The Virginia Bluebell (Mertensia virginica) a perennial native to North America aka Virginia Cowslip, Lungwort Oysterleaf, and Roanoke Bells) is a spring ephemeral plant with bell-shaped sky-blue flowers opening from pink buds, native to moist woodland in eastern North America.
Virginia Bluebell flowers have five petals fused into a tube,five stamens and a central pistil.  The buds are pick-tinged, changing to sky-blue as they open.  White flowers occur rarely.
The Bluebell stamen and pistil are space too far apart for self-fertilization.  They can be pollinated by bumblebees; however, due to its funnel shape, bumblebees must hover and this makes them a rare pollinator.  With their light weight butterflies are the most common pollinators, because they can easily stand on the edges and  still enjoy the nectar.
Beginning of summer, each fertile flower produces four seeds within a wrinkled nut and goes dormant until next spring.
The Bluebell's preference is light shade to partial sun in moist wooded areas with rich soil.  The foliage dies down by mid-summer.

Growing Virginia Bluebells does not require the skill of a certified master gardener.  It can grow in any garden.  The plant actually starts out pink when they are buds and bloom into the darker, richer hue.

The blooming season depends on its growing environment and how much rain it will receive.  Too much rain and they'll have problems.  Bluebells need well-draining soil to prevent them from getting too much water. One should always remember not to over water.  Put your finger in the soil to make sure the soil isn’t still wet from the last watering before watering once more. Too much water will definitely kill the plants!

They will grow to a height of 18 to 24 inches tall making them a great candidate for your yard in corners here and there, or even serve as a backdrop in your flower garden behind the other plants.  Bluebell's color complements other color with blue hues and even with magentas and reds.

The Virginia bluebell is very tolerant of different environments.  However, the plant does require peaty, sand soil.  Also, once it is established it does not want to be disturbed or could lose a season of flowering or worst, kill the plant.  You should not cut anything off the plant or try to transplant once it is established somewhere and in bloom.  Early fall or winter is the dormant season when you can plant fields of Virginia bluebells with no trouble.

Pollination of the Virginia Bluebell is primarily attributed to the long-tongued bees, not to forget the  honeybees, bumblebees, Mason bees, large Leaf-Cutting bees, and Miner bees.  These insects seek nectar and collect pollen. Other visitors of the flowers include hummingbirds, bee flies, butterflies, skippers, and Sphinx moths, including hummingbird moths. This group of visitors seek nectar from the flowers. Small flower flies may also visit the flowers, however they feed on the pollen and are not effective pollinators.

One can readily see why Virginia Bluebells are a favorite woodland wildflower with their flowering pastel colors and foliage that is soft and soothing.  On ocassion there are mature flowers in white or pink.