How to Transplant Mertensia Franciscana

Commonly called Franciscan bluebells, Mertensia franciscana occurs naturally in subalpine meadows and along creeks across much of the southwestern United States. It grows to between 3 and 4 feet in height with a bushy, multi-stemmed form covered in fleshy, light-green leaves and pendulous, bell-shaped flowers with a light-blue coloration. Many gardeners use Mertensia franciscana in native-plant landscaping for its ability to attract pollinating insects -- but it is notoriously difficult to propagate at home, so transplanting existing plants provides a viable alternative in most instances.

Garden trowel
2 1-gallon plastic bags
Water

Instructions

- 1
  Locate a mature, thriving Mertensia franciscana plant in autumn or early spring. Choose one without flower buds or blooming flowers.
- 2
  Measure out 6 inches on all sides of the Mertensia franciscana plant. Insert the blade of a garden trowel to its entire depth around the 6-inch perimeter of the plant.
- 3
  Make several passes with the blade of the garden trowel around the 6-inch perimeter to sever any roots that might be holding the plant to the ground.
- 4
  Work the blade of the trowel underneath the roots of the Mertensia franciscana plant. Push the trowel in at a wide angle. Push the handle of the trowel down toward the ground to pry the plant up.
- 5
  Place the Mertensia franciscana plant in a 1-gallon plastic bag. Sprinkle 1 to 2 cups of water over the roots of the plant to keep it hydrated while transporting it to its new planting site.
- 6
  Fill a second 1-gallon plastic bag with soil from the original growing site. Collect at least 6 cups of soil for use in transplanting the plant.
- 7
  Prepare a planting hole for the Mertensia franciscana plant. Make the hole twice the diameter of the root ball of the transplanted plant, and of equal depth.
- 8
  Nestle the rootball of the Mertensia franciscana plant into the hole. Fill in around the edges with the soil collected from the original growing site. Firm the soil around the roots to press out any trapped air.
- 9
  Water the plant with 1 or 2 cups of water immediately after transplant. Withhold all further watering unless rain fails to fall for two to three weeks after the transplanting, in which case apply 1 to 2 cups of water every 10 to 14 days to keep the plant hydrated while it establishes roots.

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