Blue may be a favorite color for many, yet only about 10% of flowering plants naturally produce blue blooms. This soothing hue brings a sense of peace and tranquility to any space. While red, yellow, pink and white flowers are common sights in gardens, blue blossoms stand out like rare gems, adding a touch of unexpected beauty among vibrant beds of color.
While naturally occurring blue flowers are rare, breeders continue to develop new varieties, expanding options for gardeners. These stunning blooms can enhance landscapes by adding a refreshing pop of color or creating balance in gardens dominated by warm-toned flowers. Many pollinators are attracted to blue flowers, which typically have high amounts of nectar.
Although blue flowers are less common in garden centers, each variety offers its own unique charm, differing in shape, size and sunlight requirements, making it possible to find the perfect blue bloom for any garden space. With a diverse selection of plants, shades of blue can flourish throughout the seasons, bringing beauty from early spring through fall.
Spring-flowering bulbs
These are the first to provide color to the landscape after a dull, colorless winter.
Virginia bluebells are a gorgeous spring ephemeral with drooping blue, bell-shaped flowers atop 2-foot-tall clumping foliage. They can form large groupings over time — a stunning sight to see.
Grape hyacinth produces clusters of small, bell-shaped blooms, with grass-like foliage. Only reaching 5 to 8 inches tall, they are great naturalizers and pollinator favorites.
Annual plants
Providing continuous colorful blooms throughout the summer, these are great additions to your landscape or a patriotic patio pot.
‘Black and Blue’ salvia has showstopping cobalt blue blooms with black whorls that appear on spikes 2 to 4 feet tall. Pleasantly fragranced foliage and heat and drought tolerance (once established) make this a favorite for containers or annual plantings.
Blue lobelia creates bright blue flowers throughout the growing season. The trailing habit makes it perfect for containers or the front of the landscape.
Blue Daze blooms with bright blue flowers among a mat of small, fuzzy leaves that trail when planted in baskets or containers. The flowers are sun lovers that close on cloudy days and at night.
Blue-blooming shrubs
These can add form and structure to your landscape all year, in addition to the rare blue color.
Bigleaf hydrangea is a shade-loving shrub with large clusters of smaller flowers. Blue flowers are produced in acidic soil. Aluminum sulfate can be added to the soil to lower the pH.
Bluebeard bursts with dark blue blooms covering the branches in late summer. The 3- to 4-foot shrub is a great nectar source for pollinators.
Perennials
Some gorgeous blue blooms can be planted in any sun or shade garden and will come back year after year.
Blue false indigo has pea-like, indigo blue flowers that appear above blue-green foliage in late spring to early summer. Minimal maintenance and easy adaptation to a variety of conditions make it garden-worthy.
Bluestar is a mid-spring bloomer with powder blue, star-shaped blooms among upright, clumping foliage.
Great blue lobelia is an Illinois native perfect for areas with wet soil. The showy blue flowers attract a variety of pollinators from July to October.
