Kendall County (IL) Forest Preserve District
Virginia
Bluebells
(Virginia Cowslip)
Mertensia virginica
[C-value
5]
Borage family (Boraginaceae)
Blooms April -
May
The beautiful native woodland spring wildflower Virginia Bluebells is common in our area. It prefers light shade to partial sun in moist areas with rich loamy soil. It occasionally forms large colonies in semi-shaded floodplain areas along rivers or streams. This lovely spring (perennial) wildflower is 1–2½' tall with smooth branching stems and alternate soft green oval leaves. The upper stems terminate in nodding cymes of tubular pink to pale blue flowers about ¾–1¼" in length that are bell-shaped (campanulate) toward the outer rim.
Virginia Bluebells near Pickerill/Pigott Forest Preserve April 29, 2011
Virginia Bluebells (and Toothwort) near Pickerill/Pigott Forest Preserve April 3, 2011
Virginia Bluebells at Baker Woods Forest Preserve March 31, 2012
Virginia Bluebells colony at Baker Woods Forest Preserve April 3, 2012
Virginia Bluebells seed pods near Pickerill/Pigott Forest Preserve June 3, 2019
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