Are you looking to give your garden a brilliant blue hue? Look no further than the rare and beautiful blue foliage plants! From the Echeveria Blue Sky Succulent with its bluish green leaves to the hybrid herbaceous Euphorbia Blue Haze, to the ‘Blue Moon’ Phlox and the rare tropical rainforest plants, a variety of blue foliage plants are available to add a unique and eye-catching pop of color to your garden.
Exploring the Fascinating World of Blue Leaves
If you’re looking for a unique and eye-catching addition to your garden, consider plants with blue leaves! Perennial plants with blue foliage are becoming increasingly popular, and there is an impressive variety of species available. Hosta, Mangave, and yucca are all excellent choices for those seeking plants with blue leaves. For an even more dramatic look, choose a variety of these species that have variegated blue leaves.
However, there are only a few plants in the world that naturally have blue leaves. These rare specimens can be found growing on the floor of tropical rainforests. The lack of blue foliage in other plants is due to the physics of light; light reflects off a pigment and appears as its colour, rather than being absorbed.
But the few plants that do have blue leaves actually owe their colour to a modified structure called an iridoplast. In a study conducted by Whitney et al., simulation of what happens when light enters the iridoplasts was done, and as expected, blue light reflects away.
But what about blue-green plants? While not technically a type of plant, blue-green algae are small (microscopical) organisms that live in water. Blue-green algae are a type of bacteria found in many lakes and ponds. In the summer, these bacteria can grow a lot and cause blooms.
The blue colour in flower petals, however, is caused by a different compound – anthocyanins. Anthocyanins are members of the flavonoid class and are responsible for the deep reds and blues that give many flowers their vibrant hues.
But what if leaves were blue? If photosynthesis was based on phycocyanin instead of chlorophyll, plants would be blue. Phycocyanin is a pigment found in some bacteria and aquatic organisms, so it’s not implausible that it could be used by higher plants in an alternate world.
Summary
- Perennial plants with blue foliage are becoming increasingly popular.
- Hosta, Mangave, and yucca are excellent choices for those seeking plants with blue leaves.
- Blue-green algae are small organisms that live in water and are not technically a type of plant.
- The blue colour in flower petals is caused by anthocyanins.
- If photosynthesis was based on phycocyanin instead of chlorophyll, plants would be blue.
Plants with Naturally Blue Foliage
There are only a few plants in the world that naturally have blue leaves. Two of these unique plants are:
‘Blue Moon’ plant: This lovely native Phlox groundcover features clouds of rich violet-blue blooms perched above green foliage. It flowers in April and May with a pleasant scent, making it an excellent addition to rock gardens or shady spots where it can slowly naturalize. The blue color comes from an iridoplast, which is a modified structure that reflects away blue light instead of absorbing it like other pigments do.
Blue Haze: This hybrid herbaceous Euphorbia produces bright chartreuse-yellow flowers in late spring, and its evergreen leaves are a striking bright blue. Despite its delicate appearance, the Blue Haze can thrive in poor soils and hot, sunny conditions.
| Plant Name | Description |
|---|---|
| ‘Blue Moon’ plant | Native Phlox groundcover with rich violet-blue blooms and green foliage. Flowers in April and May with a pleasant scent. |
| Blue Haze | Hybrid herbaceous Euphorbia with bright chartreuse-yellow flowers and striking bright blue evergreen leaves. Can thrive in poor soils and hot, sunny conditions. |
Echeveria Blue Sky Succulent: An Eye-Catching Addition to Any Garden
One of the most popular blue-leaved succulents is the Echeveria Blue Sky Succulent. This stunning plant features rosette-like rosettes that can exceed six inches in diameter and leaves that are bluish green with a hint of pink on the edges. Its leaves are covered in thick farina, giving it a soft powdery look and allowing it to tolerate full sun. The combination of these characteristics make this succulent an attractive addition to any garden or outdoor space.
Characteristics
- Rosette-like rosettes that can exceed six inches in diameter
- Leaves that are bluish green with a hint of pink on the edges
- Covered in thick farina, giving it a soft powdery look
- Tolerates full sun
Benefits
- Attractive addition to any garden or outdoor space
- Easy to care for
- Drought-tolerant
- Low maintenance
| Characteristics | Benefits |
|---|---|
| Rosette-like rosettes that can exceed six inches in diameter | Attractive addition to any garden or outdoor space |
| Leaves that are bluish green with a hint of pink on the edges | Easy to care for |
| Covered in thick farina, giving it a soft powdery look | Drought-tolerant |
| Tolerates full sun | Low maintenance |
Conclusion
The echeveria blue sky succulent, Euphorbia hybrid herbaceous, Phlox groundcover ‘Blue Moon’, blue-green algae and plants found on the floor of tropical rainforests are all examples of plants with blue leaves. Their blue colour is caused by different factors such as anthocyanins, iridoplasts, or pigments that reflect blue light. We can appreciate these plants for their unique and attractive blue foliage, and we can find a variety of blue foliage plants for our gardens.