Tall Fringed Bluebells

Mertensia ciliata (James ex Torr.) G. Don

Borage family

Plant Type

Forb/herb

Life Cycle

Perennial

Mature Height

24 inches

Spread

3.0 feet

Flower Color

Blue

Bloom Time

Late Spring

Growing Conditions

Light

Shade Tolerance Intermediate

Water

Water Use High

Drought Tolerance Low

Flood Tolerance Medium

Soil

Soil Types Loam, Sand

CaCO3 Tolerance Low

Fertility Need High

Stress Tolerance

Fire Tolerance Medium

Salt Tolerance None

Climate

pH Range 6.2 – 7.2

Frost-Free Days 100 days

Precipitation 12 – 65 in

Ecosystem & Wildlife

Pollinators Native Bees; Bombus; Larval Host (Butterfly); Larval Host (Moth)

Larval Host Autographa californica, Euphydryas anicia, Euphydryas anicia ancicia, Euphydryas chalcedona, Euphydryas chalcedona chalcedona, Trichoplusia ni

Fall Color No

Evergreen No

Native Range

USA: Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Wyoming

Regional Native Status: L48 (N)

State-level native status is based on data available through Plants of the World Online. Regional Native Status comes from the USDA Plants Database. For more detailed native status information, please refer to BONAP.