Our single color wildflower mixes are the perfect way to express your creativity. Make a colorful statement in your meadow by mixing and matching your favorite colors, or plant them all to show off the colors of the rainbow.
Annuals have a one-year lifecycle and bloom in the first season. Perennials return year after year, and typically start to bloom in the second or third season. See mix details below.
Blue is a popular color in the natural world, and there are many stunning blue wildflowers to be found. In this article, we’ll explore some of the most common and beautiful blue wildflower species found in North America.
Why Are Blue Wildflowers So Common?
There are a few key reasons why blue is a prevalent flower color:
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Blue pigment is relatively easy for plants to produce compared to other colors. The blue pigment anthocyanin is widespread in the plant kingdom.
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Blue is highly visible to pollinators. Bees have receptors that are particularly sensitive to blue wavelengths making blue flowers stand out.
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Blue flowers blend in well with green foliage, protecting vulnerable flower buds
So in short, blue is an efficient and effective color for flowers from the plant’s perspective. Many pollinators are attracted to it, and it provides camouflage before the flowers open.
Beautiful Blue Wildflowers to Spot
Here are some of the most popular blue wildflowers found across North America:
Cornflower
The Cornflower (Centaurea cyanus) is a classic cottage garden flower native to Europe Its vibrant blue petals and yellow centers give it a bold, eye-catching look. Cornflowers thrive in full sun and well-drained soil
Bluebells
Bluebells carpet shady forest floors in springtime. The Eastern or Virginia Bluebell (Mertensia virginica) is a woodland beauty with drooping bell-shaped blooms. It spreads pleasingly to form a sea of blue.
Bachelor’s Button
Bachelor’s Button (Centaurea cyanus) is an annual or short-lived perennial with rounded blue flowers resembling daisies. They make excellent cut flowers and reseed themselves easily.
Blue Flag Iris
A familiar sight around ponds and streams, Blue Flag Iris (Iris versicolor) has showy 3-petaled blooms in shades from light blue to indigo. They prefer moist soil and full sun to partial shade.
Chicory
Chicory (Cichorium intybus) is a sturdy perennial with light blue daisy-like flowers and toothed leaves. It’s drought and heat tolerant, thriving along roadsides and in neglected areas. The roots can be roasted and ground as a coffee substitute.
Blue Vervain
Blue Vervain (Verbena hastata) produces dense spikes of tiny 5-petaled blue-violet flowers from summer into fall. It grows easily in average to wet soils in full sun. Native Americans used it medicinally.
California Bluebells
In western states, the California Bluebell (Phacelia campanularia) blooms with clusters of bell-shaped lavender-blue flowers and lacy foliage. It’s found in open habitats and rocky slopes.
Azure Bluet
Azure Bluet (Houstonia caerulea) is a petite woodland wildflower that forms a mat of green leaves studded with tiny 4-petaled blossoms. It adds a sweet pop of color to shady gardens and mixes nicely with ferns.
Spiderwort
The clump-forming Spiderwort (Tradescantia) produces 3-petaled flowers with yellow stamens in shades of purple-blue to pink. ‘Sweet Kate’ is a popular yellow-leafed cultivar. Spiderwort thrives in average, moist soil.
Wild Columbine
Wild Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis) bears elegant red and yellow flowers with spurred blue sepals nodding from rocky ledges and woodland edges. This hummingbird favorite readily self-seeds in gardens.
Virginia Spiderwort
Virginia or Common Spiderwort (Tradescantia virginiana) stands tall in gardens with grass-like leaves and 3-petaled violet-blue blossoms with contrasting yellow stamens. It seeds itself politely.
Identifying Common Blue Wildflowers
When trying to identify an unknown blue wildflower, here are some tips:
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Note the habitat – is it growing in shade or sun? Moist or dry soil? This gives clues to its needs.
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Examine the leaves – are they broad, narrow, smooth, hairy? Leaf shape is often distinctive.
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Look at the flower structure – how many petals, any special parts like spurs?
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Check the bloom time – is it spring, summer or fall? Some flowers are early or late bloomers.
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Consider the plant’s height and form – is it a tall spike, low mat, or bell-shaped canopy?
Using a wildflower field guide or plant identification app can help narrow down the possibilities. Take photos from several angles and compare. Happy wildflower hunting!
The Popularity of Blue in Gardens
Blue flowers are sought after by gardeners for their cooling, soothing effect. Breeders have developed many blue hybrids of popular garden flowers:
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Blue roses like ‘Blue Moon’ and ‘Starry Night’
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Blue hydrangeas such as mopheads ‘Nikko Blue’ and ‘Blue Billow’
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Blue garden phlox like ‘Blue Paradise’ and ‘Blue Moon’
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Blue monkshoods including Aconitum ‘Bressingham Spire’
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Russian sage cultivars like ‘Little Spire’ with blue flower spikes
Many gardeners also enjoy creating blue and white color schemes, which have a clean, refreshing look. From misty lavenders to dramatic navy hues, blue flowers offer depth and versatility in gardens.
So next time you come across a mystery blue wildflower, take a closer look at its unique beauty. With over 100 native blue wildflowers in North America, there’s a treasure trove of blue blossoms to appreciate in the wild and garden alike.
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100% Pure Seed | Non-GMO
What’s in this Mix
Our Blue Wildflower Seed Mix features 10 wildflower varieties with cool blue blooms, including 7 annuals and 3 perennials.
Billie Eilish – WILDFLOWER (Official Lyric Video)
FAQ
What are the blue wild flowers called?
Favorites include Great Blue Lobelia, Wild Blue Phlox, and Blue-Eyed Grass, each attracting pollinators like bees and butterflies. Blue wildflowers bring a calm, enchanting quality to gardens and natural landscapes, often standing out beautifully against green foliage and other vibrant colors.
Can you just throw wildflower seeds down?
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Preparation is Key:
- Remove existing vegetation: Grasses and weeds will compete with wildflowers, so removing them is crucial for success.
- Loosen the soil: Rake or lightly till the area to create good seed-to-soil contact.
- Remove debris: Clear away any large pieces of debris, like leaves or sticks, that could prevent seeds from making contact with the soil.
- Remove existing vegetation: Grasses and weeds will compete with wildflowers, so removing them is crucial for success.
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Sowing the Seeds:
- Broadcast seeding: Scatter the seeds evenly over the prepared area.
- Mix with a carrier: Mix the seeds with a carrier like sand or vermiculite to help distribute them more evenly.
- Don’t over-cover: Wildflower seeds are tiny and need sunlight to germinate, so avoid covering them with soil.
- Gently compress: Once scattered, gently compress the seeds into the soil to ensure good contact.
- Broadcast seeding: Scatter the seeds evenly over the prepared area.
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Post-Sowing Care:
- Keep the area moist: Ensure the soil remains moist, especially during the germination period.
- Control weeds: Regularly remove any weeds that emerge, as they can outcompete wildflowers.
- Keep the area moist: Ensure the soil remains moist, especially during the germination period.
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Tips for Success:
- Choose native species: Opt for wildflowers native to your region for the best chance of success.
- Consider winter sowing: Some wildflower seeds benefit from cold stratification, which can be achieved by sowing them in the fall or winter.
- Be patient: It may take a few years for a wildflower meadow to fully establish.
- Choose native species: Opt for wildflowers native to your region for the best chance of success.
What are the blue wildflowers on the side of the road?
This plant is chicory. As a member of the aster family, it is a close relative to the dandelion. Blue flowers are not unheard of in plants, but compared to other colors, they are somewhat rare. So, if it grows along roadsides, it is decidedly a weed, right?
Are there any flowers that are naturally blue?
- Delphiniums: These plants are known for their tall spikes of blue, purple, and even sky-blue flowers.
- Grape Hyacinths (Muscari): These spring bulbs offer a variety of blue-purple shades.
- Hydrangeas: Depending on the soil pH, hydrangeas can bloom in shades of blue, pink, and purple.
- Cornflowers: These are known for their vibrant blue petals.
- Veronica: Some Veronica species have blue flowers.
- Blue Lily: Agapanthus praecox, native to South Africa and widely cultivated.
- Meconopsis: Meconopsis ‘lingholm blue’ has petals of a particularly good shade of turquoise.
- Blue Egyptian Water Lily: Nymphaea caerulea, native to East Africa and widely cultivated.