Blue Flowering Annuals
Below you will find a list of Annuals from our plant database that are blue flowering. If you click on any of the photos, you will see a Virtual Plant Tag that may contain plant descriptions, usage suggestions and a link to where you can buy that plant for your landscaping.
The annuals, also commonly referred to as bedding plants, can be grown directly in the ground, in containers for patios and decks or in hanging baskets. Annuals, with their blast of color, are used for edging, mass of color, filling in spots between established shrubs, trees and evergreens and as groundcovers. Mixed containers are in vogue, often a blend of annuals, perennials, ornamental grasses and even tropicals to take the urn, window box or decorative planter through the spring, summer, fall until frost. Most of these annuals grow well with average soil moisture and partial or full sun, though some can take full shade giving the home gardener more options for use in the landscape.
Many of the plants we use in the United States as bedding plant annuals are actual tropical in origin, which explains why they are harmed by late spring frosts and the killing Autumn freezing temperatures. Some of these beautiful plants come to us from areas in Africa, Southeast Asia, Australia, South America and the Mediterranean region. Frequently, plants from the wild are then selected and hybridized for larger blooms, better bloom color, longer bloom time, improved disease resistance and even better foliage displays.
Some of the blue flowering annuals are native plants, which are more naturally insect resistant, salt tolerant and have natural disease resistance.
While the less well-known plants can be fun to try and enjoy their differences, the most well-known annuals with blue blooms are: Angelonia or Summer Snapdragon, Ageratum or Floss Flower, Aster, Bacopa, Bellflowers, Calibrachoa, Cape Daisies, Cornflower, Heliotrope, Impatiens, Lobelia, Morning Glory, Nemesia, Pansy, Periwinkles, Petunias, Phlox, Salvia or Sage, Scaevola or Fan Flower, Verbena and Wishbone Flower.
Blue flowering plants add serenity to a garden and can even make a hot garden feel a bit cooler with their cool colors. Annuals with blue flowers are not as common as many other colors, so the key to enjoying the color is planting a variety so the ones that bloom in spring such as pansies, flowing into the many summer and autumn blooming choices. The relaxing blue can be enjoyed throughout the season and blends well with the other cool colors; purples, pinks and white.
Flowering annuals are great at attracting butterflies and birds, particularly hummingbirds.