Roanoke-bells
Mertensia virginica
Last reviewed: October 2026
Roanoke-bells blooms in April and May, forming clusters of blue, bell-shaped flowers in moist woodland and floodplain settings before the foliage dies back for summer dormancy.
Toxicity unknown
Roanoke-bells (Mertensia virginica) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.
The USDA PLANTS Database (opens in new tab) does not flag Roanoke-bells as toxic to livestock.
Light
part shade
Water
medium
Size
12"–24" H × 8"–16" W
Bloom
Apr, May
Native to
AL, AR, DE, GA and 21 more states
Pollinators
bees, butterflies
Deer
Resistant (per Prairie Moon Nursery)
Before you buy
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Browse plants for this ecoregion
Mertensia virginica produces delicate clusters of pink buds that open to sky-blue bell-shaped flowers in early spring. This woodland wildflower goes completely dormant by midsummer, disappearing until the following spring. It works well in shaded gardens where other plants can fill in after it goes dormant.
Growing Roanoke-bells
Grow Roanoke-bells in part shade and medium water. Mature plants reach 12 to 24 inches tall and spread 8 to 16 inches wide. Expect low maintenance to keep it looking intentional in a front yard.
How to care for Roanoke-bells, by region
How to care for Roanoke-bells where it is actually grown: year-round basics plus what to do each season, region by region, with the sources for each.
Care guidance last updated: October 2026
Erie Drift Plain (includes Buffalo, NY)
Year-round
Virginia bluebells like shade and moist, rich soil, and they disappear for summer.
- Hardy in USDA zones 3a through 9b
- Wants moist, well-drained, humus-rich soil in deep to partial shade
- Grows 1.5 to 2 feet tall and goes dormant in mid-summer
Fall
Fall is the time to take root cuttings if you want more plants.
- Root cuttings are taken in fall
- Division is best in spring instead
- Plants self-seed and slowly colonize
Winter
Nothing shows above ground in winter, and the plant is hardy through cold.
- Rated hardy in zones 3a to 9b, so Buffalo is covered
- Maintenance is medium overall but winter needs nothing
Spring
Spring is the show, with blue flowers lasting about 3 weeks.
- Flowers appear March to May depending on location
- Keep the soil moist
- Slugs and snails may chew leaves
Summer
The leaves die back and the plant sleeps in mid-summer, which is normal.
- Foliage dies back in mid-summer
- Plant something leafy nearby to fill the gap
- Do not dig the spot thinking the plant is dead
In an HOA neighborhood
Roanoke-bells takes more care to keep looking intentional in a front yard. Maintenance level: low. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.
Works well in: backyard only.
- Completely disappears by midsummer leaving bare spots
- May be confused with weeds during emergence
- Requires companion plants to maintain garden appearance
Wildlife value
The early spring blooms provide nectar for bees and butterflies when few other flowers are available. Native long-tongued bees are particularly attracted to the tubular flowers.
Common questions
- When does Roanoke-bells bloom?
- It flowers in April and May, with buds often opening pink before turning blue as they mature.
- What pollinators visit Roanoke-bells?
- Bees and butterflies are the main visitors, attracted to the nectar in the bell-shaped flowers.
- What growing conditions suit Roanoke-bells best?
- It does well in part shade to full shade with medium to consistently moist soil, similar to the streamside woodland sites where it is often found.
- Why does Roanoke-bells disappear in summer?
- It is a spring ephemeral. After blooming in April and May, the foliage yellows and dies back, and the plant remains dormant underground until the following spring.
- Is Roanoke-bells toxic to livestock?
- The USDA PLANTS Database does not flag Roanoke-bells as toxic to livestock.
- Is Roanoke-bells HOA-friendly?
- Roanoke-bells takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.
These answers were drafted with an AI model from this plant's data. Verify care details with a local expert.
Native range data from vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists. Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.
If something looks wrong
Common plant problems, and what to check first
These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.
- It is dying right after planting
- Leaves turning yellow
- Wilting even though I watered it
- Brown crispy leaf tips
- Bugs on the plant
Ready to grow Roanoke-bells? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.