Chiming Bells (5)

The Mertensia genus, commonly called Chiming Bells or Bluebells, have tubular flowers opening to a bell shape. They have pink buds which turn blue to purplish. Species are differentiated by their leaves, life zone, habitat and the length of the flower tube relative to the bell.

	Dwarf Chiming Bells Mertensia fusiformis Family: Borage (Boraginaceae) AKA: Spindleroot Bluebells Photo taken on: June 16, 2007 Location: Copper Creek Trail, GV, CO Life Zones: Montane to subalpine Habitat: Wet soil Grows to 10" with hairy leaves.
	Lanceleaf Chiming Bells Mertensia lanceolata Family: Borage (Boraginaceae) AKA: Green Bluebells, Prairie Bluebells, Narrowleaf Bluebells Photo taken on: July 24, 2015 Location: Scarp Ridge, GV, CO Life Zones: Foothills to alpine Habitat: Dry slopes, meadows Grows singly or in clumps to 12" with leaning stems. Leaves can be hairy or hairless and are lance-shaped.
	Oblongleaf Bluebells Mertensia oblongifolia Family: Borage (Boraginaceae) AKA: Sagebrush Bluebells Photo taken on: May 7, 2005 Location: Almont Triangle, GV, CO Life Zones: Plains to montane Habitat: Dry slopes, meadows, sagebrush Grows to 12". Leaves are three times longer than wide, hairy on top, hairless underneath. Flowers are in dense clusters. The bell of the flower is shorter than the tube.
	Tall Chiming Bells Mertensia ciliata Family: Borage (Boraginaceae) AKA: Languid Ladies, Tall Fringed Bluebells, Mountain Bluebells Photo taken on: June 27, 2005 Location: Snodgrass Mountain, GV, CO Life Zones: Montane to subalpine Habitat: Wet soil, stream sides Grows to 4ft in dense colonies with soft, blue-green leaves.
	Franciscan Bluebells Mertensia franciscana Family: Borage (Boraginaceae) AKA: San Francisco Bluebells Photo taken on: July 29, 2015 Location: Splain's Gulch, GV, CO Life Zones: Montane to subalpine Habitat: Wet soil, open woods Grows to 3ft tall with greener leaves compared to M. ciliata above. Both grow in similar habitats.

Blue/Purple Round Clusters