Blue Flowers or Flower Parts

Large dense branched pannicles to 12" x 12" are composed of multitudes of small pale purple tubular flowers are produced over an extended period through much of summer and attract a variety of pollinators including smaller shorter tongued bees like Honeybees as well as larger native bees like Bumblebees. The large palmate foliage of Hempleaf Vitex resembles that of the Hemp plant and thus the specific epithet of "cannibifolia". Like its close cousin the Chaste Tree, Vitex agnus-castus, the Hempleaf Vitex, Vitex negundo var. cannibofolia, is an easy to grow sun and heat loving deciduous shrub that prefers an average to well-drained soil. It appears to have few pests or disease issues and is unlikely to be bothered by deer. Item# 11879

The bluest of the blues! Blue Arrowleaf Sage produces large branching clusters composed of dense spikes of 1" vivid cobalt blue tubular flowers that may be produced nearly throughout the year on this hybrid Salvia. Blue Arrowleaf Sage has large velvety arrowhead shaped aromatic foliage that seems to retain its tidiness throughout the growing season. The nectar rich flowers attract hummingbirds and butterflies alike. Grow it in the garden or as as a medium-sized container plant. Item# 9949

Large rounded clusters of deep sky blue, salverform flowers are produced spring to fall to potentially year round under warm tropical conditions and are mainly butterfly pollinated. Imperial Blue Plumbago, a slightly darker selection of Plumbago auriculata, is a naturally evergreen, mounding to scandent or vine-like shrubby tropical that typically grows to about 1-2' high and 3-4' wide by the end of the growing season. This is an easy hanging basket or container specimen and can be utilized as a filler or trailer in combination planters as well as for patio trees, espaliers, or vining along a fence in areas that don't experience hard freezes, like in zones 10-11. It also makes a showy addition to the garden and landscape and plants are fairly adaptable to sun to brightly shaded sites. Plumbago will do best in rich and fertile, average moist, acidic soils with good drainage. Item# 9739

Grown mainly for its beautifully variegated foliage that starts out as creamy yellow and medium green and matures to bright white and deep green, but, plants may also produce the typical drooping clusters of sky blue flowers that attract bees and butterflies. The Improved Variegated Duranta, a selection of Duranta erecta, is a naturally evergreen, large shrub with a moderately vigorous upright and spreading habit that can mature to 8-10' high and wide but is easily maintained as a smaller container plant as a shrub or tree standard in the 3-6'H x 3-4'W range with pruning. In tropical freeze-free climates these easy to grow tropicals can be utilized as a large hedge or screen. Flowers may be followed by clusters of up to 3/8" golden berries. Provide an average moist, fertile soil with average or better drainage in a full sun to partly shaded site for optimum vigor and growth. Item# 13524

2-3" long, deep purple, slightly flaring tubular flowers are produced in large hanging clusters designed for hummingbird pollination. One of the darkest Iochromas, Indigo is a prolific flowering selection on a vigorous growing upright to spreading, naturally evergreen tropical shrub. This miniature cousin of the Angel's Trumpet is easily enjoyed as a container plant where not hardy. Provide good drainage and fertile, average moist soil in partial to filtered sun for the best results. Iochroma, Tubeflower, or Mini Angel's Trumpets flower on new growth so keep them growing and healthy for and endless display. Item# 804

A vigorous award winning Louisiana Iris, Jeri produces loads of large, rich dark purple flowers in spring that are sure to stop traffic. Its vigor lends it to use as a tall groundcover for moist areas or it will do just fine in average moist garden soils. Provide Louisiana Irises with a moist to average moist to moderately wet site for the best results in a full to mostly sunny position. In average moist sites consider providing midday or filtered shade. Louisiana Iris make easy additions to bog gardens and along ponds, lakes, or other consistently moist sites. Jeri Louisiana Iris won the Ira S. Nelson award in 1986. Item# 10488

Kevin Matthews Louisiana Iris produces large purple flowers with contrasting golden daggers outlined in black along the outer edges of the standards. This is a vigorous and hardy Louisiana Iris that is part of the Fallen Heroes series hybridized by Lee-Ann Connelly, now Shearouse, and marketed by Ag3 Inc. A portion of the price of each plant is donated to the Fallen First Responders charity that aids the children of both Firefighters and Law Enforcement. Multiplies readily in average garden soils, moist to wet soils, or they can be set in water gardens where the container is just below the water's surface. Provide a full to mostly sunny site for optimum vigor and flowering. Images courtesy of AG3, Inc., all rights reserved. Item# 12140

Tall, dense spikes composed of large, blue-purple, tubular flowers that emerge from chartreuse colored calyxes beginning and late summer and continuing into fall attracting hummingbirds, larger butterflies, and potentially some larger bees. Limelight Mexican Sage, a selection of Salvia mexicana, is a vigorous, large growing, clump-forming, herbaceous perennial adorned in large, deep green to bluish-green foliage that acts as a nice foil for the lighter colored flower spikes. Grows to about 6'H x 3-6'W by the end of the growing season. *In areas that experience hard freezes, like in zones 8 and 9, provide a breathable but insulative, preferably organic winter mulch. Provide a full to mostly sunny site in an average moist, well-drained, not overly fertile soil for optimum vigor and flowering. Item# 13580

Deep violet flowers with a white eye hang like grapes from this upright to arching, deciduous to semi-evergreen shrub. The flowers of Lindley's Butterfly Bush, Buddleja lindleyana, are produced nearly continuously from late spring to fall and attract a variety of pollinators including hummingbirds, butterflies, and larger bees. This is a naturally suckering shrub and will slowly develop into a mass that can be utilized as an informal hedge or at the back of the border. Provide a full to mostly sunny site in well-drained soils for optimal vigor and flowering. Item # 341

Rich blue-violet falls with nicely contrasting large golden yellow signals are topped by blue-violet standards and style arms and are produced in mid to late season or April to May. Marie Caillet is an award winning Louisiana Iris growing to about 36-40" high. It was named for the founder of the Society of Louisiana Irises who has been given the title of Godmother of Louisiana Irises. Louisiana Irises are easy and adaptable, rhizomatous perennials with fans of deep green sword-like foliage and seem as at home in standing water as they do in average moist garden soils. Remember that these plants do most of their growing in fall and winter and so this is when they should be fed and fall is also a great time to divide plants if desired. Provide a full to mostly sunny site for optimum vigor and flowering. Marie Caillet Louisiana Iris has been awarded an Honorable Mention in 1964 and took the DeBallion Award in 1970, the highest award for a Louisiana Iris given by the American Iris Society. Item# 13345

Large rounded clusters in shades of deep pink to near red (alkaline or no Aluminum), dark purple (neutral to acid), to near indigo(very acid) depending on soil acidity and the availability of Aluminum. Merrit's Supreme Bigleaf Hydrangea begins flowering early and the long lasting flower clusters mature into purple, red, and green shades. This is a compact growing Hydrangea with strong sturdy stems originally developed as a florist's Hydrangea but it has proven to be a reliably hardy, small to medium-sized deciduous shrub for the garden and landscape. Merrit's Supreme also makes an easy and low-maintenance container specimen and can be overwintered indoors outside of its hardiness range. The large glossy deep green foliage is disease resistant. Provide a moist, well-drained, fertile soil in an area that receives morning sun and shade during the hottest portion of the day for optimum vigor and flowering. Item# 12347

Large 3" wide, deep blue, cornflower-like daisies are produced on sturdy stalks starting in late spring and lasting through much of summer on well established clumps. Peachies Pick is a dense clump forming and exceptionally long flowering selection of the Stokesia Daisy. Its dense compact habit make this the perfect Stokes Aster for gardens and landscapes. Did we mention that it doesn't flop like older cultivars? This southern selection originated from the gardens of and was named for Peachie Saxon of Mississippi. It originated to us from one of the people who helped to make it known to gardeners and landscapers everywhere, noted horticulturist and author Gail Barton of Meridian, Mississippi. Item# 10810.

Penny Mac is a 2012 Louisiana Super Plant! This repeat blooming Hydrangea produces large Mopheads of pink or blue beginning in late spring and will continue to bloom on new growth into the summer and fall. Repeat flowering varieties, like Penny Mac, will flower even after extreme cold has frozen the buds of once flowering varieties making them more suitable choices for northern regions. item# 10046.

Large, ball-shaped flower clusters are composed of numerous light blue-violet trumpet-shaped flowers with nicely contrasting darker stripes and are held on sturdy 18-24" high stems beginning in late spring or early summer and continuing into fall on mature plants. Poppin' Star Agapanthus or Lily of the Nile, previously offered under the trade name Buccaneer™, is a small to midsized, vigorous hybrid with excellent repeat flowering ability, deep green strap-like foliage, and good disease resistance. These easy to grow tropicals can be enjoyed as both low-maintenance easy care container plants as well as in the garden and landscape where hardy. The flowers attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Provide a full to partly sunny site in a fertile, well-drained, average moist soil for optimum vigor and flowering. Images courtesy of Concept Plants BV®, all rights reserved. Item# 13402

Hundreds of 1" wide lavender-blue, semi-double daisies with a showy yellow eye literally cover these plants for weeks beginning in late summer and continuing into mid fall. Professor Anton Kippenburg New York Aster or Michaelmas Daisy is a clump forming, densely branching, perennial growing to just 12-18" high and wide and while this is a small growing plant it never seems to lack for flower power once late summer arrives. Dr. Allen Armitage in his Herbaceous Perennial Plants, 4th edition states that "This excellent cultivar has withstood the test of time." No pinching or staking is required to enjoy these beauties. Use these perennials where you would normally buy Chrysanthemums whether as part of the perennial border, in the landscape, or even as container plants. The flowers attract bees, butterflies, hover flies, and numerous other garden beneficials. Item# 12018

Masses of 1" wide yellow-eyed bluish purple daisies absolutely cover this plant for weeks in late summer and fall. Raydon's Favorite Aromatic Aster, a selection of Symphyotrichum oblongifolium and the big brother of the slightly more compact October Skies, is a medium-sized, herbaceous, densely mounding shrub-like perennial that matures to about 3' x 3' at the time of flowering. Excellent fall color for the garden as well as drought tolerance and pest and disease resistance make this an excellent addition to the perennial or wildflower border and landscape. The flowers attract a variety of pollinators but seems to be especially popular with bees. Caterpillar host: Field Crescent, Pearl Crescent, Texan Crescent, Roadside Checkerspot, Hoffman's Checkerspot, and American Lady. Prefers good to excellent drainage and a full to mostly sunny site for optimum vigor and flowering. Named the 2016 Plant of the Year by the Garden Club of America and selected for the 2003 Theodore Klein Award. Images courtesy of North Creek Nurseries, Inc., all rights reserved. Item# 13164

The Blue Walking Iris is a vigorous growing tropical but surprisingly cold hardy and fragrant Walking Iris with strongly upright, architectural fans of blue-gray to green, 2-3" wide, sword-like foliage reaching up to 36'' high. Sturdy, loose spikes of 2-3" wide, bluish purple irises with delicately rolled, darker veined, inner standards are born in summer on this highly sought after 'blue' Iris. Great for larger containers and it has the best foliage in high indirect light. Item# 2987.

The large flowers are composed of dark indigo-blue outer falls that are centered with dark blue inner standards creating full nearly rounded flowers. This is a vigorous and hardy, early to midseason flowering Louisiana Iris that is part of the Fallen Heroes series hybridized by Lee-Ann Connelly, now Shearouse, and marketed by Ag3 Inc. A portion of the price of each plant is donated to the Fallen First Responders charity that aids the children of both Firefighters and Law Enforcement. Multiplies readily in average garden soils, moist to wet soils, or they can be set in water gardens where the container is just below the water's surface. Provide a full to mostly sunny site for optimum vigor and flowering. Item# 9205

Deep blue falls, standards, and style arms are accented with slightly darker veining and a contrasting orange signal. Sea Knight Louisiana Iris is a compact growing plant reaching about 20-26" high and flowers in early midseason. Louisiana Irises are easy and adaptable, rhizomatous perennials with fans of deep green sword-like foliage and seem as at home in standing water as they do in average moist garden soils. Remember that these plants do most of their growing in fall and winter and so this is when they should be fed and fall is also a great time to divide plants if desired. Provide a full to mostly sunny site for optimum vigor and flowering. Sea Knight was awarded the High Commmendation in 1985. Item# 13452

Large balloon-like buds open to purplish-blue star-shaped cup-like flowers. A longtime favorite in the perennial garden, Sentimental Blue Balloon Flower is a selection that boasts a compact habit and plenty of flower power that starts in early summer and can last into fall. An easy to grow perennial that may reseed under good conditions. Provide a moist but well-drained soil with a half a day or more of sun. Balloon Flowers are easy and long flowering clump forming tuberous rooted perennials that seem to just get better with age and require little care. Item# 10549

Shoal Creek Vitex produces 12" spikes of rich deep purplish-blue from late spring to fall.  This is a vigorous and disease free and drought tolerant spreading to upright deciduous shrub or small tree that attracts hummingbirds, butterflies and other pollinators. Shoal Creek was selected as a Louisiana Super Plant for the spring of 2011 due to its large & richly colored spikes as well as for the fact that Vitex is an excellent low maintenance plant with a long flowering season. Item# 10305.

Forget those brittle old fall mums that need pinching and special treatment! Deep indigo, dense, fully double flowers are produced over an extended period in late summer and fall atop neat compact naturally rounded plants with deep green foliage. Forget about the throw away garden mums for fall, find an aster instead! Showmakers® Blue Bayou Dwarf New York Aster or Michaelmas Daisy, a selection of Aster novi-belgii or now Symphyotrichum novi-belgii, is a dense dwarf, hardy, clump-forming, native herbaceous perennial that develops into a neat rounded mass of flowers and foliage to about 12" high and wide with no pinching required. These were developed with container culture in mind but are sure to make statement in the garden or landscape as well. Provide a full sun to partly shaded site in an average moist, average to well-drained, fertile soil for optimum vigor and flowering. Midday shade may be desirable in hot summer climates. Caterpillar host: Field Crescent, Pearl Crescent, Texan Crescent, Roadside Checkerspot, Hoffman's Checkerspot, and American Lady. Images courtesy of Syngenta Flowers, all rights reserved. Item# 13165