A high-maintenance beauty beloved by bees, the tall bluebell is the (blue) belle of the ball.

This gorgeous groundcover is found throughout Melbourne, its flowers blooming from September to January – see if you can spot it in the Test Garden at Fed Square! In pre-colonial Melbourne, it would have classed up the woodlands in Parkville, Carlton and East Melbourne.

Tall bluebells are primarily pollinated by small, native bees – larger bees are unable to balance on its delicate, purplish petals. In fact, native bees are so fond of this flower that the males can often be found snoozing in its petals, which provide the perfect swag as they close up at night.

Like all divas, the fast-growing tall bluebells thrive with a beauty routine. Trim them down regularly to encourage more flowering and keep them hydrated – they'll die back in dry conditions but resprout with moisture. With well drained soil and full to partial sun, they’ll glam up any garden. You can even use the petals as a brilliant blue garnish when cooking.

  • Plant family: Campanulaceae (bellflower family)
  • Plant relatives: balloonflower.
  • Name meaning: commemorating Göran Wahlenberg (1780–1851), a Swedish botanist.
  • Plant size: 0.45-0.9 m tall x 0.3-0.4 m wide.
  • Pollinators: very important in pollinator networks to support native bee species.
  • Edible parts: flowers.
  • Garden conditions: moderately drought tolerant, but plants die back in dry conditions and resprout with moisture.
  • Propagation: seed or root cuttings.
  • Other considerations: generally pest-free.

Stories from Traditional Owners

Coming soon

A lovely flowering plant that provides invaluable biodiversity for our native bees and butterflies, with the added bonus of having edible flowers and tubers for the Bunurong people.

Anecdotes from the reference group

  • Kirsty Costa

    ‘So small, but so striking. These tiny blue-purple flowers pop up in unexpected places - footpaths, paddocks, bushland - like little sky-coloured surprises. I always feel a small spark of joy when I spot one.’

  • Emmaline Bowman

    ‘A wonderful, beautiful plant with a unique colour that especially attract blue-banded bees. Wahlenbergias close at night and become sleeping blankets to insects. A great plant that can be grown in the garden, in many situations as well as in pots. Sadly, not a good cut flower, but having these in your garden and in nature is enough to remember this plant.’

  • Katherine McPherson Sinclair

    ‘I love the star-like and luminescent quality of this plant. It's edible flowers attract native bees and provides a place to rest at night. Growing quickly in clumps and responding to moisture after a period of drought it speaks to the potential and resilience of communities when nurtured.’

  • Dr. Amy Hahs

    'See my favourite plant. The colours of the flowers are beautiful and range from a really deep blue through to being light enough blue they are almost white.'

Floral Emblem for the City of Melbourne