Transform your garden from plain to picturesque by incorporating low-maintenance perennials, annuals, and shrubs. Written by Anne Balogh, explore various plant options to enhance your outdoor space with color and beauty. Don’t miss out on our free weekly newsletter for more plant tips, design ideas, gardening solutions, and much more!
The Blue Chiffon® rose of Sharon, captured beautifully in a photo by Proven Winners, showcases the rare beauty of blue flowers. Even famous painter Vincent Van Gogh, known for his love of blue flowers in his painting “Irises” (1889), understood the magic of these unique blooms. Blue flowers are a rarity in the plant world, making up less than 10% of all flowering plants, but they offer a wide range of shades and sizes, from sky blue groundcovers to deep indigo shrubs. With the right planning, your garden can be filled with the blues from early spring to late fall, thanks to these special and enchanting flowers.
Image credit: Proven Winners
Let’s Dance® Rhythmic Blue® Hydrangea
— Get your hands on this beauty from Proven Winners
Hydrangea macrophylla
This impressive hydrangea blooms continuously throughout the summer and thrives even in colder climates, all without the hassle of constant pruning. To achieve the stunning blue hue, it’s best to maintain acidic soil and use aluminum sulfate as a treatment.
Plant Type / Zones:
Shrub, Suitable for Zones 5-9
Size:
Reaching a height and width of 3 to 4 feet
Bloom time:
From midsummer to early fall
Exposure:
Thrives in full sun to partial shade
Discover more about the art of nurturing hydrangeas.
Image credits: Proven Winners.
SALVIA
Rockin’® Playin’ the Blues® Salvia available for purchase from Proven Winners
This Salvia hybrid maintains its deep-blue color even after the flowers have bloomed, thanks to the calyxes. Additionally, new flower spikes will continue to appear throughout the summer months.
Plant Type / Zones:
Considered a perennial in Zones 7-10; often planted as an annual
Size:
Reaching heights of 2 to 4 feet and spreading 2 to 3 feet wide
Bloom time:
From planting until the first frost
Exposure:
Thrives in full sun to partial shade
For more information on how to care for and cultivate salvia, visit our website.
Image provided by Proven Winners.
BLUE AGAPANTHUS
Little Galaxy Blue Agapanthus
— Purchase from Proven Winners
Agapanthus
hybrid
This smaller, blue-blooming beauty creates large, spherical flower clusters that stand tall above bunches of slender leaves. The seed pods that come after are just as pleasing to the eye as the flowers themselves.
Plant Type / Zone:
Perennial, Suitable for Zones 6-11
Size:
Reaches a height and width of 22 to 26 inches
Blooming Season:
From July to September
Exposure:
Requires Full Sun
Discover more about the cultivation of the lily of the Nile plant.
Image provided by: Proven Winners.
BLUE CHIFFON® ROSE OF SHARON
Experience the beauty of Blue Chiffon® Rose of Sharon by purchasing it now from Proven Winners. This Hibiscus syriacus variety features delicate, lacy blooms on graceful stems from summer through fall. The flowers are not only visually stunning but also attract birds and butterflies with their intricate, lacy centers. Blue Chiffon is known for its ability to thrive in both heat and drought conditions.
Plant Type / Suitable Zones:
Shrub, Zones 5-9
Size:
Reaching heights of 8 to 12 feet and widths of 4 to 6 feet
Bloom Time:
Blooming early to late summer
Exposure:
Requires full sun to flourish
Expand your knowledge on growing rose of Sharon and hardy hibiscus by learning more.
Image provided by American Meadows.
CORNFLOWER
Blue Cornflower
Known as “bachelor’s buttons,” this classic flower is a beloved choice for cutting gardens. Its vibrant blue hue is so unique that it inspired a Crayola crayon.
Plant Type:
Annual
Size:
Grows 1 to 3 feet tall and spreads to 10 inches wide
Bloom time:
Thrives in early to midsummer, can be extended with regular deadheading.
Exposure:
Requires full to partial sun.
Check out this lovely Dwarf Morning Glory plant from Proven Winners called Blue My Mind®. This Evolvulus hybrid, a non-vining cousin of the traditional morning glory, is sure to add a pop of true-blue color to your garden from early summer all the way through the first frost. It’s compact too, only reaching up to 12 inches in height and trailing no more than 2 feet. Perfect for planting until frost in full sun conditions, this perennial in Zones 10-11 is often grown as an annual. Get yours now from Proven Winners!
Sapphire-blue flowers with bright yellow beards, the ‘Blue Suede Shoes’ Bearded Iris is a stunning sight to see in any garden. These large ruffled blooms make their first appearance in the spring, then return for an encore in late summer. Perfect for Zones 5-9, this perennial grows up to 3 feet tall and 2 feet wide. Plant in full sun for best results and enjoy the beauty of irises all season long. Find out more about caring for irises and watch them bloom in your own garden.
Lobelia, known as Laguna® Sky Blue Lobelia, is a top choice for blue-flowered container plants. This beautiful variety features delicate soft-blue flowers that cascade from spring to the first frost. It is heat-tolerant and able to handle hot summer temperatures with ease. While it is a perennial plant in Zones 9-11, it is typically grown as an annual. The plant can grow to a height of 6 to 12 inches and spread up to 2 feet. It thrives in full sun to partial shade and blooms from spring until the frost sets in. To find out more about growing lobelia, visit Proven Winners’ website.
Image credit: Proven Winners
GENTIAN
Gentiana ‘True Blue’
— Get yours now at Proven Winners
Gentian
hybrid variety
The vibrant royal blue flowers of this gentian plant contrast beautifully with its lance-shaped emerald-green leaves. Its tubular blooms face upwards and cover the stems in abundance.
Plant Type / Growing Zones:
Perennial plant, suitable for Zones 4-7
Size:
Reaches a height of 24 to 30 inches, and spreads 12 to 18 inches wide
Blooming Season:
From midsummer to early fall
Exposure:
Prefers full sun to partial shade; shield from harsh afternoon sun in regions with hot and humid summers.
Picture taken by Millette Rejean D from Millette Photomedia.
LOVE-IN-A-MIST
Known as Love-in-a-Mist, Nigella damascena is a charming plant with fragile flowers, feathery leaves, and decorative seedpods. This popular cottage garden flower is perfect for both fresh and dried flower arrangements.
Plant Category:
Annual
Height:
1-2 feet, spreading up to 1 foot wide
Flowering Period:
Spring to early summer
Light Requirement:
Full sun
Image credit: mizy / Shutterstock.
BRUNNERA
‘Jack Frost’ Siberian Bugloss
— Purchase now from Proven Winners
Brunnera macrophylla, commonly known as heartleaf brunnera or false forget-me-not, is a delightful plant that thrives in shade and is cherished for both its attractive foliage and delicate clusters of small, pale blue flowers.
Plant Type / Hardiness Zone:
Perennial, suited for Zones 3-8
Size:
12 to 15 inches in height and width
Blooming Period:
Late April to June
Light Requirements:
Thrives in shade to partial sunlight.
For more information on cultivating brunnera plants, click here.
Image by: Proven Winners.
BLUE GLOW GLOBE THISTLE
Buy this stunning Echinops spp. plant now from Proven Winners. The spiky, golfball-sized flower heads of the Globe Thistle are a striking addition to any garden or floral arrangement. Resembling ornamental onions, the blooms come later in the summer, making a bold statement.
Plant Type / Growing Zones:
Perennial plant suitable for Zones 4-9
Size:
Can reach heights of 4 feet and spread up to 2 feet wide
Bloom time:
Enjoy blooms from late June through September
Exposure:
Requires full sun to thrive
Captivating blue Summer Cloud Delphinium blooms are a must-have for your garden. With a compact growth habit and excellent heat tolerance, these flowers from the grandiflorum group will dazzle you all summer long without needing support. As a perennial plant suitable for Zones 3-7, these stunning blooms grow to be 12 to 18 inches tall and wide. They thrive in full sun from late spring through summer. Discover more about nurturing delphiniums to enhance your garden’s beauty.
Image courtesy of Proven Winners.
BLUEBERRY SUNDAE FALSE INDIGO
Indulge in the beauty of Decadence® ‘Blueberry Sundae’ False Indigo
— Get yours now from Proven Winners
Scientific Name: Baptisia australis
This plant is resilient, able to withstand drought conditions, and showcases elegant flower spikes from late spring to summer. The striking indigo-blue blooms contrast beautifully with the vase-shaped blue-green leaves.
Plant Variety / Ideal Climate:
A perennial that thrives in Zones 3-9
Dimensions:
Grows to a height and width of 2-1/2 to 3 feet
Flowering Season:
Enjoy blooms from late May through July
Light Requirements:
Prefers full sun for optimal blooming, but can also tolerate partial shade.
For more information on nurturing baptisia plants, visit our guide.
Capture the beauty of the Beyond Midnight® Bluebeard from Proven Winners in your garden today! This small, compact shrub is perfect for Zones 5-9 and produces stunning blue flowers that bloom late into the season. With clusters of fragrant, deep-blue flowers that last well into autumn, this plant is a favorite among butterflies and other pollinators. Standing at 2 to 3 feet tall and wide, this bluebeard thrives in full sun and blooms from midsummer through fall. Discover more about growing and caring for these beautiful bluebeard plants.
Image Credits: SKPG_Arts / Shutterstock.
Virginia Bluebells, also known as Mertensia virginica, showcase bright pink buds that transform into delicate sky-blue bells during the spring season. This native wildflower has the ability to naturalize effortlessly, and while it may go dormant in the summer, it bursts back to life with vigor every spring.
Plant Type/Zone:
Perennial, suitable for Zones 3-8
Size:
Reaching heights and widths of 12 to 18 inches
Bloom time:
Enjoy the colorful display from April to May
Exposure:
Prefers filtered shade for optimal growth
Image courtesy of Proven Winners.
BELLFLOWER
Check out the ‘Rapido Blue’ Carpathian Bellflower available from Proven Winners. Scientifically known as Campanula carpatica, this perennial with beautiful blue flowers spreads across the ground and blooms with bell-shaped flowers in spring. It forms a vibrant carpet that remains colorful throughout most of the summer.
Plant Type / Zone:
Perennial plant suitable for Zones 3-8
Size:
Grows to a height of 5 to 7 inches and spreads 5 to 8 inches wide
Bloom time:
From early spring to summer
Exposure:
Thrives in full sun but benefits from some afternoon shade in warmer climates
For more information on how to cultivate bellflowers, visit our website.
Image courtesy of Proven Winners.
ASTER
Peachie’s Pick Stokes’ Aster
— Purchase now from Proven Winners
Stokesia hybrid
This abundant wildflower native showcases lovely lavender-blue blooms that persist continuously until the onset of the first frost, particularly with consistent deadheading.
Plant Category / Regions:
Perennial, Suitable for Zones 5-9
Dimensions:
Grows up to 18 inches in height, spreading 18 to 24 inches wide
Flowering Period:
From July to September
Sunlight Requirement:
Thrives in full sun exposure
Explore additional information on how to cultivate asters.
Image courtesy of Proven Winners.
SPELLBINDING SPIKE SPEEDWELL
Experience the enchanting Magic Show® ‘Wizard of Ahhs’ spike speedwell
— Purchase now from Proven Winners
Veronica
hybrid
While spike speedwell flowers can be found in various hues, the deep blue blooms of the ‘Wizard of Ahhs’ variety tend to captivate the most attention. This particular plant is renowned for its impressively lengthy flowering period.
Plant Type / Zones:
Perennial, Suitable for Zones 3-9
Size:
Reaching heights and widths of 18 to 24 inches
Blooming Period:
From June to September
Light Requirements:
Thrives in full sunlight
Delve deeper into the world of cultivating spike speedwell by learning more here.
Image credit: Proven Winners
Felicia Daisy, also known as ‘Cape Town Blue’ Blue Felicia Daisy, is available for purchase now through Proven Winners. This hybrid plant features heavenly sky-blue petals with yellow centers and has a compact growth habit. It blooms throughout the summer and into the fall without the need for deadheading.
Felicia Daisy is categorized as a perennial in Zones 10-11 but is typically grown as an annual. It typically reaches a height of 8 to 12 inches and spreads 10 to 12 inches wide. The bloom time extends from planting until the first frost, and the plant thrives in full sun to partial shade conditions.