Is Virginia Bluebells deer resistant?
Mertensia virginica
Plant typePerennialHardinessZones 3–9LightFull shade to part shadeMature height18–24 inBloomSpring
MaintenanceLow, mostly leave it alone
Native range27 US states
About Virginia Bluebells
Pink buds opening to clear sky blue in April, then the whole plant dies away by June and leaves a hole. Interplant with ferns or hostas that expand to cover it. Once settled in leafy soil it self-sows into large drifts.
Soil and care
- Soil pH
- 5.5 to 7
- Drainage
- Consistently moist
- Water
- Moderate
- Spacing
- 18 to 24 in apart
- Growth rate
- Moderate
- Maintenance
- Low
Similar to Virginia Bluebells
Other perennials with the same deer rating.
- African LilyAgapanthus sp.Zones 8–11, genus rangeSeldom damaged
- AsparagusAsparagus officinalisZones 2–9Seldom damaged
- AsterAster sp.Zones 3–8, genus rangeSeldom damaged
- AstilbeAstilbe x arendsiiZones 3–8Seldom damaged
- Baby's BreathGypsophila sp.Zones 3–9, genus rangeSeldom damaged
- BastardsageEriogonum wrightiiZones 5–10Seldom damaged
Where Virginia Bluebells grows
Hardy across most of these 51 states on zone range alone. Mountain and coastal areas sit outside the ranges used here, so check your own zone before ordering.
- Pennsylvanianative
- New Jerseynative
- New Yorknative
- Connecticut
- Massachusettsnative
- Virginianative
- Marylandnative
- Michigannative
- Wisconsinnative
- Ohionative
- Indiananative
- Illinoisnative
- Minnesotanative
- Missourinative
- North Carolinanative
- Tennesseenative
- Georgianative
- Texas
- Colorado
- California
- Oregon
- Washington
- New Hampshire
- Vermont
- Mainenative
- Rhode Island
- Delawarenative
- West Virginianative
- Kentuckynative
- South Carolinanative
- Florida
- Alabamanative
- Mississippinative
- Louisiana
- Arkansasnative
- Oklahoma
- Kansasnative
- Nebraska
- Iowanative
- North Dakota
- South Dakota
- Montana
- Wyoming
- Idaho
- Utah
- Nevada
- Arizona
- New Mexico
- Alaska
- District of Columbianative
- Hawaii
Highlighted states are within its native range according to the USDA PLANTS database, where it is native to 27 US states in total.
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Hardy in these zones
Common questions about Virginia Bluebells
- Is Virginia Bluebells deer resistant?
- Virginia Bluebells (Mertensia virginica) is rated Seldom Severely Damaged on the Rutgers NJAES four-tier scale. Light browsing at worst; rarely ruined.
- What hardiness zones does Virginia Bluebells grow in?
- Virginia Bluebells is hardy in USDA zones 3 to 9. Outside that range it will either not survive winter or will struggle with summer heat.
- Does Virginia Bluebells grow in shade?
- Yes. Virginia Bluebells tolerates full shade to part shade, which makes it one of the options for a shaded bed where deer also browse.
- How big does Virginia Bluebells get?
- Mature height is roughly 18–24 in. Growth rate is moderate.