Virginia bluebells (Mertensia virginica) is in the borage family family (Boraginaceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 13,305 research-grade flowering observations of it in our sample, peaking in April.
Nationally it blooms mainly from April to April, but timing varies a lot by state and elevation — see the table below.
When to photograph Virginia bluebells: observations by month (U.S.)
About Virginia bluebells
Mertensia virginica (common names Virginia bluebells, Virginia cowslip, lungwort oysterleaf, Roanoke bells) is a spring ephemeral plant with bell-shaped sky-blue flowers, native to eastern North America.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Virginia bluebells by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois | 2,378 | April | Apr–May |
| Ohio | 1,562 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Virginia | 1,556 | April | Mar–Apr |
| Pennsylvania | 1,226 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Maryland | 984 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Tennessee | 595 | March | Mar–Apr |
| Indiana | 579 | April | Apr–Apr |
| West Virginia | 538 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Wisconsin | 497 | April | Apr–May |
| Kentucky | 478 | April | Mar–Apr |
| New York | 444 | April | Apr–May |
| Missouri | 428 | April | Mar–Apr |
| Iowa | 312 | April | Apr–May |
| Minnesota | 305 | May | Apr–May |
| Michigan | 290 | April | Apr–May |
| District of Columbia | 190 | April | Mar–Apr |
| New Jersey | 173 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Alabama | 165 | March | Mar–Mar |
| Georgia | 157 | March | Mar–Mar |
| Delaware | 142 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Massachusetts | 88 | May | Apr–May |
| North Carolina | 83 | March | Mar–Apr |
| Connecticut | 36 | April | Apr–May |
| Nebraska | 27 | April | Apr–May |
| Vermont | 20 | May | May–May |
| Kansas | 17 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Arkansas | 15 | March | Mar–Apr |
| New Hampshire | 5 | April | Apr–May |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related wildflowers (borage family)
Distant Phacelia
Pacific hound's tongue
Notch-leaf Scorpionweed
Miami Mist
Alkali Heliotrope
Menzies' baby blue eyes
Wild Canterbury Bells
Desert Bluebells
Photography tips
- Photograph flowers on calm, overcast mornings to avoid wind blur and harsh shadows.
- Get low: a shallow depth of field (f/2.8–f/5.6) isolates a bloom against soft color.
- Stay on trails — trampling meadows kills plants and ruins next year's display.
- Try a kaleidoscope abstract of a single bloom with our online kaleidoscope tool.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Virginia bluebells?
Nationally, April has the most observations, with the main season from April to April.
Where is Virginia bluebells most often seen?
The most observations come from Illinois, Ohio, Virginia.