Some Blue Plants for the Garden
Blue is Always Blue...
“Blue . . .will always stay blue; whereas yellow is blackened in its shades, and fades away when lightened; red when darkened becomes brown, and diluted with white is no longer red, but another color—pink”. Blue is always blue, no matter the shade.”
- Raoul Dufy
Blue is everyone's "favorite color." It is, hands down, the most popular color worldwide and is the least "gender specific" color, having equal appeal to both men and women.
No one knows why blue is so popular - maybe it is because blue is constant or as the French artist, Dufy, said, “Blue is always blue”. Or maybe because it revitalizes us and stimulates - scientists have found that looking at blue aids both our concentration and intuition. Blue rooms are known to enhance creative tasks such as brainstorming and problem solving. Interestingly, the White House has had an oval shaped “Blue Room”, used for receptions, since 1837.
Most people think of blue as a signature color of dependability and professionalism. Police uniforms are often blue and pilots wear a blue suit and white shirt. In Hinduism, blue governs the throat chakra and symbolizes communication. Feng Shui advises using deep blue in the northern, eastern and southeastern areas of a space.
Nothing affects us as strongly as color in a garden. It is the first thing we notice when we enter a space. To capitalize on this, try painting a gate blue! Deep blue gates add mystery to an outdoor space. They hide in the shadows and you can enhance this by setting a gate back within foliage. This is because blue, especially dark blue, is a recessive color which means it tends to fade into the background. However, if sunlight hits it, a deep blue gate will take its rightful place on stage. Once you see a blue gate you cannot help but go and check it out.
The Siren Call of Blue Evergreens
Blue may be a ‘shy’ or recessive color but when it comes to blue needle-leafed conifers, blue is a true asset. These plants are in a class by themselves. Their vivid blue foliage thrills the eye and they serve as a year-round centerpiece among seasonally changing plantings. You can mix blue-toned evergreens in your foundation planting where they will add winter interest. Use a compact variety like ‘Montgomery’ Blue Spruce or the wonderful 'Blue Shag' Eastern white pine (Pinus strobus 'Blue Shag'). Its dense, dwarf habit with soft, blue-green needles goes well with flowers and other plants.
One of the best blue evergreens is the weeping blue Atlas cedar (Cedrus atlantica ‘Glauca Pendula’) which has branches that cascade like a slow moving, azure waterfall. Weeping Atlas cedar (hardy to zone 6) will grow to a height of 6 - 15 feet and a width of at least 15 feet so consider carefully where you plant it. It can be trained and pruned to fit a smaller garden but keep it away from walks or driveways where its outstretched branches might intrude.
Other outstanding blue evergreens to consider are the silvery-blue Boulevard cypress (Chamaecyparis pisifera ‘Boulevard’), Blue Star juniper (Juniperus squamata ‘Blue Star’) and Blue Creeper Juniper (Juniperus scopulorum ‘Monam’), whose outstanding blue foliage intensifies its coloring in winter.
There are also blue grasses to use in a sunny garden. Try any of the varieties of Blue Fescue (Festuca ovina), a cool season grass, that looks best in the cool weather. It is deer resistant, low-maintenance and keeps its shape with little upkeep. The variety, Fescue Beyond Blue™, has an intense powder blue color that resists heat and is hardy to zone 4. Drought tolerant too. And don’t forget to check out ‘Prairie Blues’ Little Bluestem Grass or ‘Standing Ovation’ Little Bluestem. There are some wonderful blue grasses out there!
Of course, blue hydrangeas are a staple in a blue garden, as are blue salvia, but I will save that discussion for another time. There is so much to share…
Lotusland
A well known blue garden is at Lotusland in Montecito, CA. This 37-acre botanical gem is filled with an eclectic mix of tropical and subtropical plants and was originally planned as a retreat for Tibetan monks in the mid-20th century. Its Blue Garden features paths lined with chunks of blue-green glass and blue-tinged plants such as blue Atlas cedar, soft blue fescue, and bold blue succulents. Note–you must make an advance reservation to visit! Go here: www.lotusland.org
Blue will always be blue and we will always thrill to it in a garden.
...and now you're featuring my favorite garden color! Thank you for all the specific species names; very helpful. AND I did not know about Lotusland. I must make a pilgrimage there. (P.S. Are you planning to write about white in the garden? One of my favorite places in the world is the White Garden at Sissinghurst Castle in England.)