Virginia Bluebells - A Complete Grow And Care Profile

Virginia Bluebells is a Spring ephemeral wildflower native to central and eastern North America. Blooming drooping or nodding clusters of purple flowers in the Spring, it grows 1-2' tall in part sun and well draining soil.
This video is a comprehensive profile on this flower covering all aspects of this flower.
Links to seeds, bulbs, and Liquid Fence. These are affiliate links.
Virginia Bluebell seeds :: amzn.to/3Va508C
Bare Root Virginia Bluebells (not always available) :: amzn.to/3V8qT7Z
Liquid Fence :: amzn.to/3kL8p8n
See digital table of contents to jump to a section:
01:35 - What is Virginia Bluebells
02:47 - Benefits
03:34 - Identification / lifecycle
05:42 - Growing conditions
06:42 - How to save seed
08:12 - How to grow from seed
10:34 - Propagating from bare roots
11:17 - Wildlife
11:50 - Long-tongue bee
11:56 - Landscaping
13:05 - Review

[@MrLadysnakes]

Joe is the Chef John (Food Wishes) of native plants. Makes the content that's personable, but focuses on the plants, not pointing the camera at himself. The best of youtube.

[@growitbuildit]

Thank you! I'm glad you are liking my videos!

[@Drpaper1]

Everbody likes your awsome vids

[@Buckeye-hz5oh]

Plant the bluebells around the outside, around the outside, around the outside.

[@TitaniumFelix]

It makes my day every time you release a new native plant profile. I planted some bulk bare root bluebells last year in February purchased online. A few even bloomed the same year I planted them. Haven't seen any evidence of them showing up yet this year but fingers crossed they are just dormant not dead.

[@growitbuildit]

Thank you! Have patience - mine in the front just started to show this week. While those in the woods are still dormant.

[@connorbronze2624]

Did they bloom well?

[@TitaniumFelix]

@@connorbronze2624 Actually no. No blooms this year but many of them did come up. Fingers crossed for next year.

[@redbloodedbutterfly]

Thank you for talking about the best time to transplant Virginia Bluebells. It explains why the ones I bought at a store and got from a swap likely didn't survive. (My Columbine and daffodils are poking up, but there's zero sign of the Virginia Bluebells.) I'll have to try again with seed/bare root plants.

[@growitbuildit]

Hi - it isn't that all will die, but in my experience a large percentage will! Not fun, but you've got to be exceptionally careful with the root.

[@chaseakins3440]

I've been waiting for this one for a long time. Nice!

[@growitbuildit]

Me too! I love this flower. It is really fun finding large patches of them.

[@taylorswf23]

My garden this year is going to contain way more blooms thanks to your great guides 😊

[@growitbuildit]

I am VERY happy to hear that Taylor! Nice work!

[@mathieuTME]

Amazing! Best gardening channel!

[@growitbuildit]

Thank you! I really appreciate it

[@Vezmerize]

Dropped another banger Joe. Always excited for the new content!

[@growitbuildit]

Thank you! I'm very happy you enjoyed it!

[@Questinia1]

I have many drifts of bluebells in my woods and near a pond. They look stunning under flowering apple trees. I've found them very easy to transplant when they are mature. Thanks for paying homage to my favorite spring ephemeral!

[@growitbuildit]

You are very welcome - this is probably my favorite ephemeral too

[@tys7794]

Great video Joe. I enjoy that I can expect good solid information about the species you cover! Well done!

[@growitbuildit]

Thank you!

[@Herculesbiggercousin]

I’m slapping some of these in my backyard under a maple tree sitting along a slope, I’ve got some natural leaf mulch forming at the base of the tree where I think these would be a nice addition. Thanks Joe! Keep it up!

[@Herculesbiggercousin]

*awesome shots on camera btw, the color and video quality are as good as one can ask for.

[@growitbuildit]

That sounds like a great place for them. Just as long as they can snag a bit of sun they should be good!

[@growitbuildit]

Thank you - I really appreciate it!

[@CurtisHoneycutt]

One of the lower third titles says “April 21th” - just thought I’d let you know. Great info as always. My Virginia bluebells are in year 2, and I’m hoping for some blooms this season!

[@growitbuildit]

Ah - good catch. Well, I can't change it now. Oh well. Thank you for the kind words. I hope you get a few blooms this year too Curtis!

[@dib737]

Great video as always!

[@growitbuildit]

Thank you!

[@andrewwerth8312]

Another excellent video, very helpful. Thanks!

[@growitbuildit]

Thank you Andrew! I'm glad you enjoyed it!

[@blenderbenderguy]

Thanks Joe..... another of your favs to add to my attempts here.

[@growitbuildit]

You are very welcome! Bare roots are available right now....if you want to get a head start.

[@lisalikesplants]

Awesome video! Haven't seen many tutorials on how to grow this from seed. Can't wait until they come up, here in 5b.

[@growitbuildit]

Thank you Lisa!

[@jeffsonnefield6199]

Great information. I dug up a couple in the woods of my farm to plant elsewhere. I planted in a mostly shady spot that stays damp most of the year. I will cross my fingers and hope they come back next spring.

[@growitbuildit]

Thank you - I'm glad I could help you out, and I hope they come back for you next Spring.

[@MAC-op5fc]

So much great info, especially about propagating. And good capture of the bee tongue!

[@nathanhaskell1743]

Really enjoyed this video as with all your work the quality is superb. I would love to see more on spring ephemerals!

[@growitbuildit]

@MAC-op5fc - Thank you! The bee tongue was really crazy to see so close. I was lucky with that one!

[@growitbuildit]

@nathanhaskell1743 thank you Nathan! I would love to make more on them too - they are tough to propagate from seed. Usually require special storage, conditions, and even then nothing is guaranteed!

[@Noah.Jenkins]

Great video, have you ever considered doing one on queen of the prairie?

[@growitbuildit]

Someday! I've got about 8 that came back from last year. I need to get them transplanted out in the next week or two.

[@StoryThyme100]

Thank you this is the best VA BB video available! My favorite flower. Can I ask where you filmed the masses of bluebells? I am in PA and have discovered a mass growing that covers a good area by a stream. I almost dont want people to know about my Happy Place!

[@growitbuildit]

Honestly I find masses of them each Spring. But the particular masses shown were either in game lands or Pinchot. Game lands are often one of the best sources for observing plant life, as they are more undisturbed than state parks or forests. Just make sure you wear orange, as Spring Turkey season is often overlapping their bloom period.

[@robsollars1981]

Great video! Have you attempted to grow other spring ephemerals like trilliums?

[@growitbuildit]

I haven't yet - Getting seeds from any ephemeral is tricky. Bluebells are a bit easier, as they are so visible and common.

[@karenartis4472]

Since these ‘disappear’ after their growing cycle, do you plant anything with them that will flower after they’ve gone dormant?

[@growitbuildit]

Hi Karen - yes I do. I try to create constant blooming from April through Fall. There are several beds close to one another. This one has several types of Monarda and native Penstemon that bloom right after the Bluebells go dormant. Followed by Tennessee Coneflower, Mountain Mints, different species of Liatris, Tall larkspur, Blue Vervain, and finally some Asters and Spotted Beebalm to take it into Fall.

[@charlesburkhart800]

@@growitbuildit Love it, thnks!

[@jaredfero8304]

Great video! I have them popping up in milkjugs right now. If I let the seedlings go dormant in my milk jugs before disturbing them, can I transplant them right away to the yard? Or should I keep put them in pots for another season and transplant the following year? Just wondering what your experience was.

[@growitbuildit]

Hi Jared - When it is time to open the lids, I would probably thin the seedlings so that they can reach a decent size within the milkjug. Then, once dormant, I would probably transplant to a location that will not dry out completely, yet drain (afternoon shade). My 'full sun' plants are not intended to be full sun forever, but get shade from the nearby redbud tree eventually. Also, when moving mature ones when dormant, I have wrapped them in moist paper towels once they are out of the ground. I'm not sure you would need to do that, but just thought I would add that bit of info.

[@danielsweet7040]

just put in 50 last year :)

[@growitbuildit]

Nice! That will make a great display!

[@pkortenk]

You should show us how to grow Jerusalem Artichoke, if you've ever grown it. Anyway, great video about the bluebells!

[@growitbuildit]

Hi - I've actually not tried growing that one yet. I probably should, since I've grown so many other perennial sunflowers though. Maybe I can find some tubers this year.

[@cleightcleight3623]

Dude, forgive me for sounding like a person complaining about a seemingly trivial thing (because it is) yet all the same, when speaking about more than 1 aka plural the word 'are' is to be used over 'is'. That being said- I do like your vids. And thank you for taking the time to make them. That, of course, includes the 'educating' of yourself that it also takes in order to 'educate' us ones watching your content.

[@growitbuildit]

You are forgiven! My wife actually had the same question, but I wasn't sure what was right because the common name is 'Virginia Bluebells', whether referring to one or many. Oh well - still sounds better than just repeating 'Mertensia virginica' throughout the video. Thank you though for the kind words! I am probably the slowest person to make a video on a plant.....because I try to really 'get to know' it.

[@louislopez4780]

What reference you used at the wildlife section of pollinators that visit the bluebelles? I would love to read it

[@growitbuildit]

Hi - that is Charles Robertson's personal observations in Illinois. Here is an archived version. archive.org/details/flowersinsectsli00robe/page/n1/mode/2up

[@jamesbarron1202]

I as a beekeeper,I have a difficult question to ask you. Q: what tree or shrub do you think can produce the most nectar per acre per year? That’s if you planted as many per acre at the appropriate spacings when they reach their mature height. Must be able to grow in both USDA growing zone 7 and 8. I’m in Texas and we get extreme temps from 113 to -3 here. I’ve lived through both temps on the same property. I’m sure everyone will have a different opinion on this question. There’s a lot of good nectar trees but they can’t take our summer heat and drought. It’s very common to go all summer with less than an inch of rain where I’m at. Seems to get worse every year. I’ve lived in this county 62 years. I planted 82 trees and shrubs last week and planting more this week. I’ll probably be dead from old age before I see them really benefit my bees. At least I’ll leave something for all the pollinators. I have no children to take over my farm.

[@growitbuildit]

Hi James - That is a very difficult question to answer. And I don't think there is truly 'one' species that could be considered overall valuable. The reason I'm saying that, is that you really need a variety of trees/shrubs/flowers to support native insects. If I had a decent amount of land, and wanted to support honeybee colonies, I first would make sure I had enough trees, as they are the first bloomers of the year (well before my bluebells). And, I know that initially honeybees are going to need pollen, which a wide variety of trees will produce. Here is a list of trees native to texas that like or can tolerate dry conditions (www.wildflower.org/plants/combo.php?start=0&distribution=TX&habit=habit_tree&moist_dry=1&1&pagecount=10&pagecount=100) Next I would try to create a succession of overlapping blooms in meadows. Again, trying to keep plants native to the area for those dry growing conditions. That is the key to making it all work. Nonstop blooms from Spring until Fall. That being said, some species with particularly long bloom times would be Callirhoe sp., Coreopsis (lanceolata or grandiflora), Indian Blanket, (Gallriadia), Echinacea, Cardinal's Feather, Aromatic Aster (and many other asters). At the same time, annuals that are native tend to have long bloom times (due to that they must reproduce, so maximize seed production). Aphanostephus skirrhobasis (lazy daisy) is an annual that can bloom all season, Partridge Pea has a very long bloom time. Sorry for not having a simple answer, but nature is a complicated system, and as such, it's own natural solutions are complicated as well. The main thing is, don't fight your growing conditions - adapt to them however you can.

[@jamesbarron1202]

@@growitbuildit Thanks for the response. I don’t ever plant wildflowers because I have a pecan orchard and fruit trees and I have to keep everything mowed once the grasshoppers (yellow differential species) start hatching from eggs. They become plagues and eat everything and they reproduce like crazy in this sandy soil. I’ve lived in this same county but in the black land soil area until I graduated high school and we didn’t have remotely as many grasshoppers in that hard black soil. Having to keep my place mowed is why I only mentioned trees and shrubs. Those I can mow around. If you can keep the high weeds down the birds can take out most of the grasshoppers. I’d love to plant some high nectar perennial wildflowers that bloom early in the year and can then be mowed short the rest of the year without harm and still be able to reproduce. Summer and winter are when we really need blooming plants. There’s very little blooming here during those seasons. I try to find trees and shrubs that bloom in those two seasons. During spring there’s plenty of resources in the wild and with what I have planted.

[@growitbuildit]

For trees and shrubs, particularly shrubs, I would try to identify those that bloomed in July or August, and try those. Here is a list of shrubs native to texas that like dry weather and bloom in Jul or Aug - www.wildflower.org/plants/combo.php?start=0&distribution=TX&habit=habit_shrub&moist_dry=1&jul=1&aug=1&1&pagecount=10&pagecount=100 I'm not sure how low you are mowing it, but species in the Callirhoe genus can be mowed (can be treated like groundcover). I actually have had a couple volunteers in my lawn survive, and continuously bloom. I did a profile on one here - kzbin.info/www/bejne/b5SZo2qgbdp2qs0

[@jamesbarron1202]

@@growitbuildit thanks. I mow as low as my brush hog mower will go. The bottom of the deck is dragging the ground. Basically about like a riding mower set on high as possible.

[@bruce_daddy]

Love this series. Keep em coming Joe!

[@growitbuildit]

Thank you! Glad you are enjoying them!

[@iwearpants123]

Its like you read my mind!

[@growitbuildit]

The Sping Peepers just started here last week! It was time.