36 Names Of Blue Flowers (With Photos)

Ossiana Tepfenhart
by Ossiana Tepfenhart

I’m blue, da ba dee da ba die… Well, not quite. I’m a fan of blue. My hair is blue, ya know. I like blue decorative items, too. When it comes to finding garden decor that is blue, things get dicey. Not many flowers are blue, at least…not naturally. Want to find out what the most popular blue flowers are?

Lupines, cornflower, bluebells, and blue hibiscus are some of the most popular blue flower names on the market. Of course, almost any major flower family will have at least one or two blue versions of their own.

Even if you aren’t exactly ready to start digging up your own garden, it’s good to know which flowers are naturally blue. After all, floral arrangements deserve real blue flowers, don’t you think?

The Many Types Of Blue Flowers

We’ve already done the whole introduction, so why wait any longer? Let’s look at the most popular picks below.

1. Lupines

via Pexels

Lupines are a beautiful flower genre that are known for being purple-blue. In many parts of the American Midwest, they’re known as “bluebonnets.” Since they are as pretty as they are, it’s no surprise that many people also consider them to be a state flower representative of Texas.

Originally, lupines were wildflowers that thrived in the meadows. Texas bluebonnets are still seen through the prairie parts of the state. Of course, if you are a fan of anything that’s related to lupines, you should be a little careful around dogs. Dogs eat lupines, but lupines are quite toxic to dogs!

2. Moonflowers

via Shutterstock

Named for their tendency to bloom at night, moonflowers are some of the most beautiful climbing plants you’ll find. They are mostly purple, white, and blue, which means that they can give your home an azure kiss at nighttime. If these look like morning glories to you, you wouldn’t be wrong.

Technically, moonflowers are the night-blooming version of morning glories. In fact, I’m pretty sure they’re in the same family as them. Like morning glories, they’re easy to work with.

3. Morning Glories

via Pexels

Morning glories are some of the most popular climbing flowers you can find, and they’re surprisingly easy to grow. (Heck, in some areas, they’re technically weeds.) Like their moonflower cousins, morning glories tend to be blue, white, and purple. Occasionally, they will also be pink—though those are rare.

If you are a fan of trippy experiences, you might want to know that morning glories contain a major part of LSA. That’s an LSD analog. With that said, you shouldn’t eat any part of these plants as they are poisonous.

4. Orchids

via Shutterstock

If there is one family of flowers that seems to work with every single list of flower colors, it’s orchids. There are over 1,000 of them, ya know. While orchids are most commonly seen as pink or purple, they also can be blue. It’s all about the choosing the right species of orchid for your environment and look.

The most notorious type of blue orchid is the Phalaenopsis blue orchid. These were cultivated to have a bright, starry sky blue. However, there are other rarer versions that might be better for you if you are an orchid aficionado.

5. Hydrangeas

via Pexels

Most people recognize hydrangeas because of the gorgeous puffballs of small, pretty flowers they have. These large, flowering bushes are extremely popular as garden centerpieces. The plants themselves can get to fairly tall sizes, with many growing taller than 10 feet.

The Hydrangea genus currently contains around 75 different plant species. Several are fairly famous for their elegant blue flower poofs. The most famous of them would be the French Hydrangea. It’s important to remember that hydrangeas change color according to the pH of the soil. If you want blue, you need to stick to an acidic soil.

6. Cornflower

via Shutterstock

Cornflowers are wildflowers that are in a strange predicament. On one hand, they are wildly popular thanks to their pretty colors and long-lasting durability as bouquet flowers. On the other, these wildflowers are actually in danger of extinction in their natural habitats. So, in a weird way, growing them is actually a conservation act.

These were once super common in Europe’s cornfields, but they became viewed as weeds. Thankfully, things changed and people started to appreciate them as a decorative flowering plant. They are now on the upswing. Oh, and “Cornflower Blue” is also a Crayola color. I love that color.

7. Delphinium

via Shutterstock

Delphinium is a flower genus that holds around 300 different species of flowering plants, all of them breathtaking. While many delphiniums are purple, there are quite a few that have blue accents or fully blue bodies, too. Some are “true blue” in terms of colorations, which means they are ALL blue.

These flowers often need to have a pole, trellis, or wall to grow next to, despite them growing to a max height of 18 inches. Culturally, they are seen as a symbol of deep love and reliance. It’s a great pick for bouquets. Oh, and it also fits the wedding requirement for “something blue.”

8. Blue Star Creeper

via Shutterstock

Oh, what an awkward name for such a pretty plant! Blue Star Creeper is a “creeping” low cover that is amazing for people who want to add a little lushness to their garden floors. The most common type of Blue Star Creeper (there are a couple) is native to Australia. So, you get a little charm from down under!

Unlike most of the flowers that you see on lists featuring blue flowers, this is a super pale blue. It’s almost white, but not quite white. If you don’t want to go heavy-handed with your blue, this will be a good choice. By the way, this stuff grows FAST.

9. Bluebells

via Shutterstock

Bluebells are a fairly massive genus known as Hyacinthoides and there are several different species that are under this umbrella. All of them are a different shade of blue and have slightly differently shaped flowers. As the genus name suggests, they are related pretty closely to hyacinths. Oh, and they are also related to the lily family.

This is a good choice for people who want to have a full meadow or field of blue flowers. As of right now, you have to buy bluebells from an actual plant sales company. There are currently laws against picking and collecting bluebells in the wild as a result of conservation efforts.

10. Forget-Me-Nots

via Shutterstock

You know, most people have heard about Forget-Me-Nots from songs written back in the last century. They’re fairly well known for sending a message to a lover to, ya know, not forget you. While they are pretty popular in pop culture, the truth is most of us haven’t actually seen Forget-Me-Nots in person. Weird, right?

Well, this is what they look like. They are baby blue, daisy-like flowers that have five petals. They are surprisingly small, but as you can imagine, they’re a classic pick for anyone who wants to have a romantic flower bouquet for one reason or another.

11. Desert Bluebells

via Shutterstock

If you take a look at the photo of Virginia bluebells in the “Bluebells” entry above and the photo of this Desert Bluebell, you’ll notice that you have a lot of very subtle differences. This is because it is not an actual bluebell. It’s not from the same genus. It’s from Phacelia instead. So, we’re including it in a different entry.

Unlike most bluebells, the Desert Bluebell is actually fairly drought resistant. It can still handle regular water like a champ, but it definitely works out better than most in a desert. People from the American Southwest love this gorgeous flower!

12. Flax

via Shutterstock

You know how people talk about flaxseed like it’s a superfood? As it turns out, it’s a pretty super flower, too. Flax flowers are where flaxseed comes from, and they are some of the prettiest blue flower names on the list. These flowers have gorgeous blue petals with purple veins, ending in a bold yellow center.

This is a gorgeous flower that has a couple of awesome perks, including a very light, fresh scent. This is a great pick for just about any organic food lover, or for fans of blue flowers. Did we mention that it’s also the source of linen? Yep.

13. Nigella

via Shutterstock

The Nigella genus of plants is a strange one indeed, especially when it comes to the build of the flower itself. Yes, they are blue. Yes, they have multiple layers of petals. But, what’s really odd is that they hve green outgrowths that jut out in the middle of the flower.

These strange flowers have a beautiful yet alien appearance that will definitely make people ask questions. They do besst in rich, fertile soil. You can’t replant them, though. It’s a “seed only” type of growth, making it difficult for newbies to try growing.

14. Blue Lobelia

via Shutterstock

Lobelia is a great go-to for people who want to have a large, bushy plant that looks almost exactly like a waterfall of blue flowers. This small bunch of flower species tend to have four-pointed flowers that are fairly small. Like the photo above insinuates, this flower is ideal for people who want heavy ground coverage or who want to add a level of lushness to their look.

Believe it or not, lobelias are relatively easy to grow. They thrive in most parts of the country and make for a wonderful addition to almost every garden.

15. Emperor Blue Butterfly Bushes

via Shutterstock

I’ll be honest. Most butterfly bushes are more of a purple or indigo color than they are blue. However, this one is a little bit closer to blue-purple than most others. That’s why it’s called the “Emperor Blue.” With that said, it’s still a butterfly bush in all other ways.

Like other butterfly bushes, the Blue Emperor Butterfly Bush is one of the better options for people who want to attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. The nectar from this flower seems to act like candy for them.

16. Blue Thistle

via Shutterstock

Thistle is one of those plants that people tend to assume will always be purple or pink. Not true! One of the rarer thistles you can find is Blue Thistles. These plants are spiky and have blue microflowers upon their cones. Honestly, they’re kind of alien-looking at first glance.

These wildflowers tend to be a favorite of horses and other farm animals, primarily because they can graze on them. With that said, they are becoming popular among homeowners because they just look so darn cool. At times, you might also hear this called “Sea Holly.”

17. Lily Of The Nile

via Shutterstock

Did you know that the color blue was considered to be divine in ancient Egypt and Greece? It’s true. Royalty along the Nile would make a point of having blue makeup and clothes as a way to ensure that people knew they were godly. It’s no surprise, then, that Lily of the Nile is a blue flower.

This flower can reach up to six feet in height, and is known for its gorgeous globes of eye-catchingly bright blue flowers. It’s an African favorite. Oddly enough, it’s not actually from Egypt. It’s from South Africa. In some cases, you might recognize this as a favorite for trendy wedding bouquets.

18. Blue Salvia

via Shutterstock

If you have been looking at a lot of our articles regarding flowers and gardening, then you probably already know that Salvia is a genus containing quite a few plants. Most salvia plants are purple or pink. However, there is one salvia that is notorious for its electric blue color: Blue Salvia.

Like many other plants in this genus, Blue Salvia is one of those flowers that seems to grab butterfly and hummingbird attention. If you want to have a butterfly garden or just want to have a “fairie garden,” then you should consider getting this for your home. Blue Salvia loves sunlight, by the way.

19. Globe Thistles

via Shutterstock

Though Blue Thistle is the most well-known famously Blue Thistle, it’s far from the only thistle that has an unusually blue hue. Globe Thistles are another type of thistle that is great for gardens, surprisingly durable, and blue. This blue is more like a neon blue than a typical blue-green or purple.

Globe Thistles are flowers in the loosest sense of the word. They don’t really have a typical flower shape. Rather, they look like spiky little blue balls on stems. Even so, they still are technically flowering plants and a member of the thistle family.

20. False Indigo

via Shutterstock

Did you know that the color “indigo” is actually named after dyes that were originally made in India? It also happens to be a genus of flowers that are known for having purple-blue colors. However, False Indigo is not actually part of the Indigofera genus. It’s a member of the Baptisia genus and is a member of the pea family.

False Indigo is particularly popular in drought-ridden areas and deserts because of how durable it can be. When properly cared for, it can grow up to three feet in width. It’s truly a gorgeous flowering shrub.

21. Passionflower

via Pexels

If you love the super sour, tart taste of passionfruit, this is the flower that you might want to thank. Or at least try to buy for your tropical garden. Passionflowers are the precursors to passionfruit, and their appearance are as exotic as the fruit themselves.

With their striking petal shape, uniquely feathered “bullseye” look, it’s hard to say no to a flower that’s so stunning. While they are really gorgeous, it’s important to remember that passionflowers are pretty hard to grow. You need to have the right soil and a fairly tropical climate for good results.

22. Asters

via Shutterstock

So, there is an Aster genus and an aster flower. Asters are daisy-like plants, and truth be told, daisies are generally members of the Aster genus. Unsurprisingly, flowers that are named asters have a very daisy-like appearance with a common difference being the petal color.

Most asters are going to be purple or indigo, but you can also find a couple of blue names there too. For example, the photo above has a bunch of New England Asters. They are pretty deep blue, to the point that they often appear slightly purple.

23. Speedwells

via Shutterstock

Speedwells are a terribly underrated flower. These are bushy flowering plants that have bunches of petite blue flowers growing on their stems. They are also known as Veronicas, since they belong to the Veronica genus. This is one of the largest genera in its family, with over 500 different flowers as part of the family.

These work amazingly well as bouquet flowers, and come in a wide range of different blues. Oddly enough, speedwells are considered to be a pest of a plant. In some areas, you might end up getting written up for having weeds if you try to plant them up.

24. Blue Hibiscus

via Shutterstock

So, most people know Hibiscus as a genus of flowers that make the tropics tropical. I mean, Jamaica has hibiscus tea as a national drink and Hawaiian hibiscus is famous for its beauty. Most of the time, hibiscus flowers are red or pink. However, they can also be blue.

The most common type of blue hibiscus is pictured above. It’s simply called Blue Hibiscus. It’s not the only one, though. You can also find Blue Chiffon Hibiscus, which has a more “tattered” look to it that makes for an amazing showstopper. Exotic? Yep, and absolutely stunning.

25. Gentian

via Pexels

Hailing from the genus known as Gentiana, gentians are a fairly unique flowering herb. Most people know them as beautiful blue flowers that are symbolic of feminine strength and beauty. Though they are a great choice for people who want to have an elegant bouquet.

Since it’s an herb, it’s edible. It’s often used as an exotic additive to food and teas, though there are more reasons to plant this than to savor the flavor. It’s also a medicinal herb. You can use gentian to alleviate stomach sickness, headaches, as well as skin irritation.

26. Brunnera

via Shutterstock

Do these look like Forget-Me-Nots? You would be forgiven if you thought so. They’re virtually identical. However, they are not. They are from a plant genus that’s known as Brunnera, or False Forget-Me-Nots. These are extremely unusual plants, regardless of the specific species you have.

This is one of the only generes you’ll see to have blue flowers as well as the occasional blue tinge to leaves. They tend to be fans of the shade, and also work well in cold weather. It suits their snowy appearance, don’t you think? Oh, and if you want to have a bouquet of Forget-Me-Nots but don’t have any, it’s clear that any member of the Brunnera genus will suffice.

27. Bluebeard

via Pexels

Named after a certain swashbuckling pirate of British fame, Bluebeard flowers are kind of a misnomer. Caryopteris, as they are scientifically known, are more of a purple-blue than a true blue. However, it’s hard to ignore how blue they can appear in certain types of light.

They’re hefty and scraggly-looking, much like the pirate they’re named after. Depending on the species that you decide to plant, you could be looking at a flowering plant that grows as tall as 12 feet. Needless to say, it’s a good idea to give these plants a bit of growing space.

28. Blue Anemone

via Shutterstock

No, no, don’t confuse this with the underwater creature that clownfish love to swim near. Anemones are also a group of plants that are known for their vibrant colors. And guess what?! They love the sun and tend to have a surreal look about them that make people adore them.

These are also known by a more common name: blue poppies. They are hypnotic, but don’t try to consume these. Blue poppies are not edible, nor do they offer any medicinal options. They just look cool and add color to your home.

29. Chicory

via Shutterstock

If the name chicory seemed familiar to you, you’re probably a foodie who was yearning for a new coffee substitute. The root of this pastel blue flowering plant can be ground up and brewed to give you a pep in your step. Of course, you don’t have to be a caffeine junkie to appreciate having a bunch of chicory in your garden.

Chicory is one of those wildflowers that finally started to gain the traction it needed in order to be considered a regular houseplant. Gourmets love its root flavor. Bouquet makers love the appearance of the light blue petals. Real talk, though. How can you hate chicory?

30. Blue Calla Lilies

via Shutterstock

Most people associate calla lilies with the color white, primarily because that’s the most popular color they have. However, there are a handful of calla lily species that have a blue tint to them. The Blue Marlin Calla Lily, for example, has a sea-blue appearance that gives you a vibe of the ocean.

If you want a more dramatic appearance for your garden, you might want to pick out a darker blue pick. This calla lily patch, for example, has purple and blue hues to it. It’s also probably the darkest colored flower on this list. So, that’s neat, too.

31. Blue Daze Evolvulus

via Shutterstock

The Evolvulus genus is a close relative to both moonflowers and morning glories, but they have a key difference. Rather than climbing up trees and walls, members of this genus tend to act like a low-growing ground cover. In almost all other aspects, they’re nearly identical to morning glories.

They bloom in the morning and close in the afternoon. These flowers can be many colors, but when it comes to the Blue Daze species, it’s only one possibility: blue. People who want to have ground cover but love the look of morning glories will love the sky blue beauty these plants offer up.

32. Bird Bill Dayflower

via Shutterstock

Bird Bill Dayflowers are definitely a “rare cut” if you know what I mean. As in, they’re pretty hard to find out in nature, and even getting them in a nursery can prove to be a challenge. With that said, the hunt is often worth the results. Bird Bill Dayflowers are unique and fairly large.

These flowers are famous for having only three petals, boasting a strangely trigonal shape, and having tall, grass-like stems. They definitely make your garden stand out, if only for the reason that people will be wondering “what those flowers are.” They’re also pretty surreal-looking, so it’s a good pick for an ethereal garden.

33. Freesia

via Shutterstock

Blue freesia? Is that even posssible? You betcha. The Freesia genus contains hundreds of different types of freesia. While most of them are white, pink, or red, there are outliers. Some rarer forms of freesia tend to have a blue hue to them.

As one of the most popular cut flowers in the world, it’s hard to ignore how elegant a batch of freesia looks. When you pair their looks with their notoriously potent perfume, it’s easy to see why they’re perennially popular. (See what I did there?)

34. Lungwort

via Shutterstock

Lungwort is one of those flowers that is absolutely adorable, but has a painfully ugly name. This petite flowering plant boasts both purple and blue flowers. That’s why I prefer to call it by its genus, Pulmonaria. Only 18 different types of this plant exist, most of which are in North America.

One thing that’s worth knowing about lungwort is that it tends to be used as a remedy for lung issues. There are even herbal supplements for it for sale in pharmacies. Today, it’s mostly just used as a cute addition to a garden.

35. Scabiosa

via Shutterstock

Oh, this is another flower that has a painfully bad name. (What’s up with so many blue flower names sounding terrible?) Well, it also has a slightly less awful name: pincushion plants. The reason why they’re known as pincushion plants is that they resemble a pincushion, complete with the soft, needle-like stamens in the center of their flower.

These flowers are most commonly found in shades of purple, but blue is also a possibility. In rarer cases, you might even see them in white. Surprisingly, this tends to be the most common blue flower in the Mid-Atlantic. They grow in zones 3 through 7.

36. Poor Man’s Weatherglass

So, this is actually one of the most interesting flowers we have on this list. It’s not just interesting for the sake of its tiny blue flowers, though that color definitely sparks a lot of attention. Rather, it’s because it’s one of the most sensitive plants on this list. It’s particularly sensitive to the subtle changes of weather in the area.

The Poor Man’s Weatherglass got its name from its strange blooming schedule. During days when it’s slated to be sunny, the flower is blooming and open. On the other hand, if you have a rainy day, it’ll refuse to bloom. This makes it easy for people who own this plant to predict the weather around them.

While it’s not a foolproof method of weather prediction, it’s still a really nifty plant. If you want to get the predictive behavior to be as accurate as possible, keep this flower outside.

Ossiana Tepfenhart
Ossiana Tepfenhart

Ossiana Tepfenhart is an expert writer, focusing on interior design and general home tips. Writing is her life, and it's what she does best. Her interests include art and real estate investments.

More by Ossiana Tepfenhart

Next