Although blue is the most loved color around the world, it isn’t found naturally in many places except for the sky. People are attracted to this color because of its rarity in nature. Blue also represents serenity, calmness, and elegance. But, the scarcity of natural blue makes the presence of blue-blooming perennials in gardens even more special. If you’re a blue fan, you may want to plant these perennials in your garden to enjoy the stunning color throughout the year. And while you’re at it, take a moment to appreciate the tranquility that blue blooms bring. Some of the best blue blooming perennials to grow in your garden include Bluestars (Amsonia sp.), False Indigo (Baptisia australis), Bellflower (Campanula sp.), Blue Iris (Iris versicolor), Giant Blue Iris (Iris giganticaerulea), Strict Blue-Eyed Grass (Sisyrinchium angustifolium), Virginia Bluebells (Mertensia virginica), Moss Phlox (Phlox subulata), Rocky Mountain Columbine (Aquilegia caerulea), Cranesbill Geranium (Geranium sp.), Italian Bugloss (Anchusa azurea), Cape Plumbago (Plumbago auriculata), Dwarf Plumbago (Ceratostigma plumbaginoides), Lupine (Lupinus sp.), and African Lily (Agapanthus africanus).

Bluestars, which grow up to a maximum height of two feet, are ideal for serving as border plants or filling beds. These flowers are named after their blue star-shaped appearance, which makes them the highlight of any garden. The plant boasts beautiful clusters of light blue flowers that sit above dark green grass-like foliage, creating a stunning spectacle. Bluestars can be grown to resemble bushes and look amazing as borders or fillers in garden spaces. This perennial is usually 2 feet tall and can thrive in hardy zones 4-9. Additionally, False Indigo (Baptisia australis) is another plant that can be used for this purpose.

The False Indigo is a stunning flower that can serve as the centerpiece of any garden. This plant is native to North America and boasts upright stems that are adorned with strikingly beautiful blue flowers. It can grow up to 4 feet tall and has attractive green foliage that becomes even more alluring when the plant blooms. The delicate pea-shaped flowers add a pop of color to any flower bed and give the garden a touch of elegance. For those looking for a flower that will make a bold statement with its blue hues, the False Indigo is the perfect choice. Moreover, this flower is resilient and can thrive in zones 3-9. Another flower that can add beauty to any garden is the Bellflower (Campanula sp.).

Bellflowers are the perfect addition to your garden during late summer or fall when other plants are no longer blooming. These late-bloomers come in various sizes and add a splash of sweet blue color that sways gently in the late summer breeze. You can easily grow Bellflowers in containers, as low border flowers or intermix them with taller perennials and shrubs. While traditional Bellflowers come in blue or blueish-purple, you can now find them in a range of other colors, including more vibrant blue cultivars. With such a variety of Bellflowers available, you can choose from tall to short options to suit your preferences. One of our favorites is the tussock bellflower, which produces an abundance of blue bell flowers that almost obscure the foliage beneath. If you’re looking for something unique, consider the Serbian bellflower, a trailing plant with star-shaped flowers instead of bell-shaped ones. The Fairy’s Thimble bellflowers are the smallest type available, standing at just 3-6 inches tall with delicate tiny bell-shaped blooms. Finally, the Canterbury Bells are an all-time favorite in the garden with their bright blue bell-shaped flowers. Bellflowers are hardy to zones 3-9, so they’ll survive in most climates. Another great option for your garden is the Blue Iris (Iris versicolor).

The June-blooming blue iris is a robust and eye-catching flower that boasts a stunning purple-blue hue. This wildflower, also known as the Northern Blue Flag Iris, puts on a beautiful display of its blue blooms for several months during the summer. The tall stalks of this plant rise above its simple green foliage, and a mass planting is truly spectacular. While the foliage may appear plain at first glance, the gorgeous Iris flowers are sure to impress with their blue or blueish-purple petals and yellow and white centers. These flowers are known for their vigorous growth and ability to form large clumps, making them a hardy choice for zones 3-9. Another variety of blue iris to consider is the Giant Blue Iris, or Iris giganticaerulea.

If you are looking for a unique and stunning flower to grow, consider the Giant Blue Iris. This lesser-known Iris is native to the marshes of Louisiana and grows up to 6 feet tall, blooming in early spring. However, it is important to note that this wildflower requires specific growing conditions similar to its natural habitat, so it won’t thrive everywhere. Other Blue Irises to consider include the Dixie Iris, Zigzag Iris, and Beachhead Iris, which have their own unique hardiness zones. Another option to consider is the Strict Blue-Eyed Grass, known for its striking blue blooms.

This particular flower boasts a striking blue hue with a yellow center, making it an excellent choice for lining pathways or filling in spaces between other perennials. Despite its name, the plant’s foliage resembles blades of grass while its blooms resemble small irises. At a height of 4-8 inches, the nondescript green blades remain unassuming until the plant bursts into bloom, transforming into a stunning display of deep blue flowers. Blooming above and between the foliage, the flowers create a dazzling effect. Blue-eyed grass lends unexpected depth to any garden and is particularly well-suited as edging or filler for gaps between taller, more showy plants or as a border for walkways. This hardy plant can thrive in zones 4-9. Another beautiful option for gardeners is the Virginia Bluebell (Mertensia virginica).

The Virginia Bluebell, also known as Lungwort, is a wonderful spring flower that attracts a wide variety of pollinators. These trumpet-shaped flowers are a great early source of food for pollinators when resources are still scarce. Native to the wild, Virginia bluebells are a perfect addition to any garden geared towards supporting pollinators or showcasing native plants. These flowers burst into bloom just after winter ends, adding a much-needed splash of blue to the garden. Mason bees, butterflies, bumblebees, and Sphinx moths all enjoy these early blooms, too. Virginia bluebells typically die back in the summer, leaving an empty space that can be filled with ferns or other expanding plants. But fear not, because next spring, they will return for another beautiful display. Don’t forget that Virginia bluebells are also referred to as Virginia cowslip and Lungwort. These flowers are hardy and can thrive in zones 4-7.

Creeping Phlox or Moss is an exceptional choice if you’re looking for an abundant blue bloomer and an excellent ground cover plant. It’s perfect for filling up garden beds, rock gardens, or along stone walls. With its carpet of blue flowers, you won’t be disappointed as it provides an explosion of beautiful colors that covers the ground beneath it. During the early spring season, Creeping Phlox blooms sweet and fragrant five-petaled flowers that turn your garden into a stunning mat of colors for three to four weeks. Its foliage is also attractive with deep-green needle-like leaves. This ground cover comes in various colors; try looking for “Blue Emerald”. Moss Phlox is low maintenance and hardy to zones 3-9. Another great plant to add to your garden is Rocky Mountain Columbine (Aquilegia caerulea).

This captivating upright columbine boasts a distinct white and blue two-tone coloring that attracts not only garden enthusiasts but also bees and other pollinators. Surprisingly, the flower doesn’t appeal to rabbits and deer, making it a low-maintenance addition to your garden. With its small yet enticing blooms, Rocky Mountain Columbine, a local wildflower, is an excellent choice for late spring and early summer displays. Its long-spurred flowers feature rounded white petals bordered by bluish-purple sepals that resemble an additional set of petals, while the center stamen stands out in bright yellow. Unlike Red Columbine from the east coast, Rocky Mountain Columbine grows upward, ensuring it catches everyone’s eye. Hummingbirds and butterflies love this wildflower, while rabbits and deer pay no attention to it. It has an upright growth pattern similar to a shrub and is adorned with an abundance of striking blue, white, and yellow blooms during its flowering season. This Columbine is resilient and can thrive in zones 1-7. Another recommended plant is the Cranesbill Geranium (Geranium sp.).

Cranesbill Geraniums in blue shades are incredibly eye-catching perennials that bloom for almost a month each year. Unlike the common garden geraniums, Cranesbill Geraniums, also known as Hardy Geraniums, are short-lived plants with long-lasting flowers. The dense and deeply cut green leaves of the Cranesbill Geranium also add to its attractiveness. During the blooming season, the Cranesbill Geranium showcases delicate and vividly colored flowers. With a wide range of cultivars in various shades, the “Rozanne” and “Johnson’s Blue” variants are among the best blue blooms. This plant can comfortably survive in zones 4-8. Another beautiful plant that shares similar features is the Italian Bugloss (Anchusa azurea).

Blugoss blooms may be small in size, but their abundance creates a stunning display of color in any garden. If you are looking for an abundance of unobstructed blue flowers to decorate your garden, Italian Bugloss is the perfect choice. Although the flowers are small, they appear plentiful and bright up and down the stem. The foliage of the Italian Bugloss plant is situated close to the ground while the branches grow tall, thus making the vivid blue flowers impossible to miss. Gardeners can choose from a variety of cultivars, all with impressively blue flowers ranging from light pastel shades to darker hues including “Loddon Royalist,” “Dropmore,” “Feltham Pride,” “Opal,” and “Little John.”
In addition to Italian Bugloss, Cape Forget-Me-Not (A.capensis) and Common Bugloss (A.officinalis) also boast beautiful blue flowers and are worth considering for your perennial garden. Another plant to add to your blue flower collection is the Cape Plumbago (Plumbago auriculata).

In case you’re searching for a sizable flower that blooms in blue, the Cape Plumbago is an ideal choice. This shrub has clusters of dainty sky-blue flowers that give a lovely and delightful touch to your garden. It is worth noting that Cape Plumbago can grow tall, reaching up to 8 feet, and spreading out wide. Therefore, you should only plant it if you have enough space. The blooms overflow from the top of the foliage and can last for several months or even almost all year long if the climate is frost-free. Even without displaying its flowers, Cape Plumbago is still attractive with its light-green spoon-shaped leaves. It is resilient to zones 8-11. For those who prefer smaller plants, Dwarf Plumbago (Ceratostigma plumbaginoides) is an excellent alternative.

The Dwarf Plumbago is a diminutive plant that only grows to be around 9-12 inches tall. It is not related to the Cape Plumbago, despite their similarly shaped flowers. This low-growing perennial produces lovely clusters of small blue flowers that add a multi-colored effect to gardens. The blooms have five petals that curl slightly at the end, giving them a wavy appearance. Dwarf Plumbago looks great as a groundcover or filler plant and can be planted in between taller plants for a striking contrast. During the summer, the foliage is light green, but it turns burgundy purple in the fall. Hardy to zones 5-9. Another plant worth mentioning is the Lupine (Lupinus sp.).

The Lupine flower is a beloved plant for both humans and pollinators due to its stunning blue-hued varieties. It’s not just the tall spikes of deep blue flowers that make this plant special, but also the swirls of lance-shaped leaves that are simply spectacular. Standing tall above the foliage, the Lupine flower spikes are densely packed with brightly colored pea-like blooms that make for a striking garden perennial. Even hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies can’t resist its charm. While some Lupines are native wildflowers, others are cultivated specifically for gardens. With many blue or violet-blue blooms to choose from, Lupines are hardy in zones 3-8. Another beautiful flower that deserves recognition is the African Lily (Agapanthus africanus).

African Lilies are a charming addition to any garden, although they thrive best in warmer zones 7 through 10. These perennials make a bold statement with their tall spherical clusters of striking blue funnel-shaped flowers that face outwards. The clusters sit atop upright stalks resembling round pinwheels, while the dark-green sword-shaped leaves remain low to the ground, highlighting the blooms. African Lilies are sure to add plenty of visual interest to your garden while attracting butterflies and hummingbirds. There are several blue varieties available, with “Headbourne Hybrids,” “Northern Star,” and “Peter Pan” being our top choices. This plant is hardy in zones 7-10.

Every flower garden could use a touch of elegant blue color, and there are various unique varieties to choose from. Whether you’re fond of sky blue or deep purple-blue, there’s a flower to suit your landscape. Blue flowers can be used to accent or soften specific areas, or to add warmth and charm.