Ground Cover Plants with Blue Flowers

Last Updated on February 5, 2023 by Derek

Flowers with blues petals make great ground cover
Best ground cover with blue flowers for your garden

Blue Flower Ground Cover Plants

I’m a passionate gardener, and in the past I have a need for blue flower ground cover. Using stunning, low-growing plants with a vibrant blue color is a great alternative to grass.

In my experience, the right kind blue flowers should be versatile and flourish in a range of soils and light/shade conditions. Whether you have a sunny spot or a partially shaded area, there’s a blue flower ground cover that will do the job. My tip for beginners is:

  • pick the right plant suitable for your location
  • augment the soil’s richness with organic matter or natural fertilizer
  • ensure proper drainage

Keep in mind how big the chosen plant will grow and spread. Some plants used for ground cover can get out of control pretty quickly! Select a variety that won’t overtake your garden. It’s a great idea to consider mulching around the plants to conserve moisture and keep weeds down.

Despite their low-maintenance and resilient nature, it’s still important to prune back any spindly or yellow foliage to encourage new growth. With the proper care, you’ll be rewarded with a stunning display of blue flowers throughout the growing season.

Growing blue flower ground cover plants is an excellent way to add color and texture to your garden.

Multi-colored flowers ground cover
Mix up the colors of your ground cover plants – blue is quite unusual and blends in well with all colors

Perennial Flowering Ground Cover Explained

You can find excellent perennial flowering plants that will be a perfect alternative to grass, even on the most challenging grounds.

Perennial ground cover plants are low-maintenance plants that offer permanent protection against soil erosion despite the steepness of the slopes. Most of these plants do well in partial to full shade. They are the best ground cover plants in various ways such as:

  • They are economical as they can stay up to three growing seasons or more without replanting.
  • They do not produce as many flowers as the annual flowering plants but instead direct most of their energy into growing stronger roots for the next season.
  • Perennial flowering ground cover plants go dormant during winter to grow back each year from the dormant roots.
  • The perennial flowering plants are generally the best weapon against soil erosion if your environment is conducive to their growth.

Video – 20 plants with blues flowers

There may be more blue flowers than you realize!

What Kind of Ground Cover Has Blue Flowers?

Lesser periwinkle also called creeping myrtle (Vinca minor), is an evergreen ground cover plant that produces bright blue flowers. It can grow to a maximum height of six to twelve inches and has shiny, green leaves that remain intact throughout the year. ground cover with blue flowers

The Lesser periwinkle flower thrives best in moist, rich, and well-drained soil with 6.0 to 8.0 Ph, though it will still grow in average soil. It can grow in partial or full shade.

It will grow in partial sun exposure of fewer than six hours a day, but full sun reduces its strength and turns its leaves yellow. It will help avoid frequent irrigation on the creeping myrtle if the soil is evenly moist. This is a great way to get ground cover with blue flowers.

Lesser periwinkle flower petal are more purple than blue
Blue-purple petals of the Lesser Periwinkle
Common Name Botanical Name Soil pH Range Soil Type Sunshine Growing Zones
Lesser Periwinkle Vinca minor 6.0 – 7.0 Well-draining, moist Full sun to partial shade 4-9

Creeping Phlox

Creeping phlox covering the ground
Creeping phlox not only looks good, it smells good too!

Creeping Phlox (Phlox subulata) is perfect for ground cover and admired for its clusters of perfumed blue flowers. It blooms in spring and is endemic to the Appalachian Mountains U.S.A.

The plant forms a dense mat and its evergreen foliage makes it a firm favorite for building rock gardens, add blue color to ground covers, and anywhere that a quick effect is needed.

Make sure the soil is well-drained and location should include partial shade, although it can also tolerate full sunshine. Creeping Phlox is lo-maintenance and is drought tolerant once it gets a hold.

It is resistant to deer, rabbits and similar nuisances, which makes it a great option for wildlife gardens. The plant is propagated by dividing or cuttings, making it a versatile and easy-care addition to any garden.

Common Name Botanical Name Soil pH Range Soil Type Sunshine Growing Zones
Creeping Phlox Phlox subulata 6.0 – 7.0 Well-draining Full sun to partial shade 3-9

More Info

Blue Flax

Dense mat of Blues Flax flowers
Perfect ground cover – Blues Flax

When it comes to ground cover, Blue Flax is a top pick. The Blue Flax (Linum perenne lewisii) plant is a visually attractive and versatile addition to your garden. With delicate blue flowers and fine foliage, it adds a feel of sophistication. It’s virtually maintenance free and tolerates long periods without water.

In my experience, Blue Flax is a piece of cake to grow and take care of. It grows well in a variety of light conditions, from full sunshine to partially shady, and adapts to different soil types, although dry, well-draining ones are best.

Despite being hardy, Blue Flax isn’t too tall, maturing at about 8-12 inches. It’s an ideal choice for filling in between taller plants or perhaps creating a patch of blue in a rock garden.

Blue Flax looks great, and it attracts pollinators (bees and butterflies), which is always nice in any garden. If you’re an experienced gardener or just beginning, Blue Flax is a great option that needs minimal effort with maximum impact.

Wild flax was first recorded in ancient Egypt, where it was used in making textiles and spread from the Mediterranean to the rest of the world.

Common Name Botanical Name Soil pH Range Soil Type Sunshine Growing Zones
Blue Flax Linum perenne ‘Blue Flax’ 6.0 – 7.0 Well-draining Full sun 3-9

Britannica Flax Info

Blue Flowers Names and Meanings

Each flower has a symbolic meaning, generally or according to a particular culture. The color significantly contributes to the symbolic meaning different people will attach to a specific flower. Here are some blue flowers and their meanings:  

Table – Meanings of blues flowers with common and scientific names

Common flower name Botanical name Meaning 
Iris Iris sibiricaIris symbolically represents faith and hope. The dark blue iris stands for royalty. The blue iris starts blooming in late spring to early summer. Forget-Me-Not flower Myosotis scorpioidesThe Forget-me-not flower is a symbol of faithful love with memories. It also means true love and respect. A bouquet of blue forget-me-nots is a perfect gift for a romantic celebration like a marriage anniversary or engagement ceremony. These flowers bloom in April and May for seven weeks.
Morning gloryIpomoea tricolorThe blue morning glory flower symbolizes trust, respect, deep emotions, infinite love, and honesty. The morning glory starts blooming in early summer to the offset of frost or fall.
HydrangeaHydrangea macrophyllaThe blue Hydrangea symbolizes apology and frigidity. It is an excellent choice when you want to show remorse or right your wrongs. Hydrangea starts to blossom in spring to summer and extends to early fall.
Blue daisyFelicia amelloidesA blue daisy blooms from summer all the way to fall. The blue daisy means long-term trust and loyalty. It also symbolizes visualization. For example, using a blue daisy as a meditation tool can help calm the mind and envisioning positive outcomes.
Siberian SquillScilla sibericaThe Siberian Squill represents loyalty, constancy, and trust. People use it to remain vigilant when trying to form a positive habit. It is also a helpful meditation tool when you want to stay loyal to completing a particular task. The flowering season for Siberian Squill is from March to May.
The lily of the NileAgapanthusThe Lily of the Nile of the African lily is the flower of love. It has several meanings as some people attach medicinal value to the plant. Agapanthus generally conveys the message of love and affection. It blossoms in June and July.
The desert bluebellPhacelia campanulariaA desert bluebell represents gratitude and humility. A bouquet of desert bluebell flowers is an excellent way to communicate your feelings politely, especially those of appreciation. Desert bluebell starts to flower in late spring to early summer.
What are the meanings of plants with blue blooms?

What Blue Flower Means?

A blue flower is associated with different feelings and emotions. First, it is a sign of serenity and calmness for someone fighting stress and anxiety. It is also a symbol of hope and encourages positive expectations. It gives hope to a person embarking on a new venture in life or career. 

A blue flower is a symbol of dream and clarity, especially for someone searching for inspiration. Blue flowers have a significant meaning in marriage as they convey the message of love, trust, fidelity, and deep emotions.

Infographic – 5 Ground cover plants with bluish coloring

Meanings of 5 blue cover plants and with flowers
What does the color blue mean for flowers?

Blue Flowers Meaning by Country

Each country has a different belief concerning the blue flower. Ancient Greek holds different blue flowers in high regard.

List of blue flowers in different cultures

  • Blue flowers are a sign of hope and faith in Japan.
  • In ancient Egypt, blue flowers were sacred. The Egyptians used the blue lotus on altars and many temple arches to symbolize the sun and rebirth.  
  • The blue iris is a sacred namesake to goddess iris, while the blue delphinium is mythically sacred to the god Apollo.
  • The ancient Romans treasure the blue borage flower. To them, it is a cure for depression.
  • Blue flower has a significant cultural meaning in Scotland. The people believe that witches could turn themselves into hare hares and hide in the bluebell flowers, hence the name “harebells” for bluebells. 

Naturally Blue Flowers

Are There Any Flowers That Are Naturally Blue?

Naturally, blue blossoms are not only rare, but they are also non-existent. No plant bears natural blue pigment, making it impossible to produce the blue color. With the absence of natural blue pigment, plants have their own floral trickery with other pigments, anthocyanins, to create blue flowers. 

The red anthocyanin pigment is the main component in the production of blue flowers. The plant tweaks or modifies the red tint to come up with the blue blossoms. The modifications involve mixing pigments, molecules, and ions and shifting Ph. 

Blue flowers are among the rarest on the surface of the earth. Sometimes florists have to create blue flowers for special occasions artistically. There are, however, natural blue flowers in existence. Here are some of them. 

List of blooms that are naturally blue

  • Blue Himalayan Poppies (Meconopsis baileyi)
  • Annual Cornflowers (Centaurea cyanus)
  • A morning glory (Ipomoea tricolor)
  • Siberian squill (Scilla siberica)
  • Blue Drumstick (Allium caeruleum)
  • Delphinium ‘Aurora Blue’ (Delphinium elatum)
  • The sea holly (Eryngium planum)
  • Blue sage (Salvia azurea)
  • Blue daze (Evolvulus nuttallianus)
  • Lily of the Nile/ African lily (Agapanthus)
  • Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus)

Blue Flowers Images

The flowers will vary in color, shade, shape, size, and number of petals. It is easy to recognize a blue flower at a glance even from a distance due to the bright color. Here are images of some blue flowers and their names. 

Globe Thistle

Blues globe thistle image
The blue Globe Thistle
Common Name Botanical Name Soil pH Range Soil Type Sunshine Growing Zones
Globe Thistle Echinops spp. 6.0 – 7.0 Well-draining, dry Full sun 3-9

Delphinium

Delphiniums are a popular flower with blue variations
Delphinium flowers come in blue, purple, pink and white.
Common Name Botanical Name Soil pH Range Soil Type Sunshine Growing Zones
Delphinium Delphinium spp. 6.0 – 7.0 Well-draining, moist Full sun to partial shade 3-7

Blue Star

Blue Star blooms are rich blue colored
A group of pretty blue star flowers
Common Name Botanical Name Soil pH Range Soil Type Sunshine Growing Zones
Blue Star Amsonia tabernaemontana 6.0 – 7.0 Well-draining, moist Full sun to partial shade 4-9

Empire Blue Butterfly Bush

 Blue Butterfly Bush blossoms are more purple than blue
Guess why it’s called the Blue Butterfly Bush? Yep, you’ve got it!
Common Name Botanical Name Soil pH Range Soil Type Sunshine Growing Zones
Empire Blue Butterfly Bush Buddleja davidii ‘Empire Blue’ 6.0 – 7.0 Well-draining, moist Full sun 5-9

Brunnera

Brunnera blooms look like blossoms but they are blue flowers
Brunnera petals are a delicate blue color.
Common Name Botanical Name Soil pH Range Soil Type Sunshine Growing Zones
Brunnera Brunnera macrophylla 6.0 – 7.0 Well-draining, moist Partial shade to full shade 3-8

Light Blue Flowers

Grape Hyacinth or bluebells (Muscari armeniacum) is the most popular light blue flower. It is a bulb plant that produces tiny flowers that look like grapes. The plant can grow up to 6 to 9 inches in height and spread to 3 to 6 inches. It grows best in moist and well-drained soil with neutral to acidic Ph. 

Grape hyacinth requires partial shade to full sun exposure to bloom better. It blooms in spring and produces small clusters of light blue flowers that face downwards. The flowers can also be white, lavender, yellow, or pink. 

Dark Blue Flowers

The lily of the Nile (Agapanthus)is the most popular of the dark blue flowers. It is a perennial plant that attains a maximum height of 0.6 to 1 meter. It grows well in ordinary but well-drained soil and requires full sun exposure for maximum blooming. The lily of the Nile starts to bloom in June and extends to September. 

Lily of the Nile produces a wide range of beautiful flowers from dark blue, purple, white to pink. It is a symbol of love with its Greek name, Agapanthus, originating from agape, love, and Anthos, flower. 

Is There a Blue Rose?

There are no blue roses existing on the face of the earth. Although blue roses are generally non-existent, other plants have a way of working pigments to make the blue flowers, except for the rose plants.

The rose plants lack the essential pigment, delphinidin, which is a crucial ingredient in producing blue petals . Even though scientists are working hard to create a blue rose through gene manipulation and engineering, their effort is yet to bear fruit and produce a pure blue shade. 

The mystery is that florists still stock blue roses in their stores. The flower vendors have their way of creating blue roses for special occasions. The first way is through spraying with blue paint, and the other one is by dying different colors of roses in water with blue dye. 

The blue roses symbolize mystery, secrecy, and ambiguity. They are also a symbol of ambition and the desire to achieve almost impossible dreams. The fact that blue roses are rare contributes to their symbolic meaning of dreaming big and aiming for the impossible. 

Key takeaways about ground cover with blue flowers

  • Ground cover plants and flowers are particularly useful for creating rock gardens
  • Look for plants that bloom between early spring and late summer – you’ll get your money’s worth!
  • White flowers and pink flowers go really well with purple flowers which are almost blue
  • The best ground cover plants are low maintenance: examples of a low-maintenance plant is any evergreen perennial
  • Choose a hardy variety if there is overly moist soil on ground with sunny spots and part shade
  • Cover large areas with plants with dark green leaves such as Phlox Subulata
  • Low-growing plants make excellent ground cover, such as the low-growing perennial Antennaria plantaginifolia
  • Good drainage is essential for most ground cover plants, so plants that like a sandy soil will do well
  • Poor soil will limit the types of plants you can grow
  • Evergreen plants that are also deer resistant can be used for durable borders

Other resources related to Blue Flowers

41 Types of Blue Flowers – ProFlowers Blog

61 Blue Flowers: Complete List With Names and Pictures

Top 20 Blue Flowers for Your Garden

Derek
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