# aspen bluebells (*Mertensia arizonica*) Aspen bluebells are lovely blue flowers that bloom in spring. They grow in clusters and look like little bells hanging from the stems. These flowers are a beautiful sight in nature! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Mountain regions ![aspen bluebells](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Mertensiaarizonica.jpg&width=800) Photo: Paula Hamilton, Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mertensiaarizonica.jpg) ## Appearance The aspen bluebells has bright, true-blue bell-shaped flowers that hang in graceful clusters. Its smooth, oblong leaves are typically a pale green, sometimes showing a whitish tint. The stems are often reddish, providing a striking contrast to the vibrant blooms. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Boraginales - **Family:** Boraginaceae - **Genus:** Mertensia ## Interesting facts - Its blue flowers can sometimes appear pink or purple before fully opening! - Native Americans historically used bluebell plants for traditional medicine and food. - The 'bluebells' name comes from the flowers' charming bell-like shape! - They are often found growing alongside aspen trees, giving them their common name! ## Special abilities - **Frost Fighter:** Aspen bluebells can thrive in chilly mountain air because their tissues are adapted to cold temperatures for survival. - **Nectar Beacon:** Aspen bluebells have deep bell-shaped flowers that attract long-tongued bees and hummingbirds for pollination. - **Underground Sleeper:** Aspen bluebells has a robust root system that helps it store energy and regrow fresh each spring. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 15-40 cm - **Spread:** 10-20 cm - **Flower Size:** 1-2 cm - **Bloom Season:** Spring to early summer - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** Two-form Bumblebee (*Bombus bifarius*) — collects nectar and pollen from flowers - **Pollinates:** [Black-chinned Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-chinned-hummingbird) (*Archilochus alexandri*) — drinks nectar from tubular flowers - **Eaten by:** [Elk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/elk) (*Cervus canadensis*) — browses on leaves and shoots in spring - **Shelter:** [Quaking Aspen](https://www.snappit.app/explore/quaking-aspen) (*Populus tremuloides*) — often grows in the shade of these trees ## Traits - [Bell-Shaped Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/bell-shaped-flower): Bell-shaped flowers possess petals fused or arranged to form a cup-like or campanulate structure resembling a bell. - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Cluster Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/cluster-flower): Cluster flowers are inflorescences where individual flowers are arranged closely together on a common stem. - [Shade Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shade-tolerant): Shade tolerant plants are adapted to grow and thrive in areas with low light levels, requiring less direct sunlight. - [Spring Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spring-blooming): Spring blooming plants produce their flowers during the spring season, often signifying the end of winter and the start of new growth. - [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Mountain](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/mountain): This habitat trait identifies species found in mountainous regions, characterized by high elevation, steep slopes, and varying climate zones. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always look but don't touch flowers in nature to help protect them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify aspen bluebells? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is aspen bluebells? 15-40 cm ### How wide does aspen bluebells spread? 10-20 cm ### How big are the flowers on aspen bluebells? 1-2 cm ### When does aspen bluebells bloom? Spring to early summer ### Is aspen bluebells edible? No ### Is aspen bluebells toxic? None ### What is aspen bluebells's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Cedar Breaks National Monument](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cedar-breaks-national-monument) — Utah, US · National Park ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Aspen Bluebells: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/aspen-bluebells)