True blue flowers - ornamentals

[Al in Kona]

I'm finding that there are not all that many flowering plants that have a real true blue color to their flowers that do well for us in our tropical climate.   There are many that say they are blue but in reality they have more of a purple cast to them than blue.  One true blue flower that grows well as a groundcover for us is "Blue Daze" (Evolvulus glomeratus).  It pretty much blooms all year long and benefits from a severe haircut when it gets too overgrown.  More recently we found this Salvia sp. with real blue flowers (see below).  What other true blue flowers have you found?

[Al in Kona]

close up of Salvia sp. flowers

[tipper55]

Plumbago, Verbena, Hyssop, Ajuga, Tradescantia

[SubTropicRay]

Blue daze (Evolvulus glomeratus) is a maintenance free beauty.

Blue Daze

[metalfan]

I grow that same salvia, S. guarantica "Black and Blue".

There is another salvia that has tiny little flowers that are a true blue, I can't think of the name.

[Dave-Vero]

I've got that little blue salvia.  Too short to smother weeds, so I think it'll be replaced.  

The iris Neomarica caerulea from Brazil is indeed "cerulean."  So is Iris hexagona from Florida.

[mppalms]

I wonder how Impatiens namchabarwensis would do in Florida, since it is from a fairly low elevation in Tibet.  Its flowers are blue but perhaps with a very slight purple cast.  (Unfortunately, my plants are not flowering at this moment.)

Jason

[Eric in Orlando]

Here's a few;

Aristea ecklonii- African Blue Star Iris

http://new.photos.yahoo.com/leu4510....10

unknown Stachytarpheta from Venezuela- Porterweed

http://new.photos.yahoo.com/leu4510....93

Neomarica caerulea- Giant Walking Iris

http://new.photos.yahoo.com/leu4510....63

Rotheca ugadense- Blue Butterfly Flower (formerly Clerodendrum)

http://new.photos.yahoo.com/leu4510....12

many Dianella have small, blue flowers, here is D. revoluta 'Little Rev'

http://new.photos.yahoo.com/leu4510....36

Passiflora 'Blue Bouquet'

http://new.photos.yahoo.com/leu4510....10

Eranthemum puchellum- False Blue Sage

http://new.photos.yahoo.com/leu4510....22

Dichroa febrifuga- Evergreen Hydrangea

http://new.photos.yahoo.com/leu4510....25

[junglegalfla]

Blue pea vine

[Jeff Searle]

The bromeliad, Aec. "Blue Tango".

Jeff

[JakeK]

Plumbago is one that does well in this area, Hydrangea is another if you acidify the soil in this area, otherwise it's pink.

[Eric in Orlando]

(junglegalfla @ Aug. 17 2007,15:46)

QUOTE

Blue pea vine

Oh yeah, forgot about Blue Pea Vine, Clitoria ternatea;

http://new.photos.yahoo.com/leu4510....27

and here is the double form, 'Plena';

http://new.photos.yahoo.com/leu4510....29

[Carlo Morici]

Duranta erecta !

Cultivar 'Geisha Girl' is bluer than others.

Carlo

[SunnyFl]

My three are:

Dichorisandra thyrsiflora - the blue ginger

Plumbago

Tradescantia virginiana (just appeared in the backyard on its own)

I think the blue morning glory grows fine here, if you like morning glory.  Also, Thunbergia - blue sky vine.

[SunnyFl]

Forgot to mention Scaveola Blue Wonder, but that has a lavendar tinge to it.

[fastfeat]

For true blue, you can't beat Robinsonella cordata...

[tipper55]

(fastfeat @ Aug. 23 2007,07:27)

QUOTE

For true blue, you can't beat Robinsonella cordata...

Yeah, and when you find seeds or plants for it - let us know will ya? While you're at it I'm looking for seeds or plants of Hibiscus insularis too.

[fastfeat]

(tipper55 @ Aug. 23 2007,11:08)

QUOTE

(fastfeat @ Aug. 23 2007,07:27)

QUOTE

For true blue, you can't beat Robinsonella cordata...

Yeah, and when you find seeds or plants for it - let us know will ya? While you're at it I'm looking for seeds or plants of Hibiscus insularis too.

Karen--

Got one coming to FL from CA next week. I'll inquire from my source if he plans to release others for sale. He has apparently mastered the technique of rooting cuttings.

Sorry, no info on the Hibiscus.

Robinsonella photo taken at CSUFullerton Arboretum, FYI.

[mppalms]

That Robinsonella is pretty nice.  If my memory serves me, it's from somewhere in Central America (Guatemala?) and the flowers are really as blue as that picture shows.

Jason

[fastfeat]

(mppalms @ Aug. 23 2007,13:25)

QUOTE

That Robinsonella is pretty nice.  If my memory serves me, it's from somewhere in Central America (Guatemala?) and the flowers are really as blue as that picture shows.

Jason

It's from high elevations in Guatemala. It should do well in the Bay area. Might check at Strybing? Was originally introduced into Santa Barbara. Difficulty in propagation has been the chief limiting factor.