outdoor spaces with some of our favourite blue-flowered plants

 Blue Flowering Plants

Choosing what color flowers to plant in your garden can have a big impact on the look and feel of your space. Blue isn’t the most common flower color, but it pairs well with many plants in the garden. It also works beautifully with leafy plants like ferns and ornamental grasses, which allow the blue tones to really stand out. For shade, it’s also important to consider light conditions by adding lots of light and white-flowering plants to enhance dark corners. In sunny areas, try pairing them with orange or red flowers for a vibrant look.

Using a color wheel, you can determine the best flower colors to plant together, depending on what you’re trying to achieve. Mix blue-flowering plants with purple and white flowers for harmonious color combinations. For a more striking and vibrant look, try pairing them with complementary orange flowers. You may want to choose clashing colors, but make sure there are plenty of green foliage to tie your color scheme together.

1. Cornflowers

Cornflower, or Centaurea cyanus, produces delicate blue flowers that are particularly attractive to bees, birds and other pollinators. Grows in full sun in well-drained soil, and pairs well with field poppies, corn marigolds, ox-eye daisies and dill.

2. Forget-me-nots

The ever-reliable forget-me-nots self-sow abundantly, creating carpets of spring flowers – perfect for pairing with tulips and wallflowers. For ponds, try the aquatic forget-me-not, Myosotis scorpiotides.

3. Anchusa

Like borage, Anjusa species have deep blue flowers and crisp leaves. They are popular plants for pollinators, and are resistant to slugs. Grow in full sun in moist, well-drained soil and enjoy the edible flowers. Cultivars to grow include 'Lodden Royalist' and 'Dropmore'.

4. Gentians

Gentians are prized for their vibrant blue flowers. Gentiana sino-ornata is said to be the easiest to grow, and there are many cultivars to choose from. They are ideal for rock gardens and alpine displays, and do best in neutral to acidic soils. Flowers in the fall.

5. Anemone obtusilopa

Unlike tree anemones and rue anemones, Anemone obtusilopa is an alpine species with beautiful, aqua-blue flowers. Similar anemones to grow include the blue-flowered Anemone planta and Anemone nemorosa.

6. Ceratostigma

Ceratostigma species that can be grown include Ceratostigma plumbaginoides and Ceratostigma wilmottianum, the former being small and herbaceous. Both have intense blue flowers and enjoy growing in full sun in well-drained soil.

7. Meconopsis

The flowers of many Himalayan poppies (Meconopsis) are a beautiful, true blue. They grow best in shady conditions, so are suitable for a moist, shady border.