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RHODO APPAREL

Drummond's bluebells

Mertensia drummondii (Lehm.) G.Don

Drummond’s bluebells is a small Arctic perennial rooted in open sand and gravel. A stout, dark-brown base and taproot support flowering stems only about 7–15 centimetres tall. Its blue flowers rise above narrow, alternate leaves, bringing a conspicuous patch of colour to sparsely vegetated ground. Flora of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago: Mertensia drummondii

Botanical artwork associated with Drummond's bluebells (Mertensia drummondii (Lehm.) G.Don)
Rhodo botanical artwork inspired by Drummond's bluebells; an artistic interpretation, not a botanical identification guide.
Wear Drummond's bluebells: explore the botanical t-shirt

Botanical name

This profile follows ITIS in recognizing Mertensia drummondii as a species. Kew instead accepts M. sibirica var. drummondii within M. sibirica. ITIS: Mertensia drummondii, TSN 31669Kew Plants of the World Online: Mertensia sibirica

Recognizing the plant

The leaves have smooth edges and tiny, stiff, flattened hairs on their upper surfaces, while the undersides are hairless. Loose clusters usually hold ten to twenty flowers. Five joined petals form a blue tube or funnel, about 10–15 millimetres long, ending in five rounded lobes. Dry nutlets develop inside the persistent calyx. Flora of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago: Mertensia drummondii

Bloom window

Arctic Alaska, observations in 1994

At Kogosukruk River sites, flowering had begun by June 29, 1994; Meade River populations appeared roughly two weeks later. Robert Lipkin, Alaska Natural Heritage Program: Status Survey Update on Mertensia drummondii

Native range

The Canadian Arctic flora places it in northern Alaska and Arctic Canada, including Victoria Island. Alaskan field surveys found it on active river dunes and wind-eroded sandy hollows, with open ground maintained by natural disturbance. Flora of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago: Mertensia drummondiiRobert Lipkin, Alaska Natural Heritage Program: Status Survey Update on Mertensia drummondii

Ecological relationships

Butterflies were observed visiting the flowers beside the Kogosukruk River in 1994. Robert Lipkin, Alaska Natural Heritage Program: Status Survey Update on Mertensia drummondii

Botanical sources

Reviewed 2026-10-11. Seasonal development varies with location and growing conditions.