Blue flowers have a rare and captivating charm that instantly brings calm and elegance to any garden. Whether you’re filling out flower beds, designing a border, or adding contrast to your existing plants, blue blooms can create a serene, balanced look that few other colors achieve. Their cool tones complement just about any color palette and often attract bees, butterflies, and garden lovers alike. From bold, spiky stalks to delicate, feathery blossoms, the following six blue flowers are not only striking but also easy to grow in many climates—including tough, sun-drenched landscapes.
Table of Contents
1. African Lily – Tall and Timeless
One of the most dramatic blue flowers you can grow, the African lily (Agapanthus) is known for its bold, globe-like clusters of trumpet-shaped blooms. These perennials come in shades ranging from powder blue to rich indigo and can reach up to 1.2 meters in height, making them ideal for adding height and movement to borders or large pots.
African lilies thrive in sunny, sheltered spots with fertile, well-drained soil. They’re perfect for growing in containers or garden beds and can return year after year with the right care. In colder climates, container-grown plants should be brought indoors over winter or protected with mulch.
For best results, plant with the crown just below the soil surface and water freely during active growth. These flowers love the sun—and reward you with long-lasting blooms and lush, strappy foliage.
2. Flowering Onion – Bold Globes with Subtle Scent
If you want to add structure and wow-factor with blue flowers, flowering onion (Allium) is a top choice. These ornamental relatives of garlic and chives send up tall, slender stems topped with striking globe-shaped blooms in shades of blue and purple.
Each globe can grow as large as a soccer ball, making a dramatic focal point in sunny borders or garden beds. Despite their name, they carry only a mild, almost undetectable scent—and definitely no onion breath!
Alliums prefer full sun and well-drained soil. They’re surprisingly low-maintenance, requiring only moderate watering and no special soil amendments. They grow especially well in temperate climates and can be planted in the ground or in large pots with proper drainage.
Their unique form makes them a favorite among kids and a must-have for modern garden design.
3. Cornflower – Classic Cottage Garden Blue
Cornflower (Centaurea) is one of the most recognizable blue flowers, loved for its vivid, electric-blue petals and old-world charm. Historically found blooming in grain fields across Europe, this hardy annual is now a favorite in cottage gardens, wildflower mixes, and butterfly patches.
Cornflowers grow up to 90 cm tall and bloom with starry, fringed petals surrounding a dark center. Their upright form and intense color make them perfect for borders, cutting gardens, or filling in between perennials.
They thrive in sunny spots with well-drained, neutral to slightly alkaline soil. These flowers don’t like soggy roots but handle dry conditions well once established. To encourage continuous blooming, deadhead spent flowers regularly.
Bonus: Cornflowers attract butterflies and bees, making your garden not only beautiful but beneficial for pollinators.
4. Delphinium – Tall Spikes of Striking Blue
For gardeners seeking height and drama, delphiniums are among the most impressive blue flowers you can grow. These perennials are known for their towering spires of densely packed blossoms in stunning shades of blue, along with purple, pink, and white variations.
Delphiniums can grow anywhere from 30 cm to over 2 meters tall, depending on the variety. Their upright habit and deeply lobed green leaves give them a classic, statuesque presence that works beautifully in cottage gardens or back borders.
They thrive in full sun with rich, well-drained soil. Taller varieties should be staked to prevent wind damage, and mulching in winter will help protect roots from freezing temperatures. Regular pruning of faded blooms encourages a second flush later in the season.
Though they need a bit more care, delphiniums reward your effort with unforgettable vertical color and garden elegance.
5. Sea Holly – Spiky Texture, Silvery Blue Shine
Sea holly (Eryngium) brings a bold, architectural edge to your garden with its spiny leaves and metallic blue cones. As one of the most unique blue flowers, it stands out in both fresh and dried arrangements and thrives where other plants might struggle.
The blooms appear like small thistles, surrounded by a halo of pointed bracts in shades of silvery blue, violet, or even green. Growing up to 90 cm tall, sea holly adds striking contrast to soft-petaled flowers and looks especially dramatic in coastal or drought-prone landscapes.
This tough perennial loves full sun and sandy, well-drained soil. Its long taproot helps it survive poor soils and dry spells, and once established, it requires very little maintenance. In fact, avoid fertilizing—too much food can cause the plant to flop.
Sea holly is perfect for adding color, texture, and resilience all at once.
6. Love-in-the-Mist – Whimsical Blue in a Cloud of Green
Delicate, romantic, and slightly mysterious, Love-in-the-Mist (Nigella) is one of the most charming blue flowers you can grow. Its finely cut, airy foliage gives the appearance of blooms floating in a soft green mist—hence the name.
This annual grows up to 90 cm tall and produces soft blue, white, or purple flowers with 5–10 gently ruffled petals. It’s perfect for informal beds, borders, and wildflower-style gardens, bringing softness and movement to any sunny space.
Love-in-the-Mist prefers rich, well-drained soil and full sun but can tolerate partial shade during hot weather. It’s best grown directly in garden beds, as its taproot doesn’t take well to transplanting. Regular watering and light monthly fertilizing help it thrive.
Aside from its visual beauty, Nigella also makes a wonderful cut flower—and even its seed pods are decorative after blooming ends.
Conclusion
Whether you want dramatic spikes, soft wisps, or globe-shaped blooms, blue flowers offer an elegant way to bring calm and contrast into your garden. From the bold height of delphiniums to the airy beauty of love-in-the-mist, each of these six flowers has its own unique charm and growing style. With the right mix of sunlight, soil, and care, you can enjoy a garden filled with serene shades of blue that stand out beautifully in any season.