Looking for blue for the spring garden? Look no further than our own woodland native, "Virginia Bluebells". Fleshy pale green leaves arise in earliest spring. Above them rise stems bearing hanging clusters of fragrant trumpet shaped flowers. The buds are baby-pink and open to clear porcelain blue. Partner this beauty  with yellow daffodils and old fashioned bleeding hearts for a breathtaking spring combination. Once finished blooming Mertensia graciously bows out, quickly vanishing into summer dormancy to await the arrival of the next spring. Although this is a relatively large plant (18"-24" tall) its descent into dormancy is so rapid that it isn't a cause for aesthetic concern. Mertensia thrives in a humus-rich deciduous woodland environment and will self sow pleasantly in those conditions.  Hardy to Zone 3.