Seasonal blues flowers

With midwinter and the New Year celebrations behind us, it’s easy to feel the winter gloom, so I thought it was the perfect time to get excited about some of the best true blue flowers to grow in the coming year. .

1. Scilla luciliae

Glory of the Snow, also known as Chionotaxa luciliae, grows from a small bulb to 15cm (6in) tall. They are lovely flowers individually, but plant them in groups or in drifts for the best display. They like rich, well-drained soil, making them ideal for rockeries or pots. They flower between February and April and require direct sun or partial sun Create a great flower display. As with all bulbs, allow the foliage to die back naturally. Scilla luciliae will naturalize and create a spreading display year after year.

2. Meconopsis betonicifola

As a young gardener I tried to grow this blue Himalayan poppy several times. If you can provide the soil, it should be slightly acidic and moist, but well drained and have an east or west exposure. In partial shade, protected from cold winds, you will find them growing well in your garden. They are short-lived perennials, often dying back in June and July. Height 120cm (4ft) and spread 50cm (20in).

3. Salvias

Salvias have become increasingly popular in the last few years That’s right! There are several blue flower varieties including Blue Butterfly, ‘Black and Blue’ and Salvia pullulata, the bluest of the blue salvias I grow in my garden. They vary in height from 50cm (20in) to 150cm (5ft) and spread up to 1m (3.2ft). Flowering times vary depending on the variety. Many are not very hardy so should be taken under cover before the first frost.

4. Lobelia pedunculata

I found this lovely blue floret in Kew Gardens where it formed a large carpet of colour on the ground. Also known as Bratia pedunculata it grows to 2-4cm (1-2in) tall and up to 1.5m (5ft). Spreading. It forms a lush mat of small leaves, on top of which the small blue flowers appear in summer. It is hardy in most parts of the UK and prefers shelter in shade or partial shade - the plants I saw at Kew thrived even in little shade.

5. Echinops bannaticus

Although the colour of these flowers tends towards purple, they add to my list of blues for the interest in the shape and form they provide. The globes of flowers are held high above the thorn-like leaves and attract bees and other pollinating insects to feed on. The clump of Echinops in my garden provides an audible reminder of this plant’s value to wildlife every time I pass by. It grows to a height of 1-1.5m (3-5ft) and a spread of up to 1m (3ft). I find it easy to propagate by dividing the clumps in spring or autumn.

6. Glandora prostrata ‘Heavenly Blue’

Every time I see the density of blue in these flowers, I am captivated. A low-growing, evergreen shrub that is ideal for ground cover in a sunny spot. It prefers well-drained, neutral or acidic soil in a south or west-facing position. If your soil doesn’t drain well, try growing it in a raised bed or large container. It will reach a height and spread of 50cm (20in). This plant is sometimes called Lithodora tiff USA ‘Heavenly Blue’.

7. Corydalis flexuosa ‘Craighton Blue’

I found this plant in the Llisthinum garden in Powys, on the edge of their woodland garden. A great plant for part shade, the leaves and flowers grow on red stems to a height of 40cm (16in). Spring and early summer, after which the plant dies back until the following year. It will grow in most situations in most soil types, except for a south-facing site, where it prefers moist but well-drained soil. Also known as Corydalis fl exuosa ‘Craighton Blue’.