From turquoise to indigo, explore the most vibrant berries, flowers, and foliage this color has to offer
The coloration Amytal evokes pleasant feelings of tranquility and concordance . Blue chromaticity seem to be refreshing as well as calm and soothing to trunk and head .
In the garden , profane flowers and foliage can come along to recede into the backcloth , making vivid , warmer colors pop even more vividly . There are many shades of blue , range from the disconsolate midnight spicy to the palest pastel powder blue , and almost every one of these shade can be found steep something in the plant cosmos , whether it is blossoms , Berry , or foliation . Here are just a few of my favorite blue plants for Northern California .
The Bluest Berries
Pick any ripe blueberry ( Vaccinium corymbosum , Zones 5–10 ) , and savour blue air at its very best . Lesser known , the highly cosmetic Blaze ™ Tasman flax lily ( Dianella tasmanica‘NPW2 ’ , zone 8–11 ) produces beautiful and eatable royal - gamey Chuck Berry comprise tiny , nutty seeds .
The Bluest Blooms
‘Rozanne’ geranium
Geranium‘Rozanne ’ , Zones 3–8
‘ Rozanne ’ geranium is a long - blooming lulu whose mound of deep green , deep cut foliage is cover with disk - mold reddish blue - aristocratic efflorescence all summer and through fall . A fabulous low - grow perennial , this geranium is arrant for the front of a perennial delimitation . It reaches 12 to 18 inches tall and spreads nicely to 20 inch wide in full sun to partial shadiness . Plant it in deep soil , and give it unconstipated irrigation .
‘Elsa Spath’ clematis
Clematis‘Elsa Spath ’ , Zones 4–9
This gentle - to - develop nance of climber set up on its first dramatic display of large ( 8 in in diameter ) lilac - low efflorescence in June . It will happily echo the show - stopping performance if you follow just two unsubdivided bakshish : Prune it back by one-half after its first flush of blossom is spent , and feed it with a well - balanced fertiliser . Exceptionally floriferous and vigorous , ‘ Elsa Spath ’ grows better in rich soil with good afternoon nicety near a trellis , pergola , climb rose , or mandrel .
Blue felicia daisy
Felicia‘Cape Town Blue ’ , Zones 9–11
A charming , kempt , evergreen perennial , this long - blossom South African native piece of work wondrously in our climate , brightening up beds , borders , or containers with its long - go spring - through - fall display of delightful blue - and - yellow flowers . These flush positively pop against lustrous green leafage . Plant this comfortable - care daisy in full sunshine and amended ground , and water lightly but on a regular basis .
The Bluest Foliage
True blue is more readily discover in blooms and berries , but bluish - distort foliation can add a layer of strength to the landscape when combined with brighter , bluff colors such as yellow , purple , or coral red . A more muted tapestry is produce when swaths of swart blasphemous foliage plant are grown alongside serene Green or butter yellowness . Shades of blue soothe an overheated Northern California garden even on the warmest days , offering a relaxing visual respite just when it ’s most needed .
Beyond Blue™ blue fescue
Festuca glauca‘Casca11 ’ , Zones 4–11
Whether accenting a pretty container , butt on walkways , or mass in a meadow , the dense tufts of this fescue ’s fine - bladed leaf are intensely pulverization racy . mature up to 12 inches tall and 16 inches full , Beyond dispirited ™ has a soft grain and bright , yr - troll gloss , with buff - colour flush panicle total summer interest . This evergreen decorative gage is among the best and brightest of the blue Festuca elatior and is promiscuous to mature in full sun when engraft in well - drained filth . It ’s also drought tolerant and deer proof once established .
Donkeytail spurge
Euphorbia myrsinites , Zones 5–10
This low - arise , succulent - same evergreen perennial has leafage with an intriguing texture . Its sprawling stem are adorn in spirals of ash gray - blue leaves and a belated winter presentation of bright chartreuse bloom that appear at the death of its tenacious stems and age gracefully to a soft , dusky pink by March . Growing 6 inch marvelous and 12 to 16 inches wide , this euphorbia self - cum politely when felicitous . Like Beyond Blue ™ blue fescue , it ’s also drought kind , cervid proof , and easy to wish for . Give it full sun and well - drain land . It ’s a corking selection for ironic gravel garden !
‘Blue Mouse Ears’ hosta
Hosta‘Blue Mouse Ears ’ , Zones 3–8
lilliputian , tidy , perfectly proportioned mounds of wooden-headed , blue - green leaves ( resembling the cutest mouse pinna ever ) appear in early fountain when this dwarf hosta emerges from dormancy . Lavender , bell - like blossom appear above the foliage in midsummer . As lovely as they are , they ’re almost secondary to the gorgeous hue and grain of the foliage . Reaching 6 to 7 inches tall and 12 column inch spacious , this herbaceous perennial requires shade from afternoon sun and prefers full-bodied , well - meliorate soil and regular irrigation .
— Fionuala Campion is the owner and director of Cottage Gardens of Petaluma in Petaluma , California .
ok Gardening recommend product
The Crevice Garden : How to make the perfect habitation for plants from bouldered places
Fine Gardening encounter a commission for items purchase through link on this land site , including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs .
Corona ® Multi - Purpose Metal Mini Garden Shovel
Buffalo - Style Gardens : make a Quirky , One - of - a - Kind Private Garden with Eye - transmittable Designs
Get our latest tip , how - to article , and instructional videos sent to your inbox .
Related Articles
The Best Heucheras for Northern California
Growing Potatoes in Northern California
Icy Blue Conifers for the Southeast
Drought-Tolerant Shade Perennials for Northern California
Join all right horticulture for a free engaging hot webinar sport Dr. Janna Beckerman , a renowned plant pathologist as well as professor emerita at Purdue University and the ornamental expert managing director …
When I spotted a particular grit dollar mark cactus ( Astrophytum asterias ) at the Philadelphia Flower Show a few months ago , I knew I was in difficulty . With a delightful colour figure …
When we only prioritize plant we desire over plants our landscape motive , each time of year is make full with a never - cease list of job : pruning , pinch , watering , treating , meliorate , and fertilizing , with …
Subscribe today and save up to 47%
Video
Touring an Eco-friendly, Shady Backyard Retreat
You must be measured when you go into the backyard of garden couturier Jeff Epping — not because you ’re potential to trip on something , but because you might be dive - flunk by a span …
4 Midsummer Favorites From a Plant Breeder’s Garden
Episode 181: Plants You Can’t Kill
Episode 180: Plants with Big, Bold Foliage
4 Steps to Remove Invasive Plants in Your Yard
All Access extremity get more
Sign up for afree trialand get access to ALL our regional subject , plus the ease of the penis - only subject matter depository library .
Start Free Trial
Get consummate site admittance to expert advice , regional message , and more , plus the photographic print magazine publisher .
Start your liberal trial
Already a member?sign in
‘Elsa Spath’ buds open to 8-inch-wide lavender-blue blooms.Photo: Fionuala Campion
Blueberry bushes provide delicious fruit for humans and birds and have fantastic fall foliage after their colorful berries are done producing for the season.Photo: Fionuala Campion
‘Rozanne’ geranium may look either purple or blue based on how the light hits the petals.Photo: Fionuala Campion
‘Else Spath’ clematis has light purple-blue flowers that shine in the shade.Photo: Fionuala Campion
The contrast of blue felicia daisy’s periwinkle petals with its golden centers makes these flowers eye-catching.Photo: Fionuala Campion
This petite grass contains a kaleidoscope of color in its thin, reedy foliage.Photo: Fionuala Campion
Donkeytail spurge’s spiraling rosette of leaves opens up onto tiny golden flowers.Photo: Fionuala Campion
The foliage of ‘Blue Mouse Ears’ hosta is distinctly round and pale blue-green.Photo: Steve Aitken
