Virginia bluebells

Virginia Bluebells (Mertensia virginica) with dark green foliage and loose panicles of rich, blue-purple flowers in early Spring, grow to a height of about eighteen inches.

1927, Gardener's Chronicle of America, volume 31, page 224

Virginia bluebells are shy and tender beauties and don't take kindly to much handling or insults like dogs or kids running through their bed.

2002, Jeff Cox, Perennial All-Stars: The 150 Best Perennials for Great-Looking, Trouble-Free Gardens, page 221

Virginia bluebells (Mertensia virginica) is another long bloomer that's almost a show in itself with flowers that open pink and then gradually brighten to a sapphire blue.

2004, Suzy Bales, Suzy Bales' Down to Earth Gardener

Virginia bluebells has clusters of pinkish buds that open to showy, drooping clusters of sky-blue, trumpet-shaped flowers.

2006, Lynn M. Steiner, Landscaping with Native Plants of Michigan, page 96

Like many other ephemeral species, Virginia bluebells prefers to grow in the dappled shade and rich organic soils of a deciduous forest, […]

2018, Mark Richardson, Native Plants for New England Gardens, page 50