Plant Profile - Stuyvesant Cove Park

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(Caption: Virginia Bluebells, Mertensia virginica)

A native plant of New York, Virginia Bluebells is a wonderful addition to Stuyvesant Cove Park. It is one of just a few plants blooming in the park this week. It usually blooms in early to mid April depending on the weather. Virginia Bluebells is a recent addition to the flora in Stuyvesant Cove park. It was planted in the spring of 2006 with the high hopes that the following spring it would showcase it’s beauty. We waited a whole year and sure enough in spring 2007 we had a modest showing of small but brilliant blue flowers. Once again in the spring of 2007, having had some success with the previous years plants, we decided to plant even more. That ended up being a wise decision because this year they have really flourished. We have large groupings with vivid displays of it’s periwinkle blue flowers, making a striking display at the North entrance to the park.

Mertensia virginica is classified as a perennial. It’s leaf and flowering period are ephemeral lasting only about 2-3 months. After its brief show, the leaves and flowers die back and do not reappear till the following spring. Mertensia virginica typically grows in moist woodland forests and bottomlands, and does fairly well in wetland areas too.

There is not much care required to grow this plant successfully. Moist rich soil, partial sun, and little to no foot traffic. The plant is extremely vulnerable to foot traffic and can result in lost blooms which, considering the length of it’s performance, are very valuable. So it would be best planted away from pathways or edges of flower beds. The plant usually reaches a height of 18 inches.


Posted on Friday, April 18th, 2008 at 10:56 am | Tagged in Native Plants, Solar One, Stuyvesant Cove Park | posted by Melissa

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