Blue—arguably the most elusive color in gardening. If you’ve ever bought a plant that touted “beautiful blue blooms” only to discover that when it flowered it was actually purple, you are not alone. Or perhaps you’ve drooled for years over pictures of Himalayan blue poppies, the truest of blue flowers and one of the most difficult plants to cultivate successfully. Well, here are Steve and Danielle to the rescue! In this episode, they discuss awesome plants with blue blooms (or at least Danielle does—turns out that Steve is a bit color-challenged). The topic was so inspiring, there was even some singing. We apologize for that in advance.

Expert testimony: Dan Robarts,  horticulturist and propagator at Coastal Maine Botanic Gardens in Boothbay.   

DANIELLE’S PLANTS

Virginia bluebells (Mertensia virginica, Zones 3–8)

Baby blue eyes (Nemophila menziesii, annual)

Sapphire Surf™ bluebeard (Caryopteris × clandonensis ‘Blauer Splatz’, Zones 5–9)

‘Bluebird’ mountain hydrangea (Hydrangea serrata ‘Bluebird’, Zones 6–9)

STEVE’S PLANTS

‘Big Blue’ sea holly (Eryngium × zabelii ‘Big Blue’, Zones 5–9)

‘Blue Magic’ grape hyacinth (Muscari aucheri ‘Blue Magic’, Zones 4–8)

Playin’ the Blues^® salvia (Salvia longispicata × farinacea ‘Balsalmispim’, Zones 7–10)

‘Blue Jean Baby’ Russian sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia ‘Blue Jean Baby’, Zones 4–9)