Add woodland beauty to your garden withVirginia bluebells.
Where to Plant Virginia Bluebells
Virginia bluebells grow best in part shade and moist soil.
Their native habitat is moist woodland areas.
Grow Virginia bluebells alongside other spring bulbs.
Expect them to pop up between clumps of spring bulbs, creating a casualcottage garden styleover time.
At the beginning of summer, Virginia bluebells recede into the soil.
Their foliage slowly dies back and an empty space extends where the cheerful purple blossoms once stood.
Plan for bluebells' early retirement, and your garden color show will hardly miss a beat.
Enrich the soil with well-decomposed compost prior to planting.
Special note: This North American native is considered threatened in its native range.
Never dig up Virginia bluebells from the wild and transplant them to your landscape.
By removing plants from a native area, you are contributing to its habitat destruction.
They can tolerate morning sun but will need to be watered more often.
Maintaining a steady watering cadence is especially important in establishing new plants.
The plants will fade as temperatures begin to warm up in midsummer.
If you want to prevent self-seeding, however, you should deadhead the blooms as soon as they wilt.
Site the container in a shady spot out of drying winds.
Repot the plant in a container one size larger with fresh potting mix when the pot becomes crowded.
How to Propagate Virginia Bluebells
Virginia bluebells can be propagated via seeds or division.
Cut the rhizome into pieceseach piece should have roots attached.
Allow the pieces to dry for a few days and form calluses over the cut ends.
Plant the rhizome pieces 1 inch deep into moist, compost-enriched soil.
Space pieces at least 12 inches apart.
Water deeply and regularly until established.
To do this, place seeds in a zip-top bag filled with moistened sand.
Place the bag in the refrigerator for six weeks.
In early spring, scatter stratified seeds in a lightly raked garden bed.
Place in bright, indirect light and keep soil moist.
Interplant with other shade-loving perennials such ashosta,astilbe, bugbane,Solomon’s seal, and ferns.
Add these early flowering bulbs and plants with your Virginia Bluebells for spring floral bounty.
Violets
Perhaps the most familiarand belovedof all wildflowers, violets(Violaspp.)
dot forests and fields with tiny blossoms and heart-shaped foliage.
The violet family includes species featuring blue, yellow, and white flowers.
Zones 2-11
Daffodil
One of the most recognizable bulbs, thedaffodilis also among the easiest to grow.
Almost all pests will leave this bulb alone.
Its strong scent seems to be what makes it unappealing to deer and rabbits.
This spring flower needs a constantly moist, but well-drained, soil to thrive.
If you dont want them to spread, deadhead the flowers before they set and drop seed.
They are resistant to deer and rabbits.
As a spring ephemeral, it may seem like Virginia bluebells have a short lifespan.
In fact, the plants go dormant in hot weather but return faithfully every spring.
