Potsize – 1L
Virginia Cowslip. In early Spring this beautiful ephemeral woodlander emerges with fascinating purple-flushed bluey-green thin fleshy leaves from a fleshy rootstock. Gradually leafy curled stems unravel to produce graceful arcs which terminate in showy clusters of pale lilac-blue bells. The buds are purpley-pink and have a quality akin to icing stars which then open like miniature trumpets, 2cm long in a subtle shade of lilac. Mertensias (Virgiania Bluebells) are at home in deep loamy soils in shade or partial shade and are found in the wild across the eastern half of the USA in woodlands and along riverbanks. Like our own native bluebells they flower in Spring for only about 3 weeks and then gradually slip into a Summer dormancy whhich is usually complete by June. They remain dormant until the following Spring. They are pollinated by bees, bumblebees and moths who use their long proboscis to reach the nectar. Very hardy, to -24oF. providing it isn't waterlogged
