Flower profile

Virginia bluebells

Mertensia virginica

Virginia bluebells (Mertensia virginica) is a flowering plant in the Boraginaceae family, native in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly March–May across the U.S.

Native in the lower 48

Virginia bluebells is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. It's on our flower lists for 13 states, and across the U.S. it's most often seen in bloom in March–May.

26states where USDA records it

13Bloomipedia state lists include it

47,439U.S. sightings*

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

On our lists for: Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin

Quick look

Mertensia virginica is a spring ephemeral plant in the Boraginaceae (borage) family with bell-shaped sky-blue flowers, native to eastern North America.
From Wikipedia's article Mertensia virginica, CC BY-SA 4.0.

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 26 states. ^{USDA PLANTS}
In Illinois, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in April–May. ^iNaturalist
In Ohio, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in March–April. ^iNaturalist
USDA PLANTS lists its flower color as blue. ^{USDA PLANTS}
USDA PLANTS gives its bloom period as spring. ^{USDA PLANTS}
USDA PLANTS lists a mature height of about 2.3 ft. ^{USDA PLANTS}
iNaturalist has 7,669 research-grade sightings of it in Illinois, ranking #5 among the 180 flowers on our Illinois list. ^iNaturalist
iNaturalist has 5,893 research-grade sightings of it in Ohio, ranking #19 among the 186 flowers on our Ohio list. ^iNaturalist
iNaturalist has 5,553 research-grade sightings of it in Virginia, ranking #19 among the 189 flowers on our Virginia list. ^iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month across the U.S. (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (13,307 records)

Bloom time in the 13 states whose Bloomipedia list includes it

State	Type	Peak bloom	Sightings*
Illinois	Native	April–May	7,669
Ohio	Native	March–April	5,893
Virginia	Native	March–April	5,553
Pennsylvania	Native	April	4,689
Maryland	Native	March–April	3,905
Indiana	Native	March–April	2,327
Wisconsin	Native	April–May	2,298
Tennessee	Native	March–April	1,913
Missouri	Native	March–April	1,878
West Virginia	Native	March–April	1,409
Kentucky	Native	March–April	1,372
Iowa	Native	April–May	993
Delaware	Native	April	358

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

State rare plant lists

Not listed Not on the official rare plant list in 11 of our 13 states.

See each state

Illinois: Not listed Not on Illinois List of Endangered and Threatened Flora (17 Ill. Adm. Code 1050), per the Endangered Species Protection Board's 2025 checklist. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Illinois. ^{IL E&T checklist 2025}
Ohio: Not listed Not on Ohio endangered and threatened plants (Ohio Adm. Code 1501:18-1-03, eff. Dec. 26, 2024). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Ohio. ^{OAC 1501:18-1-03}
Virginia: Not listed Not on Virginia endangered and threatened plant and insect species (2VAC5-320-10). NatureServe: S5, secure in Virginia. ^2VAC5-320-10
Pennsylvania: Not listed Not on Pennsylvania classified native plants (17 Pa. Code Ch. 45, Subchapter B, as amended 2023). NatureServe: S5, secure in Pennsylvania. ^{17 Pa. Code Ch. 45}
Maryland: Not listed Not on Maryland threatened and endangered plants (COMAR 08.03.08.05, .06 and .08). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Maryland. ^{COMAR 08.03.08}
Wisconsin: Not listed Not on Wisconsin endangered and threatened species list (Wis. Admin. Code NR 27.03). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Wisconsin. ^{NR 27.03}
Tennessee: Not listed Not on Tennessee endangered plants (Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0400-06-02-.04, Rare Plant Protection and Conservation Act). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Tennessee. ^{TN rule 0400-06-02-.04}
Missouri: Not listed Not on Missouri Wildlife Code endangered species (3 CSR 10-4.111), plants. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Missouri. ^{3 CSR 10-4.111}
Kentucky: Not listed Not on Kentucky endangered and threatened plant lists (400 KAR 3:040, eff. 2026). NatureServe: S5, secure in Kentucky. ^{400 KAR 3:040}
Iowa: Not listed Not on Iowa endangered, threatened and special concern plants (Iowa Admin. Code r. 571-77.3). NatureServe: S4, apparently secure in Iowa. ^{IAC 571-77.3}
Delaware: Not listed Not on Rare and Uncommon Plants of Delaware (DNREC, 2024; informational, Delaware has no state plant-protection list). NatureServe: S3, vulnerable in Delaware. ^{DE rare plants 2024}

Indiana

No list Indiana has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants (the DNR keeps a rare plant list, but it isn't regulatory), so we show NatureServe's Indiana ranks instead. NatureServe: S5, secure in Indiana.

West Virginia

No list West Virginia has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants (only federally listed species are protected), so we show NatureServe's West Virginia ranks instead. NatureServe: S4, apparently secure in West Virginia.

Rare elsewhere

Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: GA (S2), KS (S1), MI (S1), MS (S1), NC (S2), NJ (S2). (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.

Please leave it where it grows

Please don't pick or dig this flower: NatureServe ranks it S3 in Delaware. ^NatureServe

Can you eat it?

For peopleNot well documented

None of the sources we checked (NC State Extension (no edibility or poison notes on its page), USDA PLANTS) say whether it's edible or poisonous for people. ^{NC State Extension}

For petsNot well documented

It isn't on the ASPCA plant list, and NC State Extension doesn't flag it for pets.

🌿 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 Virginia bluebells in 26 states plus Washington, D.C.

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recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin; District of Columbia.

Illinois counties with USDA records: Adams, Alexander, Boone, Bureau, Calhoun, Carroll, Cass, Champaign, Christian, Clark, Clay, Coles, Cook, Crawford, Cumberland, De Witt, DeKalb, Douglas, DuPage, Edwards, Effingham, Fayette, Franklin, Fulton, Greene, Grundy, Hamilton, Hancock, Hardin, Henderson, Henry, Jackson, Jasper, Jersey, Johnson, Kane, Kankakee, Kendall, Knox, LaSalle, Lake, Lawrence, Lee, Livingston, Logan, Macon, Macoupin, Madison, Marion, Marshall, Mason, Massac, McDonough, McLean, Menard, Mercer, Monroe, Montgomery, Moultrie, Ogle, Peoria, Perry, Piatt, Pike, Pope, Pulaski, Putnam, Randolph, Richland, Rock Island, Saline, Sangamon, Schuyler, Shelby, St. Clair, Stark, Stephenson, Tazewell, Union, Vermilion, Wabash, Warren, Washington, Wayne, Whiteside, Will, Williamson, Winnebago, Woodford.

Ohio counties with USDA records: Adams, Ashland, Ashtabula, Athens, Auglaize, Belmont, Brown, Butler, Carroll, Clark, Clermont, Clinton, Columbiana, Coshocton, Cuyahoga, Darke, Delaware, Erie, Fairfield, Fayette, Franklin, Geauga, Greene, Guernsey, Hamilton, Highland, Hocking, Holmes, Huron, Jackson, Jefferson, Knox, Lake, Lawrence, Licking, Logan, Lorain, Lucas, Mahoning, Medina, Meigs, Mercer, Miami, Monroe, Montgomery, Morgan, Morrow, Muskingum, Ottawa, Perry, Pickaway, Pike, Portage, Richland, Ross, Scioto, Seneca, Shelby, Stark, Summit, Trumbull, Tuscarawas, Van Wert, Vinton, Warren, Washington, Wayne, Wyandot.

Virginia counties with USDA records: Albemarle, Amelia, Amherst, Appomattox, Augusta, Bath, Bedford, Bland, Botetourt, Brunswick, Buchanan, Buckingham, Campbell, Charlotte, Chesterfield, Clarke, Culpeper, Cumberland, Fairfax, Fauquier, Floyd, Fluvanna, Frederick, Goochland, Greene, Halifax, Henrico, Henry, Lee, Loudoun, Louisa, Lunenburg, Madison, Mecklenburg, Middlesex, Montgomery, Nelson, Nottoway, Orange, Page, Patrick, Pittsylvania, Prince Edward, Prince William, Pulaski, Roanoke, Rockbridge, Rockingham, Russell, Shenandoah, Smyth, Spotsylvania, Stafford, Warren, Washington.

Growing conditions

USDA PLANTS gives Virginia bluebells a low shade tolerance, low drought tolerance and high moisture use. It is rated for soil pH 4.5 to 8.0 and winter lows down to -28 °F.

Shade tolerance: Low
Drought tolerance: Low
Moisture use: High
Soil textures it is adapted to: medium, fine
Soil pH range: 4.5 to 8.0
Minimum temperature tolerated: -28 °F
Frost-free days needed (minimum): 100
Annual precipitation range: 26 to 54 inches
Minimum root depth: 4 inches
Salinity tolerance: None
Fertility requirement: High
Growth rate: Moderate
Lifespan: Moderate
Active growth period: Spring
Fruit or seed: · Spring to Summer
Can be propagated by: bare root, seed
Commercial availability: Routinely Available

From the USDA PLANTS characteristics data for MEVI3. USDA ratings are general guidance for the species, not a guarantee for your garden.

Names, range and relatives

Native status by region (USDA PLANTS): Canada: Native; Lower 48 states: Native.

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 575 counties across 23 states; the most are in Illinois (89), Ohio (68), Kentucky (61).

Other Mertensia on Bloomipedia (4): Mountain 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 Illinois flowers

Virginia waterleaf

Hydrophyllum virginianum

Native

🌼 Blooms in IL: May–June

Common milkweed

Asclepias syriaca

Native

🌼 Blooms in IL: June–July

Prairie trillium

Trillium recurvatum

Native

🌼 Blooms in IL: April–May

Sources

USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile MEVI3.
iNaturalist, Mertensia virginica: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
Wikipedia, Mertensia virginica (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
State rare and invasive plant lists (24):
Show all 24 state lists
- Illinois: Illinois List of Endangered and Threatened Flora (17 Ill. Adm. Code 1050), per the Endangered Species Protection Board's 2025 checklist.
- Illinois: Illinois Official List of Exotic Weeds (17 Ill. Adm. Code 1100.30, Illinois Exotic Weed Act).
- Ohio: Ohio endangered and threatened plants (Ohio Adm. Code 1501:18-1-03, eff. Dec. 26, 2024).
- Ohio: Ohio invasive plant species (Ohio Adm. Code 901:5-30-01).
- Virginia: Virginia endangered and threatened plant and insect species (2VAC5-320-10).
- Virginia: Virginia noxious weeds (2VAC5-317-20, Tier 1, 2 and 3).
- Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania classified native plants (17 Pa. Code Ch. 45, Subchapter B, as amended 2023).
- Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania Noxious Weed List (3 Pa.C.S. § 1519, PA Dept. of Agriculture) (PDA's page spells garlic mustard “Allaria petiolata”; we match it as Alliaria petiolata).
- Maryland: Maryland threatened and endangered plants (COMAR 08.03.08.05, .06 and .08).
- Maryland: Maryland Prohibited Invasive Plant List (COMAR 15.06.04.06; MDA, updated July 2026).
- Indiana: Indiana prohibited invasive terrestrial plants (312 IAC 18-3-25).
- Wisconsin: Wisconsin endangered and threatened species list (Wis. Admin. Code NR 27.03).
- Wisconsin: Wisconsin invasive species rule (Wis. Admin. Code NR 40.04 prohibited, NR 40.05 restricted).
- Tennessee: Tennessee endangered plants (Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0400-06-02-.04, Rare Plant Protection and Conservation Act).
- Tennessee: Tennessee Pest Plant List (Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0080-06-24-.02).
- Missouri: Missouri Wildlife Code endangered species (3 CSR 10-4.111), plants.
- Missouri: Missouri noxious weed list (2 CSR 70-45.005).
- West Virginia: West Virginia noxious weeds (W. Va. Code R. § 61-14A-5) (the rule abbreviates some names (e.g. “P. cuspidatum”); we expand them to match).
- Kentucky: Kentucky endangered and threatened plant lists (400 KAR 3:040, eff. 2026).
- Kentucky: Kentucky noxious weeds and invasive plants on state rights-of-way (KRS 176.051; species list from the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet).
- Iowa: Iowa endangered, threatened and special concern plants (Iowa Admin. Code r. 571-77.3).
- Iowa: Iowa noxious weeds (Iowa Code § 317.1A).
- Delaware: Rare and Uncommon Plants of Delaware (DNREC, 2024; informational, Delaware has no state plant-protection list).
- Delaware: Delaware Invasive Plant List (3 Del. Admin. Code § 806-3.0).
USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
NatureServe Explorer, Mertensia virginica (global and state ranks).
Edibility and toxicity: NC State Extension.
Photo: cigazze via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized.