We rely on donations from our users to keep maintaining and extending our free-to-use database of over 8000 edible and useful plants. Currently we are also investing time and effort in preparing two new books on plants suitable for food forests in different warmer climate conditions, to complement the one we published in 2021 on temperate food forests, which has been very well received. Please give what you can to help us complete this work. More >>>

Follow Us:

 

Mertensia oblongifolia - (Nutt.)G.Don.

Common Name Oblongleaf bluebells
Family Boraginaceae
USDA hardiness 4-8
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Open slopes and drier meadows, often amongst sagebrush, from the plains and foothills to moderate elevations in the mountains, occasionally to the alpine zone[60].
Range Western N. America.
Edibility Rating    (1 of 5)
Other Uses    (0 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (0 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Moist Soil Wet Soil Semi-shade Full sun
Mertensia oblongifolia Oblongleaf bluebells


http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Wsiegmund
Mertensia oblongifolia Oblongleaf bluebells
www.nps.gov

 

Translate this page:

Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Mertensia oblongifolia is a PERENNIAL growing to 0.3 m (1ft).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 4. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs).
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist or wet soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Habitats

 Bog Garden; Cultivated Beds;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Flowers  Leaves
Edible Uses:

Flowers - raw[172]. Leaves - raw or cooked[172]. The leaves are rather hairy and are not so nice when eaten raw[172].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.


None known

References   More on Medicinal Uses

Now available: PLANTS FOR YOUR FOOD FOREST: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens.

An important new book from PFAF. It focuses on the attributes of plants suitable for food forests, what each can contribute to a food forest ecosystem, including carbon sequestration, and the kinds of foods they yield. The book suggests that community and small-scale food forests can provide a real alternative to intensive industrialised agriculture, and help to combat the many inter-related environmental crises that threaten the very future of life on Earth.

Read More

FOOD FOREST PLANTS

Other Uses

None known

Special Uses

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Succeeds in an ordinary garden soil with some shade[1, 111]. A rather difficult plant to grow, it is best in a moist position[1].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:

Fahrenheit:

image

The PFAF Bookshop

Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees, and Woodland Gardening. Our new book to be released soon is Edible Shrubs.

Shop Now

Propagation

Seed - best sown in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe[1, 200]. Sow stored seed as early in the year as possible. Protect from direct sunlight[200]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Division, with care, in early spring or autumn[200].

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Found In

Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Mertensia bellaBeautiful bluebellsPerennial0.6 0-0  LMHSNMWe10 
Mertensia ciliataMountain Bell, Tall fringed bluebellsPerennial0.8 4-8  LMHSNMWe11 
Mertensia longifloraSmall bluebellsPerennial0.4 3-7  LMHSNM10 
Mertensia maritimaOyster PlantPerennial0.2 3-7  LMNDM30 
Mertensia paniculataTall bluebells, Alaska tall bluebells, Northern bluebells, Eastwood's bluebellsPerennial0.8 4-8  LMHSNMWe10 
Saxifraga mertensianaWood saxifragePerennial0.0 0-0  LMHSNMWe10 
Tsuga mertensianaMountain HemlockTree45.0 5-7 MLMHFSNM123

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

Print Friendly and PDF

Expert comment

Author

(Nutt.)G.Don.

Botanical References

60200

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

Readers comment

Add a comment

If you have important information about this plant that may help other users please add a comment or link below. Only comments or links that are felt to be directly relevant to a plant will be included. If you think a comment/link or information contained on this page is inaccurate or misleading we would welcome your feedback at admin@pfaf.org. If you have questions about a plant please use the Forum on this website as we do not have the resources to answer questions ourselves.

* Please note: the comments by website users are not necessarily those held by PFAF and may give misleading or inaccurate information.

To leave a comment please Register or login here All comments need to be approved so will not appear immediately.

Subject : Mertensia oblongifolia  
© 2010, Plants For A Future. Plants For A Future is a charitable company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales. Charity No. 1057719, Company No. 3204567.