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.)

More Mertensia

Montane, subalpine.  Streamsides.  Summer.
Horse Creek Trail, June 21, 2005.

Mertensia franciscana is common along streams, in moist meadows, and in open woods.  It grows in small patches as pictured here, in three or four foot diameter bush-like clusters with hundreds of flowers in bloom at the same time, or, as pictured below, as individual plants.

"Franciscana" is for the San Francisco Peaks of Arizona which in turn honor St. Francis.  Amos Heller named this plant in 1899 from a specimen collected by L. F. Ward in Utah in 1875.

Montane, subalpine.  Streamsides.  Summer.
Ryman Creek Trail, June 16, 2005.

Leaves are textured with prominent veins.

Montane, subalpine.  Streamsides.  Summer.
Horse Creek Trail, June 21, 2005.

Leaves have small, glistening, pustulate-based hairs.  It is usually very difficult to see these hairs in the field, even with a 10x hand lens.  The hairs are appressed, quite fine, and quite short.  The pustulate base of the hairs shows as dark green circles.  Most often one needs a microscope to see these features.

Montane, subalpine.  Streamsides.  Summer.
Sharkstooth Trail, August 30, 2004.

Mertensia leaf color in late summer and fall is often a subdued but handsome blend of reds and purples.

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 franciscana