Classic Blue moves into the garden.
The Pantone Color for 2020 is “Classic Blue”… a vibrant yet traditional blue that is trending indoors in paint, fabrics and even appliance colors. But, let’s take it outdoors this spring as we add blue flowers and classic blue containers to our gardens and patios. Blue is one of the rarest flower colors to see in nature… which makes it even more desirable. Blue colors evoke serenity and calm… welcome attributes for an outdoor sanctuary. Keep in mind a few flowers in the blue hue that will keep you on trend…
Hydrangea ‘Nantucket’ (Hydrangea macrophylla): Showy clusters of sky-blue* blossoms will add an elegance to garden or container.
Light: Dappled sunlight or afternoon shade; East or north side of home.
Soil: Moist, well drained
Blooms: Blue blossoms in acidic soil and pink flowers in alkaline soil*.
*Even in our alkaline soils, we are able to enjoy heavenly blue, hydrangea blooms. To keep those flowers blue, you have to increase the acidity of our alkaline soil with aluminum sulfate such as Espoma’s Organic Soil Acidfier.
Size: Shrubs mature from 4- 6’ wide and tall.
Why we like it: Gorgeous blue flowers bloom from early summer into early fall.
English Lavender ‘Super Blue’ (Hydrangea macrophylla): Fragrant and compact plants produce rich and saturated blue blooms to add a rich blue color to walkways, edging or patio containers.
Light: Full Sun
Water: Can withstand drought
Soil: well drained
Blooms: Early to late summer
Size: Compact plants mature from 10-12” tall.
Why we like it: Over-winters well. Butterfly & bee friendly and deer resistant.
Delphinium (Delphinium): Spires of smaller flowers float above fern-like foliage in some of the most beautiful blues from deep midnight blue to pale sky blue. Delphiniums are at home in cottage gardens or formal gardens and are do well as cut flowers.
Light: Full sun, light shade
Soil: Moist, well drained
Blooms:Prefer moist, cool summers and dislikes wind or pelting rain.
Size: So many varieties… mature from 2’ – 5’ tall.
Why we like it: Taller varieties add needed verticality to garden designs. This perennial loves our alkaline soils.
Globe Thistle (Echinops Ritro): Smaller florets appear as oneglobe of violet blue on branched, silvery stems… a drought hardy plant with heavily lobed, dark green leaves.
Light: Full sun, Part shade is tolerated
Soil: Well drained soil
Blooms: Prefers moist, cool summers and dislikes wind or pelting rain.
Size: Grows up to 3-4’ tall and 18-24” wide.
Why we like it: Flowers more than once in a season and is drought tolerant. Flowers are a magnet for butterflies and bees.
Tip: Enjoy the drying flowers… If you cut stems of flowers before they open and dry them upside down, you’ll enjoy their dried flowers in vases.
Butterfly Bush ‘Blue Chip’ (Buddleia davidii): This compact shrub has scented, blue-purple panicles that attract butterflies, as well as hummingbirds. The lance-shaped leaves cling to arching branches.
Light: Full Sun (6+ hours)
Soil: Needs well drained soil that is slightly acidic. In clay soils, plant shrub so it sits slightly above ground level.
Size: Grows up from 24-36” tall and wide.
Blooms: Bluish-purple flower spikes bloom from mid-summer into October, if deadheaded.
Why we like it: Fragrant. Compact, mounded habit. Tolerant of urban pollution and not particular to soil type. More compact than most Buddleia. Not invasive.
Tip: The plant has a tendency to take longer to leaf out in spring in our zone 5. Mulch in fall for winter protection.
Forget-me-Not (Myosotis scorpiodes): Tiny blue flowers with white, pink or yellow centers grow above bright green foliage in early summer.
Light: Part shade to full sun
Soil: Moist, woodsy
Size: Grows from 12-18” tall, 6-8” wide 24-30” tall and wide.
Blooms: Spring through first frost
Why we like it: Sweet true blue flowers are sweetly fragrant in the morning and evening but odorless during the day. Rabbit resistant.
Tip: Prefers consistent moisture. Very easy to grow. The plant spreads easily by self-seeding.
Brunnera or Siberian Bugloss (Brunnera macrophylla): Brunnera blooms in spring withpale blue flowers that float like a cloud above green or variegated heart-shaped leaves.
Light: Part shade, shade
Soil: Moist, well-drained
Size: Grows from 12-18” tall, 24-30” wide.
Blooms: April - May
Why we like it: Sweet true blue flowers are sweetly fragrant in the morning and evening but odorless during the day. Rabbit resistant.
Tip: ‘Jack Frost’ is a variety with variegated leaves that glow in shade gardens.
‘Heavenly Blue’ Morning Glory (Ipomoea tricolor): This old fashioned, annual vine will twine around just about any trellis or pergolas. The rich azure blue flowers with white throats unfurl throughout the summer with tons of big blue flowers.
Light: Full Sun
Soil: Well-drained
Size: Grows up to 15’ tall.
Blooms: Early summer to the first frost.
Why we like it: Easy to grow and love its old fashioned charm! Attracts butterflies and hummingbirds.
Tip: Keep out of reach of children and pets. Seeds are poisonous especially in large quantities.
Salvia ‘Victoria Blue’ (Salvia farinacea ‘Victoria Blue’): This annual salvia is known for its showy, deep-blue flower spikes that bloom all summer. Lance-shaped leaves are a nice grayish-green.
Light: Full Sun, Part Sun
Soil: Well-drained
Size: Flower spikes can mature up to 8”.
Blooms:Early summer to the first frost.
Why we like it: Gorgeous blue color. Easy-to-grow annual that blooms all season.
Tip: This easy-to-grow perennial is a calling card for butterflies and hummingbirds.
Lobelia (Lobelia spp.): This lobelia is a light and airy flowering annual that blooms in a range of pale blue to deep violet-blue flowers from summer* until frost.
Light: Full sun but tolerates partial shade.
Soil: Moist, rich
Size: 3-5” tall plants that mounds and trail a bit.
Blooms: Early summer to the first frost.
Why we like it: Fantastic blue flowers… sometimes with a white ‘eye’. Lobelia look great in containers, hanging baskets and borders.
Tip: Water before the soil to dries out. Add fertilizer once a month. *Does best in cooler weather.
