Members of the PBS list discussed their favorite blue flowered bulbs in November 2004. There was some carry over from the purple favorites, considered blue by some and purple by others. Participants mentioned the bulbs listed below as favorites. They are listed alphabetically, sometimes with comments, followed by the name and the location of the person who named them as favorite, usually from experience growing them. If we have a picture of the plants mentioned on the wiki there is a link to that picture with the name of the photographer included in the text under the photo. One member also mentioned his favorite turquoise or teal flowers and we have created a page for them.
This page contains genera I-Z.
See Favorite blue A-H - Favorite Turquoise Bulbs for other favorite blue flowers.
Ipheion uniflorum 'Rolf Fiedler' is very easy to grow and such nice shade of blue. At peak bloom a pot will be covered with creamy sky blue flowers -- Lee Poulsen, Southern California, USDA Zone 9-10; Can't be beaten for true blue colouring -- Sheila Burrow, Perth, Western Australia.
Iris -- The range of blues is incredible. I especially like those that have a picotee edge -- Kathy Stokmanis, Sierra foothills, Northern California. Bearded Iris - various cultivars, all shades of blue. Some may not be completely true blue, but they're close enough and come in shades from dark to very pale -- Lee Poulsen, Southern California, USDA Zone 9-10; Regardless of series, there seem to be good blues throughout the genus; irrespective of bulb vs. rhizome -- Boyce Tankersley, Illinois.
Iris cycloglossa -- Bill Dijk, Tauranga, New Zealand.
Iris sibirica cultivars -- Mary Sue Ittner.
Lapeirousia oreogena Bill Dijk, Tauranga, New Zealand.
Leucocoryne species and hybrids, showy, long-lasting with the added bonus of delectable perfume, Bill Dijk, Tauranga, New Zealand.
Leucocoryne coquimbensis -- This species I really like is blue with a white center -- Mary Sue Ittner, California's North Coast. They are very long flowering bulbs and have a delightful perfume. The cut flowers can last up to 4 weeks in a vase. I believe these are the Queen of blue flowers :-) Sheila Burrow, Perth, Western Australia.
Lycoris sprengeri with almost totally electric blue flowers exist, but none are named or common. Jim Waddick, Kansas City, Missouri; The blue buds are so electric that you can't help but notice it. And when it is in bud, the bluer bulbs look almost completely neon blue. Lee Poulsen, Southern California, USDA Zone 9-10.
Moraea 'Zoe' and Moraea loubseri, Bill Dijk, Tauranga, New Zealand; can't remember the specific species, but these were in the Research greenhouse at Mobot, part of Peter Goldblatt's taxonomic collection. Boyce Tankersley, Illinois.
Muscari -- How to pick just one favorite blue? Boyce Tankersley, Illinois.
Nemastylis geminiflora -- I couldn't believe that a native to the central Texas hill country where I grew up could be so pretty and so blue. Lee Poulsen, Southern California, USDA Zone 9-10.
Nymphaea caerulea and some of its hybrids. Yes, these are waterlilies. Jim McKenney, Montgomery County, Maryland.
Orthrosanthus are nice too -- Mary Sue Ittner, California's North Coast.
Pasithea caerulea is a very nice blue -- Mary Sue Ittner, California's North Coast.
Salvia patens 'Cambridge Blue' -- Liz Waterman, Northern California; Salvia patens Mary Sue Ittner, California's North Coast
Scilla peruviana -- of which I have the blue and a purple form, Sheila Burrow, Perth, Western Australia.
Scilla siberica is the best of the blues -- Boyce Tankersley, Illinois; Almost any of the blue Scilla siberica are top of the 'blue list' whether just typical, seed grown or named forms; they all have a rich blue color and are nearly fool proof here. They self sow, but not vigorously; enough to spread comfortably. Jim Waddick, Kansas City, Missouri.
Tecophilaea cyanocrocus -- the charmer, treasure and envy of all the blue flowers -- Bill Dijk, Tauranga, New Zealand. Of all the blue flowers I've grown this one reigns supreme. Not only is it the bluest flower I've grown, it is also the most intense hue of blue I've grown-- Lee Poulsen, Southern California, USDA Zone 9-10. Apparently can't grow them well in my climate, but it doesn't really matter -- Boyce Tankersley, Illinois. Favorite ones I don't grow yet -- Kathy Stokmanis, Sierra foothills, Northern California. The queen of blue bulbs, but the queen of blue flowers generally. -- Rodger Whitlock, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.
Tecophilaea cyanocrocus var. leichtlinii but I don't like them as much as Leucocoryne -- Sheila Burrow, Perth, Western Australia. Slow to bloom for me from seed and even from corms changing hemispheres and not lasting very long, but a beautiful color, Mary Sue Ittner, California's North Coast.
Thelymitra -- beautiful blue species terrestrial orchids from Australia, Tsuh Yang Chen.
Tristagma 'Rolf Fiedler' see Ipheion uniflorum 'Rolf Fiedler'
Triteleia laxa -- largely because there are so many different shades of blue and lilac to be seen in different locations. I think the cobalt blue of the species as seen in Humboldt county, referred to as 'Humboldt Star'. Then there is the form found in Fresno County that the Robinetts called 'Sierra Giant' or 'Dinnerplate' Laxa, which has unusually large flower heads (diameter as large as a dinner plate) and comes in a very soft lilac color. It grows 3 feet tall in some locations and is lovely to see blooming in the dark shade of a Live Oak. -- Nancy Gilbert, Northern California.
Tropaeolum azureum, Bill Dijk, Tauranga, New Zealand.
Worsleya procera (syn. Worsleya rayneri) -- Bill Dijk, Tauranga, New Zealand. You could grow old and grey waiting for the pleasures of the blooms, but these lilac flowers offers some of the nicest hues of "blue" in the Amaryllidaceae. Kevin D. Preuss, Florida.
Zephyra elegans -- A photo I saw made me want to grow this one, Lee Poulsen, Southern California, USDA Zone 9-10.
