A number of species of Mertensia are abundant throughout the blooming season in the Four Corners area.  At lower elevations, Mertensia appear in April; in the San Juans and nearby mountain ranges, Mertensia appear as short plants in open meadows and woods in the spring, tall plants along streams at higher elevations in the summer, and dwarf plants above timberline.  On any plant, flower color of the dainty, drooping bells often varies from purples and blues to very light pinks depending on how long the flowers have been open.

     The most prominent display of Mertensia is along mountain streams where Mertensia form large, dense colonies with thousands of sweetly scented flowers.

     The genus was named by Albrecht Roth in 1797 for F. K. Mertens a German botanist  of the late 1700s and early 1800s.  (More biographical information.)

Montane, subalpine.  Streamsides.  Summer.
Sharkstooth Trail, August 24, 2011 and July 14, 2004.

The blue-green cast of Mertensia ciliata is distinctive.  The patch of M. ciliata shown in the top photograph at left is several hundred feet long in a low wet area.

The second photograph shows the same M. ciliata from the perspective of a hiker on the trail wading through the mass of three foot tall flowers heavy with perfume.

Range map © John Kartesz,
Floristic Synthesis of North America

State Color Key

Species present in state and native
Species present in state and exotic
Species not present in state

County Color Key

Species present and not rare
Species present and rare
Species extirpated (historic)
Species extinct
Species noxious
Species exotic and present
Native species, but adventive in state
Eradicated
Questionable presence

Range map for Mertensia ciliata