking #88 among the 113 flowers on our Wyoming list. iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month across the U.S. (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (722 records)
Bloom time in the 2 states whose Bloomipedia list includes it
StateTypePeak bloomSightings*
ColoradoNativeJune–August1,739
WyomingNativefew records (22)333

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA)
Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
NatureServe global
G5 Secure worldwide. NatureServe
Colorado
No list Colorado has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Colorado ranks instead. NatureServe: S4, apparently secure in Colorado.
Wyoming
No list Wyoming has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Wyoming ranks instead. NatureServe: S5, secure in Wyoming.
Rare elsewhere
Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: NM (S2), SD (S1). (S1 critically imperiled, S2 imperiled, SH possibly extirpated, SX presumed extirpated.)

Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Can you eat it?

For peopleNot well documented

None of the sources we checked (NC State Extension (no page for this plant), USDA PLANTS) say whether it's edible or poisonous for people.

For petsNot well documented

It isn't on the ASPCA plant list.

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS records mountain bluebells in 11 states.

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Wyoming.

Colorado counties with USDA records: Alamosa, Boulder, Chaffee, Clear Creek, Custer, Delta, Dolores, Eagle, El Paso, Garfield, Gilpin, Grand, Gunnison, Hinsdale, Huerfano, Jackson, La Plata, Lake, Larimer, Mesa, Mineral, Montezuma, Ouray, Park, Pitkin, Pueblo, Rio Blanco, Routt, Saguache, San Juan, San Miguel, Summit, Teller, Weld.

Wyoming counties with USDA records: Albany, Big Horn, Carbon, Converse, Fremont, Hot Springs, Johnson, Laramie, Lincoln, Natrona, Park, Sheridan, Sublette, Sweetwater, Teton, Uinta, Washakie.

Growing conditions

USDA PLANTS gives Mountain bluebells a medium shade tolerance, low drought tolerance and high moisture use. It is rated for soil pH 6.2 to 7.2 and winter lows down to -23 °F.

Shade tolerance
Medium
Drought tolerance
Low
Moisture use
High
Soil textures it is adapted to
coarse, medium
Soil pH range
6.2 to 7.2
Minimum temperature tolerated
-23 °F
Frost-free days needed (minimum)
100
Annual precipitation range
12 to 65 inches
Minimum root depth
10 inches
Salinity tolerance
None
Fertility requirement
High
Growth rate
Moderate
Lifespan
Moderate
Active growth period
Spring and Summer
Fruit or seed
Brown · Summer to Fall
Can be propagated by
bare root, cuttings, seed
Commercial availability
Contracting Only

From the USDA PLANTS characteristics data for MECI3. USDA ratings are general guidance for the species, not a guarantee for your garden.

Names, range and relatives

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 146 counties across 10 states; the most are in Colorado (34), Idaho (24), Wyoming (17).

Other Mertensia on Bloomipedia (4): Virginia bluebells, Tall bluebell, Prairie bluebells, Oysterplant.

More from the Boraginaceae family (42 on Bloomipedia; most observed first): Virginia waterleaf, Pacific hound's tongue, Distant phacelia, Alkali heliotrope, Virginia stickseed, Wild comfrey, Menzies' baby blue eyes, California yerba santa.

More Colorado flowers

Silky phacelia (Phacelia sericea)

Silky phacelia

Phacelia sericea

Native

🌼 Blooms in CO: June–July
Hound's-tongue (Cynoglossum officinale)

Hound's-tongue

Cynoglossum officinale

Introduced

🌼 Blooms in CO: May–June
Prairie bluebells (Mertensia lanceolata)

Prairie bluebells

Mertensia lanceolata

Native

🌼 Blooms in CO: April–June

Sources