A beautiful blue garden can be a relaxing escape right in your own backyard. The calming shades of blue and purple flowers and foliage are pleasing to the eye and can promote relaxation. Planning and designing a garden around shades of blue allows you to create a cohesive color theme that feels tranquil. With the right plant selections and garden decor, you can craft your own gorgeous blue oasis.
Selecting Blue Plants
When choosing plants for your blue garden, look for varieties in beautiful shades of blue, purple, lavender and indigo. Some top options include:
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Hydrangeas – These classic garden shrubs come in stunning varieties like bigleaf hydrangea and panicle hydrangea that bloom in rich purples and blues.
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Iris – Gorgeous blue and purple iris flowers bloom abundantly in the springtime. Siberian iris and bearded iris make excellent additions.
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Lavender – With their relaxing fragrance and pretty purple flowers on silvery foliage, lavender plants are perfect for blue gardens. English lavender is a great choice.
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Salvia – Tall blue salvia spires add height and drama. Try salvia farinacea or salvia guaranitica.
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Plumbago – A blue garden staple, plumbago offers clusters of light blue phlox-like flowers. Great for containers.
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Morning glory – These fast-growing annual vines produce abundant blue morning glory flowers all season long.
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Delphinium – Towering delphinium produce electric blue flower spikes on towering stems up to 6 feet tall.
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Catmint – Hardy catmint blooms with masses of blue flowers resembling catnip. It's drought tolerant.
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Lobelia – For edging beds or overflowing containers, lobelia offers tiny blue flowers on compact plants.
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Blue fescue grass – An ornamental grass with icy blue blades that keeps its color all year round.
Design Ideas for Blue Gardens
When planning your blue garden layout, consider these design tips:
- Plant blue flowering shrubs like hydrangeas as anchor plants. Underplant with blue perennials and annuals.
- Use blue evergreen groundcovers like blue star creeper or candytuft as lush carpeting.
- Include vertical elements like blue salvia and delphinium for height and structure.
- Add lightweight aluminum or white garden trellises for climbing blue morning glories and clematis.
- Include a water feature like a small fountain or birdbath for soothing sounds.
- Use garden decor like blue glazed pots and art glass to complement the color scheme.
- Paint a garden gate or arbor a soft blue shade to tie everything together.
Wrought iron or wire garden obelisks and supports painted blue can provide climbing vines with the perfect framework to show off their gorgeous blooms.
Caring for Your Blue Garden
To keep your blue garden looking its best, be sure to care for plants properly:
- Many blue flowering plants thrive in full sun. Select a sunny garden spot.
- Space plants according to their expected mature size to prevent crowding.
- Water thoroughly when soil is partly dry. Many blue plants don't tolerate overly wet soil.
- Apply a layer of mulch to conserve moisture and prevent weeds.
- Deadhead spent blooms regularly to promote more flowering.
- Prune shrubs at the right time for their variety to maintain shape.
- Divide overcrowded perennials in fall every 2-3 years. Replant divisions to share plants.
With proper site preparation, plant selection, and care you can create a relaxing blue oasis right in your own backyard.
Perfect Blue Garden Plant Pairings
Some of the most pleasing blue garden plant combinations include:
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Hydrangeas with catmint – The full round heads of hydrangea contrast nicely with airy catmint blooms.
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Salvia with lavender – Tall blue salvia spikes complement short bushes of fragrant lavender.
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Iris and delphinium – Groupings of bearded iris and delphinium make a pretty spring scene.
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Plumbago with lobelia – Upright plumbago pairs perfectly with trailing lobelia as container partners.
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Morning glories with verbena – Let blue morning glory vines ramble through bushes of blue verbena.
Planting blue flowering varieties together creates a cohesive look and beautiful combinations. Repeat some plants throughout the garden to tie the design together.
Relaxing Blue Garden Decor
The right garden decor can enhance the tranquil vibe of your blue garden. Consider:
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Rustic wood benches or chairs – Invite relaxation with comfy seating.
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Birdbath – A blue or white birdbath makes a lovely focal point. Attract birds with a dripping water fountain.
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Garden art and sculptures – Add visual interest with glass blue birds, butterflies, or balls.
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Ceramic, glass, or glazed pots – Use blue planters and pots to complement your plants.
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Garden lighting – Set a relaxing mood with string lights or blue solar stakes.
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Garden flags and wind chimes – Add motion and garden flair with colorful flags and soothing chimes.
Relaxing in Your Blue Garden
Once your blue garden oasis is complete, be sure to take time to relax and soak up the tranquil atmosphere. Ideas for enjoying your garden include:
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Sit back with a cool drink on a patio chair or bench and let your stress melt away.
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Invite friends over for a relaxing happy hour on blue bistro sets.
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Spend a quiet morning reading or journaling surrounded by blue blooms.
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Practice yoga on a blue outdoor rug.
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Host a soothing afternoon tea party under a blue garden pergola.
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Install a gazebo or strung lights for evening relaxation.
A beautiful blue garden creates a soothing environment to destress and unwind. The calming colors and textures promote inner calm and relaxation. Let the blues wash away your tension as you enjoy your personalized garden sanctuary. With careful planning and plant choices, you can create your own relaxing blue oasis right at home.
