- Botanical name: Mertensia virginica
- Family: Boraginaceae
- Plant Type: Perennial
Blue
Green
- Key features:
- Flowers
Virginia cowslip, Mertensia virginica, is a pretty woodland plant native to North America, bearing violet-blue bell-shaped, nodding flowers in spring. Hardy, it does well in British gardens, but thrives best in partial shade, particularly during the hottest part of the day.
Plant Mertensia virginica in humus-rich soil in clumps or drifts for a gentle woodland look, or at the front of partially shaded borders.
How to grow Mertensia virginica
-
Plant size
50cm height
50cm spread
-
Aspect
North facing, south facing, east facing, west facing
-
Position in border
Front
- Sun exposure: Dappled shade, partial shade
- Hardiness: Hardy
- Soil type: Clay / heavy / moist / well drained / light / sandy
Plant calendar
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plant | ||||||||||||
| Plant |
J
Do not Plant in January |
F
Do not Plant in February |
M
Do not Plant in March |
A
Do not Plant in April |
M
Do Plant in May |
J
Do Plant in June |
J
Do Plant in July |
A
Do Plant in August |
S
Do Plant in September |
O
Do not Plant in October |
N
Do not Plant in November |
D
Do not Plant in December |
| Flowers | ||||||||||||
| Flowers |
J
Plant does not flower in January |
F
Plant does not flower in February |
M
Plant does flower in March |
A
Plant does flower in April |
M
Plant does flower in May |
J
Plant does not flower in June |
J
Plant does not flower in July |
A
Plant does not flower in August |
S
Plant does not flower in September |
O
Plant does not flower in October |
N
Plant does not flower in November |
D
Plant does not flower in December |
| Divide | ||||||||||||
| Divide |
J
Do not Divide in January |
F
Do not Divide in February |
M
Do Divide in March |
A
Do Divide in April |
M
Do Divide in May |
J
Do not Divide in June |
J
Do not Divide in July |
A
Do not Divide in August |
S
Do not Divide in September |
O
Do not Divide in October |
N
Do not Divide in November |
D
Do not Divide in December |
| Take cuttings | ||||||||||||
| Take cuttings |
J
Do not Take cuttings in January |
F
Do not Take cuttings in February |
M
Do not Take cuttings in March |
A
Do not Take cuttings in April |
M
Do not Take cuttings in May |
J
Do not Take cuttings in June |
J
Do not Take cuttings in July |
A
Do not Take cuttings in August |
S
Do Take cuttings in September |
O
Do Take cuttings in October |
N
Do Take cuttings in November |
D
Do Take cuttings in December |
Mertensia virginica and wildlife
Mertensia virginica has no particular known value to wildlife in the UK.
Is Mertensia virginica poisonous?
Mertensia virginica has no toxic effects reported.
No reported toxicity to Birds
No reported toxicity to Cats
No reported toxicity to Dogs
No reported toxicity to Horses
No reported toxicity to Livestock
No reported toxicity to People
