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Adding blue perennial flowers to your garden is a fantastic way to add vibrant color accents. These perennials return year after year, bringing a delightful sense of anticipation each season. Their deep, rich colors create a unique and lively atmosphere in your garden.

If you’re thinking about adding blue perennials, you’re in for a treat. Here are 18 varieties that can add bold colors to your garden.

Lupine

Lupins growing wild and flowering
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Lupine has impressive spikes of blue flowers. It prefers cooler climates, growing best in full sun to partial shade with well-drained soil. While lupines are generally low maintenance, they may require extra watering during dry spells. Zones 4-9.

Virginia Bluebells

Mertensia virginica Virginia Bluebell seen in Brooklyn Botanic Garden
Khan “Sadh” N. Mostafa, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Virginia Bluebells are native to the Eastern U.S. and are known for their beautiful, bell-shaped blue flowers that transition from pink to vibrant blue. They thrive partly in full shade and moist, rich soils. Zones 3-9.

Geranium

geranium
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Geranium ‘Rozanne’ is a robust perennial known for its vibrant blue flowers with white centers and long blooming periods from late spring until frost. It thrives in full sun to part shade and prefers well-drained soil, making it fairly low-maintenance. Once established, ‘Rozanne’ requires only occasional watering. Zones 4-7

Delphinium

Larkspur flowers, Delphinium elatum
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Delphiniums are renowned for their tall spikes of rich blue flowers, which add a dramatic vertical element to garden borders. They prefer full sun and rich, well-drained soil and need regular watering and staking.

Cut the spikes back to the top of the foliage after blossoming for consistent blooms in late summer and early fall. Zones 3-8

Blue Thistle

blue thistle
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Blue Thistle, known for its spherical blue blooms, is a drought-tolerant and deer-resistant perennial that provides an important nectar source for pollinators like butterflies and bees. It thrives in full sun and well-drained soil, making it relatively easy to care for and suitable for Zones 3-9. Its striking blue blooms also look stunning in floral arrangements.

Hydrangea

blue Hydrangea
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Hydrangeas are celebrated for their large, lush blooms, which vary widely in color based on the soil’s pH level. For blue flowers, ensure the soil is more acidic to facilitate aluminum absorption. Hydrangeas prefer morning sun and afternoon shade, thriving in moist, rich, well-drained soil. They require regular watering and mulching to keep the roots cool, suitable for USDA zones 3-9.

Blue Forget-Me-Not

blue Forget-Me-Not
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Forget-Me-Not produces small, delicate blue flowers with yellow centers that emerge above green foliage in spring. This biennial prefers shady areas and moist, well-drained soil and often self-seeds for continuous blooms. It’s suitable for USDA zones 3-8 and is ideal for borders, woodland areas, and cottage gardens.

Iris

iris
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Iris plants offer a variety of stunning blooms, including blue varieties, and are valued for their bold foliage. They require at least half a day of sun and well-drained soil, with rhizomes partially exposed. Once established, irises are drought-tolerant and benefit from regular watering during the growing season. Zones 3-9.

Hyacinth

Hyacinth
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Hyacinth bulbs produce dense, fragrant spikes of deep blue flowers and are often planted in the fall for early spring blooming. They prefer full sun to partial shade and fertile, well-drained soil. Hyacinths add color and fragrance to gardens. Zones 4-8

Snowdrop

closeup heap of blue snowdrop flowers in forest, beautiful natural spring background
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Snowdrops are among the earliest bloomers, often appearing while snow is still on the ground. These delicate flowers thrive in partial shade and moist, well-drained soil. Easy to care for, snowdrops are ideal for naturalizing in grassy areas and adding early spring charm to landscapes. Zones 3-7.

Himalayan Blue Poppy

blue-poppy
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Himalayan Blue Poppy is known for its unusual, delicate blue flowers with yellow centers and requires specific growing conditions. It thrives in relaxed, moist environments with partial shade and acidic, organic-rich soil. Zones 5-8

Clematis

blue clematis
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Clematis vines are celebrated for their striking flowers, which are available in shades including blue. They require sunny locations with their roots kept cool and shaded. Clematis needs well-drained soil and regular pruning to thrive. It is suitable for USDA zones 4-9 and is perfect for growing on trellises or fences.

False Indigo

Baptisia australis, commonly known as blue wild indigo or blue false indigo, is a flowering plant in the family Fabaceae (legumes).
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False Indigo boasts striking spikes of blue to indigo flowers and is known for its robust growth and low maintenance needs. It thrives in full sun to partial shade and well-drained soil. Initially slow to grow, false indigo can eventually become quite large and bushy, making it a great structural addition to perennial borders. Zones 3-9.

Periwinkle

blue periwinkle
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Periwinkle is a vigorous ground cover that produces cheerful blue, star-shaped flowers. It adapts well to partial to full shade and can tolerate various soil conditions, including dry and poor soils. Ideal for erosion control and under-tree areas, periwinkle is hardy in USDA zones 4-8 and can quickly fill shady spots in your garden.

Speedwell

A close-up of a cluster of blue flowers with five petals each, growing in a green field.
Image Credit: Sukkoria, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Speedwell displays spikes of vivid blue flowers and is appreciated for its durability and long blooming period. It prefers full sun but can tolerate partial shade and needs well-drained soil. Speedwell is easy to care for, requiring only occasional watering once established, and adds vertical interest to gardens. Zones 3-8.

Morning Glory

morning glory
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Morning Glory is a fast-growing vine known for its large, trumpet-shaped blue flowers that open in the morning and close by the afternoon. It prefers full sun and well-drained soil and is typically grown as an annual but can be perennial in warmer climates (USDA zones 9-11). Morning Glory needs regular watering and a climbing structure, such as a trellis or fence.

Woodland Phlox

Wild blue phlox (Phlox divaricata)
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Woodland Phlox covers the ground with fragrant flowers in spring, which is ideal for adding a splash of color beneath trees or along shaded pathways.

Spotted Lungwort

spot on lungwort with purple flowers
Image Credit: DHochmayr, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

This plant has spotted leaves and pink to purple flowers. It is easy to care for but loves the shade. Zones 3-9

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Different aromatic potted herbs in wooden crate, closeup
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Tall red flowers of Monard bee balm in the summer garden
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