It’s difficult to find naturally occurring plants with blue flowers. Since many flowers that seem to be blue are purple, lilac, or lavender rather than being actual blue flowers, it is uncommon to encounter varieties of true blue blooms in the wild. Naturally blue flowers, on the other hand, may be gorgeous to view. In hybrids and domestically cultivated plants, you may also find some blue flowers.
Plants do not naturally create blue pigments, hence blue flowers are uncommon. Just 10% of the approximately 280,000 species of flowering plants are genuine blue blooms, according to certain estimates. As a result, there are certain flowers that are recognized as “genuine blue,” but they are rare. Canterbury bells and butterfly peas are two examples of plants that produce blue flowers.
Several varieties of deep blue blooms are impossible to find. Blue dye is often added to water, resulting in white flowers becoming blue. Other scientists use genetic modification to create flowers that aren’t native to the region. As a result, you may get stunning blue roses or orchids in dark blue hues from time to time. These are white flowers that have been dyed blue, rather than natural blue orchids.
The Meaning of Blue Flowers
Blue flowers have come to represent a variety of feelings and sentiments. A handful of blue flowers might symbolize inspiration, aid, and trust. Sympathy and support for someone who is going through difficulties can also be conveyed in blue flower bouquets. The fact that you take time to think about the individual is demonstrated by the scarcity of blue blossoms.
You’ll learn about some of the bluest flowers available for garden cultivation, as well as their pictures, in this article. Crossing certain plants to produce blue-colored blossoms is one of the reasons behind some of these blue flower specimens. Other plants with blue flowers that are almost blue include plants in hues of blue.
Types of Blue Flowers With Names and Pictures – Identification Guide
Let’s explore some of the bluest blooms nature has to offer. You’ll learn about the true-blue cultivars as well as other plants that produce flowers in a variety of colors.
Blue Hydrangea Flowers
Hydrangeas produce lovely clusters of fragrant blue blooms naturally and may range in color from light pastel to darker blue. Hydrangeas have flowers that are clearly visible and distinct. These popular perennial shrubs produce blue flowers throughout the summer and belong to the Hydrangeaceae family.
Hydrangeas need acidic soil to create blue blooms naturally. In soil with a pH of less than 7, the species Hydrangea macrophylla produces stunning blue-flowered mophead blooms. Only a few hydrangea species produce blue or purple blooms that are reliant on soil acidity.
Keep the soil acidic with soil sulfur if you want to make sure your blue hydrangea species produces dark blue flowers. Flowers that include pastel blue hydrangea blooms may represent deep feelings of everlasting love when given as a gift. ‘Blue Danube,’ ‘Nikko Blue,’ and ‘Blauer Prinz are some of the stunning blue hydrangea cultivars available.
Bluebells
The bulbous spring-flowering plant that produces dainty sweet blue blooms is known as English Bluebells (Hyacinthoides non-scripta). Spanish Bluebells (Hyacinthoides hispanica) is a related species of plant. Wild bluebells transform the earth into a stunning tapestry of light to dark blues and violets when they bloom in spring. A single stem of these low-growing wild flowers has up to 12 bell-shaped blooms.
Bluebells have a height of around 12″ to 24″ (30 – 60 cm) and grow in clusters of leafy plants. These early bloomers are mostly blue, with white or pink blooms being uncommon. Bluebells can be used to highlight other spring-flowering perennials such as tulips, daffodils, and lily of the valley in your garden.
Blue Delphinium Flowers
Delphinium is a perennial flowering plant with lovely blue blooms that blooms throughout the summer. Because they belong to the Ranunculaceae family, which includes buttercups, these summer bloomers are known as such. At the end of long stems, exquisite blue-colored petals form flowers. Blue delphinium plants may grow up to 6 feet (2 meters) tall and are typically 4 inches (10 centimeters) in diameter. The gorgeous blossoms are violet-blue to red, pink, and white in hue and have five petals. Because the blue blooms resemble a dolphin, the plant is called delphinium (Greek for dolphin).
Delphinium flowers with blue and white clusters that create a towering cone-shaped blossom are found in several cultivars. The delphiniums with lavender frilled double blooms have a dazzling effect on other blue delphiniums. ‘Highlander Blueberry Pie’ (blue and purple blooms), ‘Summer Blues’ (light blue), and ‘Delfix Blue’ (darker blue) are some of the most stunning delphinium cultivars.
Blue Hibiscus Flowering Shrubs
The azurri blue satin hibiscus, with its enormous light blue blooms and purple center, is one of the most unusual types of blue blooming plant. The hibiscus family is particularly good at producing light blue blooms that resemble crepe paper. Despite their name as a blue sort of flowering plant, blue hibiscus blossoms have a deeper purple or dark purple color. The Lilac hibiscus is the correct name for this plant.
A stunning blue hibiscus cultivar is the Rose of Sharon ‘Azurri Blue Satin.’ During the summer, this large plant develops to be around 10 feet (3 meters) tall and flourishes. The vibrant blue blooms contrast sharply with the beautiful green leaves. The petals are light blue with dark purple veins and centers. One of the advantages of growing these kinds of hibiscus plants is that they produce stunning blue summer blooms with minimal care.
Grape Hyacinth
Grape hyacinth (Muscari) bulbs produce little blue flowers and their blossoms are blue in color. Bluebells or bluebonnets are other names for blue grape hyacinths. They’re lovely, decorative plants that may be utilized in any garden. Grape hyacinths, a blooming plant with blue flowers, bloom in the spring. Little permanent flowers create conical formations at the ends that resemble blue spikes.
Depending on the species and the soil quality, these early bloomers may range in color from light blue to dark black. The color of Hyacinth’s “Midnight Mystic” is almost black, making it extremely dark blue. Due to their tiny size, grape hyacinths are a fantastic container or border plant. They grow to be 6 to 10 inches (15 to 25 cm) tall.
Iris
Depending on the cultivar, iris plants may produce tall blue blooms in a range of hues of blue. The frilled petals, ruffled appearance, and spectacular color combinations are all characteristics of the lovely iris flowers. Blue bearded irises are among the most spectacular of all the iris plants, and are regarded as one of the world’s most lovely flowers. The frilly petals that resemble a beard gave the plant its name, ‘bearded iris.’
The petals of other iris varieties are blade-like. Irises may grow to be as tall as 3 to 4 feet (1.2 meters) and have flowers that are up to 4 inches (10 centimeters) broad. Iris petals are dark blue with a brilliant yellow center in certain species. The petal colors range from deep blue to light sky blue, and they are in various hues.
The navy blue border around light blue petals is another popular kind of iris. Orange ‘beards’ and pure white petals in the middle of the blossom contrast with these ruffled petals. A symbol of wisdom, friendship, and hope is giving blue irises as a gift. Anyone who sees the lovely blossoms and enjoys the fragrance will be happy.
Lily of the Nile (Agapanthus)
This popular blooming plant is proof that blue flowers do exist in the wild. Agapanthus flowers can be light blue or baby blue, and they come in a variety of purple hues. The order Lilium does not include a genuine kind of lily called Lily of the Nile. The Amaryllidaceae family includes the species Agapanthus africanus. Because of the trumpet-like flowers it generates, this lovely blue blooming plant is known as a ‘lily.
The bluish flowers come in a variety of blues and purples, from light to dark. The tubular trumpet flower has spreading petals that curve back to create a fan. When the sky-blue cluster of blooms forms a globe, it has a stunning appearance. These magnificent clusters are found on stems that are up to 6 feet (2 meters) long.
Blue Wild Indigo Flowers
Blue Wild Indigo (Baptisia australis) is a tiny, delicate plant that produces lovely bluish-purple blooms in the wild. Blue Indigo plants, sometimes known as Blue False Indigo, Indigo Weed, and Rattleweed, are a dainty blue plant from the Fabaceae family. Colors include light blue, pastel blue, and dark violet, and they bloom in late spring and early summer.
Gentians
Annual, biennials, and perennials are all possible forms of blue gentians in nature. When these tiny plants bloom in late spring, their flowers have an vibrant blue hue. Gentians come in over 400 different varieties and each of them features little blue blooms. The flower has five lance-shaped petals that create a star shape.
The flowers’ white center contrasts with the deep blue colors. In rock gardens and borders, spring gentians are one of the most coveted blue flowers. While they flower, they grow to only about 3 inches (7 cm) tall and create a sea of rich blues.
Bluestar
The color and form of this lovely and readily recognized bloom are exactly described by the term “Bluestar.” Bluestars clusters adorn thin stems, giving rise to a riot of brilliant blues. Bluestar, a plant species native to North America, belongs to the Apocynaceae family of plants. Due to its lovely blue spring blooms, this well-known plant has immense ornamental value in gardens. Bluestar plants bear tiny star-shaped white and blue blooms.
Love in a Mist
The common name for Nigella damascena, which has shades of light blue to aqua blue tiny flowers, is “Love in a Mist.” Nigella damascena is the scientific name for this plant, which is also known as Devil in the Bush. The yellow flowers of this plant, like buttercups, belong to the same family.
The colors of this summer-flowering plant range from blue to white. White, pink, or light purple blooms may be seen in some varieties of Love-in-a-Mist. Each star-shaped blossom on each little bushy plant may number up to 25. This unusual plant has a fuzzy appearance due to the thin type of soft spiky green foliage.
Blue Morning Glory Flowers
Morning Glory flowers are members of the Convolvulaceae family and are perennial blooms with a white and yellow center. Blue-flowering plants from the Ipomoea, Astripomoea, and Convolvulus genera make up this family. Morning Glory blooms are some of the brightest you’ll see. Blue is the most striking color in Morning Glories, despite the fact that they may have yellow, pink, purple, or red flowers. Deep blue funnel-like blooms with a white and yellow star-shaped pattern in the center are some of the most spectacular blooms.
Rich navy-blue hues, light indigo, and pale blue that nearly seems white are other hues of blue. Morning Glories are summer-blooming plants that thrive in mild environments. Against the rich green foliage, the blue blooms are 1″ to 2″ (2 – 5 cm) in diameter.
Impatiens
The genus Impatiens contains over 1,000 species of impatients plants. Sky blue, light blue, and royal blue are just a few of the hues of this blooming plant available. Two-lipped flowers or flat flowers are the two types of impatiens flowers. The two-lipped blooms of several flat-flower species are quite striking and garish, with a star form.
The most common and popular variety of impatiens flowers is white. True blue impatiens are actually uncommon in the wild and only grow in the Himalayas. These are annual flowers that grow well in containers and produce marine-blue flowers with yellow markings. The name of this authentic wild blue species is Impatiens namchabarwensis.
Pansies
Pansies in the genus Viola have flowers ranging from blue to white with a yellow center, and some cultivars have different hues. Depending on the environment and species, these popular blooming plants are either annuals or perennials. From extremely light blue to dark bluish purple, pansy flowers come in a variety of hues. The bluest pansy blooms are virtually black in color. Pansy petals are also a fascinating plant species because of their coloring. Single-colored blooms with enormous oval petals characterize certain pansies.
Some species have different blues that fade into lighter blues that may be bi-colored. White pansies with a delicate blue tint around the margins are also available. The blue, yellow, and white pansies are among the most stunning. Just a glimpse of the incredible hues of some pansy cultivars is enough. ‘Sorbet Lemon Blueberry Swirl,’ ‘Icy Blue,’ and ‘Celestial Blue Moon, for example, are all beautiful flowers with their deep purple coloring and blue veins.
Cornflowers
Cornflower (Centaurea cyanus) is a wildflower that has intense blue blooms that bloom every year. The family Asteraceae, or daisies, gerberas, and sunflowers, produces this extremely lovely blossom. Bachelor’s Button is the common name for these wild blue flowers. Their distinctive vivid blue color is due to the presence of blue pigment protocyanin in one of the few flowers.
Blue thin spindly petals make up the flower heads on cornflower stems. The showy blossoms, which can be up to 2 inches (5 cm) broad, look like thistle heads. When grown in clusters, the plant grows to be 18 inches (45 cm) tall. Disc-shaped florets with black purple centers can be found on some cornflowers.
Anemone
Several cultivars of anemones exist with blue flowers. Blanda’s Blue Shades (left) and Blue Poppy’s (right) are two of the approximately 200 varieties of flowering plants in the Anemone genus. Anemones are perennial plants with broad oval petals that produce lovely simple blooms. The brilliant vivid hues and wispy blossoms of these exquisite blooms are unmistakable.
The ‘Blue Poppy,’ with its multiple rows of steel blue petals and navy blue button center, is one of the most stunning examples of a blue anemone. A cultivar with a yellow center and royal blue petals, the Anemone Blanda ‘Blue Shades’ is a popular choice. The anemone ‘Bordeaux’ has burgundy red velvety petals with a very dark blue button-like center, despite not being classified as a blue flower.
Anise-Scented Sage
Anise-Scented sage is a bushy perennial shrub with purple and blue flowers that belongs to the Salvia genus. It is also known as Hummingbird Sage (Salvia guaranitica). Salvia guaranitica, or Salvia, has tiny flowers with blue petals that range in color. ‘Blue Enigma,’ ‘Blue Ensign,’ Argentine Skies, and ‘Black and blue’ are some of the other types of sage (salvia) with bright blue blooms.