21 Light Blue Flowers for your Garden (+Bloom Times & Growth Rates)

Very few colors are as enchanting as light blue in the garden. In this article, I’ve included a photo of each plant along with my personal experience with the plant and all of the important details you need to decide which light blue flower is right for your landscape!

Let’s explore my top picks for light blue flowers, tailored for both sunny and shady conditions. Each section also has a table so you can easily compare your options!

Looking for a different flower color? Check out my complete list of flowers arranged by color.

Light Blue Flowers for Full Sun

Looking to cool down your sun-soaked garden touch of light blue? In full sun (that’s at least 6 hours of sunlight daily), these light blue flowers thrive, adding a cooling sense of calm. 

Here are some great options for light blue flowers that thrive in full sun.

Flower Name (Zone)	Zone	Height	Width	Bloom Time	Key Features
Blue Glitter Sea Holly	5-9	30-36″	18-24”	Summer	Spiky blue flowers, drought tolerant
Blue Ice Amsonia	4-9	12-16″	18-24”	Early Spring	Star-shaped lavender flowers, yellow fall foliage
Blue Agapanthus	8-10	1-2′	1-2’	Year-round in hot climates	Trumpet-shaped blooms, low maintenance
Sky Blue Aster	3-8	2-3′	18-24”	Fall	Native, sky blue daisy-like flowers with yellow centers
Jacob’s Ladder	3-8	12-18″	12-18”	Late spring to summer	Bell-shaped violet-blue flowers, fern-like foliage
Blue Jean Baby Russian Sage	4-9	2-2.5′	3′	Summer, reblooming	Violet-blue flowers, fragrant gray-green foliage
Emerald Blue Creeping Phlox	3-9	6-12″	2-3’	April to May	Dark blue flowers, spreading groundcover
Globe Thistle	3-8	3-5′	2-2.5’	Summer to Fall	Spiky round purple-blue flowers, unique
Creeping Mazus	5-8	1′	1’	Late Spring to Mid Summer	Light blue flowers, fast-spreading groundcover
Blue Lace Delphinium	3-7	5-6′	18-24”	Early Summer, reblooms	Elegant sky blue spires, compact
Scabiosa Butterfly Blue	4-8	12-18″	12-18”	Early Summer to Frost	Delicate blue pincushion blooms, long flowering
Iris Variegata	4-8	24″	18-24”	Summer	Lavender flowers, variegated foliage

Blue Glitter Sea Holly

Eryngium planum ‘Blue Glitter’

• Growing Zones: 5-9
• Light: Full Sun
• Size: 30-36” H x 18-24” W 
• Flower Color: Blue
• Foliage Color: Blue-Green
• Bloom Time: Summer for 6 weeks
• Growth Rate: Medium
• Native Range: Central and southeastern Europe and central Asia
• Purchase Here

Sea Holly (Eryngium planum ‘Blue Glitter’) is a resilient perennial boasting spiny, steel-blue flowers atop silver-blue stems and blue-green leaves. 

Blooming in summer and thriving in full sun, this plant is compact, deer-resistant and drought-tolerant. It adds vibrant blue color and a touch of whimsy to any flower garden. 

Blue Ice Amsonia (Blue Star)

Amsonia ‘Blue Ice’

• Growing Zones: 4-9
• Light: Full Sun, Partial Shade
• Size: 12-16″ H x 18-24″ W
• Flower Color: Dark Lavender Blue
• Foliage Color: Green, foliage turns yellow in fall
• Bloom Time: Early Spring
• Growth Rate: Medium
• Native Range: Southeast Europe, Turkey, Japan, and Central and Northeast United States
• Purchase Here

Blue Ice Amsonia (Amsonia ‘Blue Ice’) is a hardy native perennial with star-shaped lavender-blue flowers in spring. Its dark green foliage lasts through summer, turning bright yellow in fall. 

It’s compact, deer-resistant and drought-tolerant, making it ideal for mass plantings or as a border plant. Amsonia requires full sun to reach its flowering and fall color potential.

Blue Agapanthus (Lily of the Nile)

Agapanthus africanus

• Growing Zones: 8-10
• Light: Full Sun
• Size: 1-2’ H x 1-2’ W
• Flower Color: Blue
• Foliage Color: Green
• Bloom Time: Year-round in hot zones
• Growth Rate: Medium
• Native Range: South Africa
• Purchase Here

Lily of the Nile (Agapanthus africanus), also known as African Lilies, features elegant soft lavender blooms shaped like fireworks. These hardy and long-blooming plants are resilient, requiring minimal maintenance. They are perfect for pollinator borders, cottage gardens and cutting gardens. 

In zones 8-10, Lily of the Nile blooms year-round and can even remain semi-evergreen in mild winters. The plant is a showstopper with its cornflower blue trumpets and clump-forming green strappy leaves. Lily of the Nile is a must-have for gardeners seeking a low-maintenance, visually stunning addition to their flower garden.

Sky Blue Aster 

Symphyotrichum oolentangiense (Aster azureus)

• Growing Zones: 3-8
• Light: Full Sun, Partial Shade
• Size: 2-3’ H x 18-24” W
• Flower Color: Blue
• Foliage Color: Green
• Bloom Time: Late August to October
• Growth Rate: Medium
• Native Range: North America
• Purchase Here

Sky Blue Aster (Symphyotrichum oolentangiense, also known as Aster azureus) is a charming fall perennial featuring sweet blue daisy-shaped flowers. Blooming from late August to October, this North American native wildflower is a butterfly magnet, adding beauty to landscapes during the later part of the growing season. 

Thriving in full sun and well-drained soils, Sky Blue Aster reaches a height of 2-3’ and spreads 18-24” wide. With its airy texture, it complements shorter groundcovers and taller perennials or small shrubs in gardens. 

Jacob’s Ladder

Polemonium reptans

• Growing Zones: 3-8
• Light: Full Sun, Partial Shade
• Size: 12-18” H x 12-18” W
• Flower Color: Blue
• Foliage Color: Green
• Bloom Time: Late spring to summer
• Growth Rate: Medium
• Native Range: eastern Ontario and Quebec and through most of the Eastern United States west to Minnesota, Oklahoma and Mississippi
• Purchase Here

Jacob’s Ladder (Polemonium reptans) is an easy-to-grow plant that adds a whimsical touch to gardens. It has dreamy, violet-blue, bell-shaped flowers and fern-like foliage. Perfect for attracting pollinators, it can be planted in challenging garden spots, bringing a touch of enchantment to any landscape. It flourishes in bright shade with moist, rich loamy to sandy soil. 

Blue Jean Baby Russian Sage

Perovskia atriplicifolia ‘Blue Jean Baby’

• Growing Zones: 4-9 
• Light: Full Sun 
• Size: 2-2.5 H x 3′ W 
• Flower Color: Violet-Blue 
• Foliage Color: Gray-Green 
• Bloom Time: Summer for 12 weeks 
• Growth Rate: Fast
• Native Range: Central Asia (Afghanistan, Pakistan, etc.) and Tibet at elevations to 8,000 ft
• Purchase Here

Blue Jean Baby Russian Sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia ‘Blue Jean Baby’) is a vibrant perennial plant suited for zones 4-9. Thriving in full sun, it showcases violet-blue flowers against gray-green foliage, blooming all summer long. 

Reaching 2-2.5’ in height and 3” in spread, this fast-growing plant adds a burst of color and fragrance to your garden.

Emerald Blue Creeping Phlox

Phlox subulata ‘Emerald Blue’

• Growing Zones: 3-9
• Light: Full Sun
• Size: 6-12” H x 2-3’ W
• Flower Color: Dark Blue with Dark Purple Eye 
• Foliage Color: Green (Semi-evergreen) 
• Blooms: April to May 
• Growth Rate: Medium 
• Native Range: eastern United States from Maine to Minnesota and south from Georgia and Louisiana
• Purchase Here

Emerald Blue Creeping Phlox (Phlox subulata ‘Emerald Blue’) is a vibrant ground cover featuring blue flowers with a dark purple eye. This semi-evergreen perennial blooms from April to May, attracting pollinators and hummingbirds. 

Thriving in full sun and well-drained soil, it forms a dense, low-growing mat, reaching 6-12”in height and spreading 2-3’ wide. Donning green foliage, this phlox variety adds a burst of cooling color to gardens and landscapes. 

Globe Thistle

Echinops ritro

• Growing Zones: 3-8
• Light: Full Sun – Partial Shade
• Size: 3-5’ H x 2-2.5’ W
• Flower Color: Purple-Blue
• Foliage Color: Gray-Green
• Bloom Time: Summer to Fall
• Growth Rate: Medium
• Native Range: southern and eastern Europe (from Spain east to Turkey, Ukraine, and Belarus) and western Asia
• Purchase Here

Globe Thistle (Echinops ritro) is a unique, spikey perennial plant featuring purple-blue round flower clusters atop spiky blue-green hairy foliage. It adds a contemporary touch to gardens, thriving in full sun and well-drained soil. 

Globe Thistle attracts pollinators, blooming summer to fall. It also provides winter interest with its seedheads. It’s also resistant to drought, deer and rabbits. 

Creeping Mazus

Mazus reptans

• Growing Zones: 5-8 
• Light: Full Sun-Part Sun 
• Size: 1’ H x 1’ W
• Flower Color: Light blue to white 
• Foliage Color: Grass Green
• Bloom Time: Late Spring to Mid Summer
• Growth Rate: Moderate 
• Native Range: Himalayas region of Asia
• Purchase Here

Creeping Mazus (Mazus reptans) is a low-maintenance groundcover plant available. It’s quick to fill in, forming a dense mat of twisty green foliage. This versatile plant blooms from late spring to mid summer with light blue flowers. It’s perfect for cascading over walls and slopes. It thrives in full to partial sun, has a moderate growth rate and is deer-resistant.

Blue Lace Delphinium

Delphinium ‘Blue Lace’

• Growing Zones: 3-7
• Light: Full Sun, Partial Shade
• Size: 5-6′ x 1.5-2′
• Flower Color: Sky Blue
• Foliage Color: Green
• Bloom Time: Early Summer, Reblooms until Fall
• Growth Rate: Medium
• Native Range: woodlands, meadows, and river banks from Europe to Mongolia
• Purchase Plant Here | Purchase Seeds Here

Blue Lace Delphinium (Delphinium ‘Blue Lace’) is a stunning perennial plant that boasts elegant spires of true sky-blue flowers. Blooming in early summer atop tall, strong stems, this variety features fully double florets with a frilly center touched by a blush of lavender pink. The plant attracts hummingbirds and butterflies, making it a pollinator-friendly choice for gardens. 

Blue Lace Delphiniums have a compact habit and are resistant to deer, rabbits and powdery mildew. They require full sun and well-drained soil. This plant creates a bold impact in garden beds and borders. It re-blooms if deadheaded and adds a lush, dramatic look to any landscape. 

Butterfly Blue Scabiosa 

Scabiosa ‘Butterfly Blue’

• Growing Zones: 4-8
• Light: Full Sun
• Size: 12-18” H x 12-18” W
• Flower Color: Blue
• Foliage Color: Gray-Green
• Bloom Time: May to Frost
• Growth Rate: Medium
• Native Range: Europe, Africa, and western Asia, from Sweden to Angola
• Purchase Here

Scabiosa Butterfly Blue (Scabiosa ‘Butterfly Blue’) is a charming perennial plant that thrives in sunny locations, making it perfect for rock gardens. It’s also known as pincushion flowers because these delicate Dutch blue blooms are adorned with small white pins that add intrigue to any garden. 

This clump-forming plant features showy floral “pincushions” that attract butterflies, making it a pollinator-friendly choice. The blooms are excellent for cut flower arrangements. This plant features gray-green foliage and is a long bloomer; from May to frost. 

It prefers well-drained soil, full sun and can tolerate coastal conditions. Scabiosa Butterfly Blue is disease-resistant and an ideal choice for both beginners and experienced gardeners. 

Variegated Iris (Iris Variegata)

Iris ensata ‘Variegata’ 

• Growing Zones: 4-8 
• Light: Full Sun – Partial Shade 
• Size: 24” H x 18-24” W 
• Flower Color: Purple 
• Foliage Color: Golden-striped
• Bloom Time: Summer, for several weeks 
• Growth Rate: Medium 
• Native Range: Asia from Siberia to Japan
• Purchase Here

Iris Variegata (Iris ensata ‘Variegata’) is a perennial plant with striking variegated green and white foliage. It produces lavender-blue flowers in the summer and thrives in full sun or partial shade. This particular variety is more shade-tolerant than many other species of iris. 

This plant blooms for several weeks, reaching a height of 24” and spreading 18-24“ wide. Remove faded foliage as new leaves emerge. It prefers humus-rich, evenly moist, well-drained soil. While preferring regular moisture, once established, it tolerates mild periodic dry spells.

Light Blue Flowers for Shade

Craving a touch of tranquility in the shaded corners of your garden? Even with less than 6 hours of sunlight daily, you can still bring the allure of light blue flowers to your space. 

Here are my top light blue flower picks for part shade to full shade gardens.

Flower Name	Zone	Height	Width	Bloom Time	Key Features
Jack Frost Brunnera	3-8	12-18″	18-24”	Early Spring	Baby blue flowers, frosted silver leaves
Hillier Porcelain Blue Corydalis	5-9	10-12″	12”	Spring and Summer	Baby blue dangling blooms, heat/cold tolerant
Virginia Bluebell	3-8	12-24″	12-18”	Spring, weeks	Color-changing blooms, fast growing
Nikko Blue Hydrangea	6-9	4-6′	4-6’	Summer	Classic big blue blooms, medium grower
Tuff Stuff Ah-Ha Hydrangea	5-9	2-3′	2-3′	Late Spring to Fall	Lacecap blooms, continuous flowering
Twinkle Toes Lungwort	3-9	12-14″	16-18”	Mid to Late Spring	Periwinkle flowers, silver speckled leaves

Jack Frost Siberian Bugloss

Brunnera macrophylla ‘Jack Frost’

• Growing Zones: 3-8
• Light: Part Shade – Full Shade
• Size: 12-18″ H x 18-24″ W
• Flower Color: Blue
• Foliage Color: Green with Silvery Overlay
• Bloom Time: Early Spring
• Growth Rate: Medium
• Native Range: Eastern Europe and Russia including Siberia
• Purchase Here

Jack Frost Siberian Bugloss (Brunnera macrophylla ‘Jack Frost’) features frosty silver leaves resembling cracked porcelain, providing a brilliant backdrop to bright, baby blue flowers in early spring. 

Thriving in full to partial shade, this deer-resistant and bee-friendly perennial requires minimal care. Ideal for shady gardens, this compact plant grows 18-24” wide and just as high, making it easy to tuck into any shady garden.

Quick Tip: Siberian Bugloss was one of the longest blooming plants in my garden. Check out my full list of long-blooming perennials.

Hillier™ Porcelain Blue Corydalis 

Corydalis flexuosa ‘Porcelain Blue’

• Growing Zones: 5-9
• Light: Partial Shade
• Size: 10-12” H x 12” W
• Flower Color: Blue
• Foliage Color: Blue, Green
• Bloom Time: Spring and Summer
• Growth Rate: Medium
• Native Range: parts of China and Japan
• Purchase Here

Hillier™ Porcelain Blue Corydalis (Corydalis flexuosa ‘Porcelain Blue’) is a woodland wildflower with unique trumpet-shaped, bright blue blooms that dangle elegantly from bronzed stems. Preferring partial shade, this perennial plant naturalizes easily, attracting pollinators and even hummingbirds. 

Porcelain Blue Corydalis forms tidy clumps of blue-green leaves and is highly tolerant of both heat and cold. Ideal for shaded perennial gardens, cutting borders, pollinator beds and rock gardens. It needs moderate yet regular moisture and well-drained soil.  

Virginia Bluebell 

Mertensia virginiana

• Growing Zones: 3-8
• Light: Partial Shade – Full Shade
• Size: 12-24” H x 12-18” W
• Flower Color: Pink, Blue, Purple (color-changing blooms)
• Foliage Color: Green
• Bloom Time: Spring, with flowers lasting several weeks
• Growth Rate: Fast
• Native Range: moist woodlands and river flood plains in eastern North America from New York to Minnesota up into Canada (Ontario and Quebec) and from Kansas to Alabama.
• Purchase Here

Virginia Blue Bell (Mertensia virginiana) is a shade-loving perennial plant native to the eastern United States. Its bell-shaped flowers change from pink to blue to lavender, creating a visually stunning display in early spring. 

Virginia Blue Bell is hardy and adaptable, suitable for various garden settings, including shaded gardens, forest meadows and beneath trees. It attracts pollinators like butterflies, moths and bees.

Nikko Blue Hydrangea 

Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Nikko Blue’ 

• Growing Zones: 6-9
• Light: Partial Shade
• Size: 4-6’ H x 4-6’ W 
• Flower Color: Blue or Pink 
• Foliage Color: Green 
• Bloom Time: Summer
• Growth Rate: Medium 
• Native Range: East Asia. Naturalized in China, Korea, Siberia, New Zealand and the Americas. It is an invasive species in the Azores and Madeira archipelagos.
• Purchase Here

Nikko Blue Hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Nikko Blue’) is a popular deciduous shrub with classic showy blooms ranging from blue to pink. It grows 4-6 feet tall and wide, thriving in partial shade and well-drained soil. Nikko Blue Hydrangea blooms in summer and is a medium-paced grower. The flower color can vary from blue to pink depending on soil pH. 

Tuff Stuff Ah-Ha® Hydrangea

Hydrangea serrata TUFF STUFF Ah Ha® ‘SMNHSDD’

• Growing Zones: 5-9
• Light: Full Sun, Partial Shade
• Size: 2-3′ H x 2-3′ W
• Flower Color: Blue or Pink (depending on soil pH)
• Foliage Color: Dark Green, turns to Red/Purple in fall
• Bloom Time: Late Spring to Fall, continuous blooming
• Growth Rate: Medium
• Native Range: mountainous regions of Korea and Japan
• Purchase Here

Tuff Stuff Ah-Ha® Hydrangea is a compact deciduous shrub with dinner-plate-sized, lacecap blooms. Its double florets can be pink or blue, determined by soil pH. This versatile plant thrives in full sun to partial shade, requiring moderate moisture and well-drained soil. It features dark-green foliage, transitioning to red/purple in the fall and blooms continuously from late spring into fall. 

Ideal for small spaces, containers, hedges and gifts! Tuff Stuff Ah-Ha® provides charming, season-long color and is easy to care for.

Twinkle Toes Lungwort 

Pulmonaria x ‘Twinkle Toes’ 

• Growing Zones: 3-9
• Light: Full Shade – Partial Sun/Shade
• Size: 12-14″ H x 16-18″ W
• Flower Color: Periwinkle Blue (Ages to Violet & Pink)
• Foliage Color: Green & Silver
• Bloom Time: Mid to Late Spring
• Growth Rate: Medium
• Native Range: Europe and western Asia
• Purchase Here

Twinkle Toes Lungwort (Pulmonaria ‘Twinkle Toes’) is a delightful perennial with lovely periwinkle blue blossoms that age to violets and pinks in mid to late spring. Its unique dark green leaves are speckled with silver, making it visually appealing even when not in bloom. This plant thrives in full shade to partial sun/shade and is perfect for shaded gardens

Twinkle Toes Lungwort is a pollinator-friendly plant, attracting bees and hummingbirds. It is low-maintenance, deer-resistant and suitable for various garden settings, including containers, woodland edges and shaded pathways.

Light Blue Annual Flowers

Ready to add a burst of refreshing blue to your garden that lasts just for the season? Annual light blue flowers are the perfect solution, bringing vibrant hues even in a temporary stay. 

Here are my favorite annual light blue flowers, handpicked to add a touch of fleeting yet unforgettable beauty to your outdoor space.

Flower Name	Height	Width	Bloom Time	Key Features
Tall Blue Planet Ageratum	24-30″	9-12”	Summer to frost	Upright blue clusters, classic filler
Lacy Lavender Blue Didiscus	24-36″	6-12”	Mid-Late Summer, 2 months	Sweetly scented pale blue blooms
Baby Blue Eyes	4-8″	Spreading	Early Spring, almost a month	Sky blue blooms, fast spreading

Tall Blue Planet Ageratum (Bluemink)

Ageratum houstonianum

• Growing Zones: Annual
• Light: Full Sun, but will tolerate part shade where summers are hot.
• Size: 24-30″ H x 9-12” W
• Flower Color: Light lavender blue
• Foliage Color: Green
• Bloom Time: Summer to frost
• Growth Rate: Medium
• Native Range: Central America in Guatemala and Belize and adjacent parts of Mexico
• Purchase Seeds Here

Tall Blue Planet (F1) Ageratum (Ageratum houstonianum) also known as BlueMink features tall, upright and sturdy stems with tight clusters of blue star-shaped flowers. It is commonly used as a classic filler in mixed bouquets (Harvest when flower spikes are 3/4 open). It’s often planted to attract bees, butterflies and other beneficial insects to gardens. Ageratum is also deer and rabbit resistant! 

Ageratum thrives in fertile soil with good drainage and a pH of 5.0-6.0.

Lacy Lavender Blue Didiscus

Trachymene coerulea

• Growing Zones: Annual
• Light: Sun to Part Shade
• Size: 24-36” H  x 6-12″ W
• Flower Color: Pale Blue
• Foliage Color: Green-Blue
• Bloom time: Mid-Late Summer, up to 2 months
• Growth Rate: Medium
• Native Range: Western Australia (subtropical)
• Purchase Seeds Here

Lacy Lavender Blue (Trachymene coerulea) features sweet-scented pale blue blooms measuring 2-2.5”, held on upright, branching stems. The plant reaches a height of 24-36” and produces blooms for up to two months, making it ideal for cut flowers.

Baby Blue Eyes

Nemophila menziesii

• Growing Zones: Annual
• Light: Full Sun
• Size: 4-8” H, spreading
• Flower Color: Sky-blue
• Foliage Color: Green
• Bloom Time: Early Spring, lasting almost a month
• Growth Rate: Fast
• Native Range: Native to California, but grows prolifically throughout the United States
• Purchase Seeds Here

Baby Blue Eyes (Nemophila menziesii) is an easy-to-grow, hardy annual wildflower known for its lovely, bright blue flowers. It thrives in full sun and is drought-tolerant, making it an excellent choice for gardens. 

Baby Blue Eyes attracts bees, butterflies, hummingbirds and other pollinators. It’s also deer resistant! Blooming in early spring for almost a month, this fast-growing wildflower is a delightful addition to any garden, especially in containers.

Wrapping Up

Before reading this, I bet you thought there weren’t that many options for a “true” light blue flower color in your garden. But, I hope you’re now feeling inspired with so many options available to you; no matter how much sun or shade you have! 

Remember: Flowers that require full sun need 6+ hours of direct sunlight per day to perform their best. 

If you want to take a deep dive into designing your very own secret garden from start to finish, check out my Design Your 4-Season Garden Course. I’ll take you step-by-step through my framework for creating the 4-season garden plan of your dreams.

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