TRUE BLUE FLOWER BEAUTIES

BLUE FLOWERS

Blue is the rarest color in the world of flowers. The blue blossoms that do exist have special places in our hearts -- and in our gardens.

The blue hues stand out, in part because of their rarity, but also because the way they contrast with the pinks, reds, yellows, whites, oranges, and other colors in the floral spectrum.

Blue flowers have a calming effect. Light blue is the color of serenity and peace. Blue flowers also convey a message of love and desire. True blue signifies loyalty, trust, intelligence, wisdom, truth, faith and confidence.

We’ve gathered a collection of beautiful blue blossoms for you below. Enjoy them in arrangements for your table, plant them in your garden, and we bet they will find special places in your heart as well.

1. BLUE HYDRANGEA

Plush blue hydrangea pom-poms add drama to our gardens, beginning in spring lasting right through the end of summer. They range from pale, powder blue to sky blue to rich cerulean blue -- their shades vary according to the alkalinity of the soil ranging from blue to pink and white.

Hydrangea is a genus of 70–75 species of flowering plants native to southern and eastern Asia and the Americas. They are now widely grown in Europe as well. Faial, in the Azores, is known as the "blue island" due to the vast number of blue hydrangeas growing there.

Blue hydrangea flower convey a heartfelt and strong feeling of love when given as a gift.

2. DELPHINIUM

Delphiniums, also known as larkspur, grow in tall spires of lush blue flowers. The name Delphinium derives from the ancient Greek word δελφίνιον (delphínion), meaning "larkspur" and derives from the Latin for "dolphin", referring to the shape of their nectaries.

Delphinium is a genus of about 300 species of perennial flowering plants in the family Ranunculaceae. These blue beauties are  native throughout the Northern Hemisphere as well as in mountaintops in tropical Africa. The 'Pacific Giant' hybrids typically grow to 4–6 ft!

Delphiniums signify fun and levity.

3. GRAPE HYACINTH

We love when we see grape hyacinths popping through the grass in early spring. The beautiful blue flowers look like bunches of blue grapes, although they also come in purple, white and yellow varieties.

Grape hyacinths belong to the Muscari is a genus of perennial bulbous plants, native to Eurasia.

Grape hyacinths signify rebirth, constancy, and trust.

4. BLUE CLEMATIS

“Crystal fountain,” “Ice Blue,” and “Arbella” are the truest bluest varieties of Clematis, a showy flower that grows on lush vines. A favorite in both English gardens and Asian gardens,  the blue clematis signifies faithfulness, ingenuity and courage.

Clematis is a genus of about 300 species within the buttercup family, Ranunculaceae. The wild Clematis species, native to China, became popular in 17th century made their way into Japanese gardens, then graced European gardens, in the 18th century, when they came to symbolize both mental beauty and art.

5. BLUE BELLFLOWER

Bellflowers ring in spring with their beautiful full bell-shaped flowers. Our favorite color is blue, although the voluptuous blossoms also com in violet, pink, and white.  

Platycodon grandiflorus (from Ancient Greek πλατύς "wide" and κώδων "bell") is a species of herbaceous flowering perennial plant of the family Campanulaceae, and the only member of the genus Platycodon. Native to East Asia, it is also commonly known as balloon flower, because the blossoms also look somewhat like balloons. Some consider them to be fairy favorites, referring to their shape as “fairy thimbles.”

Bellflowers signify humility, constancy, and gratitude.

6. BLUE ASTER

Butterflies love Asters, and we do too. They extend their gorgeous blue color from late summer into early autumn, long after other flowers have retired for the season.

Aster is a genus of flowering plants in the family Asteraceae, which includes around 180 species. The name Aster comes from the Ancient Greek word ἀστήρ, meaning "star," referring to the shape of the flower head.

The Hungarian revolution (October 31, 1918) became known as the "Aster Revolution" due to protesters in Budapest wearing this flower as a symbol of their solidarity.

7. BLUE IRIS

Whether they are bearded or beardless, iris flowers are among the showiest of blue blossoms. Iris is a genus of 260–300 species of flowers. Its name comes from the Greek word for a rainbow and, beyond the blues, they come in white, yellow, purple, burgundy and are sometimes multicolored.

Vincent van Gogh featured blue irises in several famous paintings.

Iris flowers are associated with faith, wisdom, cherished friendship, hope and valour.

8. FORGET-ME-NOTS

True blue Forget-Me-Nots symbolize true love and remembrance.  In the 15th century, people believed that lovers could not forget each other if they wore forget-me-nots.

Forget-Me-Nots belong to the Myosotis genus of flowers, in the family Boraginaceae. Its name comes from the Greek: μυοσωτίς "mouse's ear," which refers to the flower’s leaf. Myosotis alpestris is the state flower of Alaska and Dalsland Sweden.

9. CORNFLOWER

The cornflower is prized for its clear bright blue pigment. Also known as a Bachelor’s Button, this flower was worn by bachelors in olden days, to signal their love for a woman. If their love was not reciprocated, the flower would reportedly die. Centaurea cyanus flowers, in the family Asteraceae, are native to Europe, but have now naturalized in North America and Australia. It is the national flower of Poland.

10. BLUE MORNING GLORIES

Morning glory blossoms unfurl into full bloom in the early morning to greet us with bright blue faces. The flowers usually start to fade later in the day, a few hours before the "petals" start showing visible curling back into their evening postures.

Morning Glory  is the common name for over 1,000 species in the family Convolvulaceae. Ipomoea is the largest genus, with over 500 species -- our favorite color is blue. These flowers symbolize love and affection.

Read more about Beautiful Beautiful Blue & Green in Visit Bluegrass Beauty Now: Kentucky Horse Country and Blue Journeys: AI Weiwei Calls to Humanity.

And check out more beautiful things happening now in BN Mind/Body, Soul/Impact, Nature/Science, Food/Drink, Arts/Design, and Place/Time, Daily Fix posts.

Want more stories like this? Sign up for our weekly BN Newsletter, Like us on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Tumblr. Join our BeautifulNow Community and connect with the most beautiful things happening in the world right now!

Do you have amazing photos? Enter them in this week’s BN Photo Contest. We run new creative contest every week!

IMAGE CREDITS:

1. Image: by Bennilover. “Blue Laguna.”
2. Image: by Mike Kniec. “Flower Heart.”
3. Image: by skepticalview. “Blue hydrangea.”
4. Image: by Bob Franklin. “Delphinium display.”
5. Image: by Andy Vernon. “Grape Hyacinth.”
6. Image: by Peter Stevens. “Blue clematis.”
7. Image: by Shihmei Barger 舒詩玫. “Platycodon grandiflorus 'Sentimental Blue' 桔梗花.”
8. Image: by Amy Anderson. “Asters in Grass.”
9. Image: by George Thomas. “Blue Iris.”
10. Image: by Nana B Agyei. “Fifi, Forget Me Not.”
11. Image: by tdlucas5000. “Grey Hairstreak Butterfly.”
12. Image: by Shigemi.J. “Morning Glory.”
13. Image: by Joanne Johnson. “Blue by You, second edition.”
14. Image: by Magnus Hagdorn. “Grape hyacinth.”
15. Image: by Ron Dunnington. “Lightbox Forget Me Nots!”