Tucson Garden Accents
Blue Hues

Tucson Arizona offers gardeners and landscapers a special set of challenges – and commensurate rewards. Tucson is in the Sonora Desert region, an arid, harsh place for living things. Many native plants are resistant to the dryness, and do quite well – especially in a Xeriscape design plan. But for those special areas, you want a design and flora that is unique, colorful, and eye-catching.

In the desert flora, color stands out profoundly. During certain times of the year, when the desert plants around Tucson bloom, the floor of the Sonora is quite stunning. One color rarely seen in Tucson gardens and landscaping designs is blue – and it is utterly compelling when placed among the other flora as an accent.

Further, blue flowering plants are some of the most visually striking plants around, and always add a rich splash of color to any garden. You can opt to plant them in a stunning cluster of all blue, or mix them in with other flower colors to create a rainbow of color.

Remember when planting your new flowers, it is important to follow the instructions that came on the tag for the plant. Always buy plants that will thrive in the conditions in which you intend to grow them – which in this instance means shade or sun as you will have to supplement the water to the plant. A plant that loves sun won't do well in a shaded area, and vice versa. If you violate this one planting rule, you will only be disappointed with the results.

When you are planning your garden or landscape, be aware of the bloom time of the selected flowers. By planting perennials – with different bloom times – near each other, you will ensure a garden that has beautiful blooms throughout the season. Also be sure to plan for the height of the plants. Your design will look much better if you put the taller plants to the rear of the shorter ones – using the perspectives and angles that will most often be seen by yourself and visitors to your garden.

Here is a list of blue flowering plants that you might want to consider for your garden:

Polemonuim, Blue Pearl - A compact plant with deep sky blue flowers that grows to 10". It blooms in late spring to early summer. Plant in partial shade and in well drained soil.

Blue Sea Holly - This dramatic plant has a lavender blue cone like flower with long spiked petals. It grows to 30" and is a favorite for dried flower arrangements. Plant in full sun - blooms in mid to late summer.

Delphinium, Butterfly Blue - Bright blue delicate flowers adorn this plant that blooms in early to mid summer. It reaches 10" tall and prefers a sunny location with rich moist soil.

Campanula, Blue Carpet - Bright blue to lilac colored flowers bloom for weeks in the middle of summer. This low growing perennial grows to 4" and prefers full sun with well drained soil.

Penstemon, Blue Buckle - This plant has tubular shaped blooms in blue to purple and flowers in mid summer to early fall. It grows to 15" and likes well drained soil with full or partial sun.

Hydrangea, Nikko Blue - Gigantic clumps of blue flowers adorn this shrub for most of the summer. In the fall, the flowers turn a golden color. This plant is a new variety that prefers rich soil but will grow in shade, partial sun or full sun.

Vinca - Medium blue flowers and glossy green leaves form a carpet that grows to about 6" tall and blooms in mid spring. This plant will grow in most soil conditions, in the shade or sun.

Ajuga, Bronze Beauty - This short bushy plant has spikes of blue flowers that grows quickly. Great as a ground cover or in raised beds. It blooms in spring and prefers a shady area.

Scabiosa, Butterfly Blue - A bushy perennial with lavender blue flowers that bloom from June to October. This plant likes full sun and attracts butterflies and hummingbirds.

Verbena, Babylon Blue - Blue purple flower petals adorn this plant that blooms in early spring. Great for window boxes and planters.