Arguably one of our most beautiful spring ephemerals, Virginia bluebells are stunning when grown in mass plantings around trees and shrubs, or in shade gardens. The dainty, bell-shaped flowers appear atop compact clumps of gray-green foliage, and last for several weeks. As they mature, blossoms change from pinkish buds to shades of purple, finally arriving at their distinctive true blue color. Virginia bluebells grow best in shade and moist, rich soil, and will self-seed and colonize when they’re happy in their location.
Bumblebees and other long-tongued bees are often seen pollinating the flowers of Virginia bluebell, but they’re also attractive to many types of butterflies, skippers and hummingbird moths, flower flies (syrphids), bee flies and hummingbirds. They’re a true-blue friend in the spring pollinator garden!
