Blue and Purple Flowers
Presenter: Kim Syrus
Episode: 24 (13th October 2007)
It’s alright feeling a little blue this spring, gardens are covered in blue and purple this time of the year and it’s great. Shades of blue and purple flowers are bursting to life smothering shrubs and covering the ground.
Probably the number one blue bloomer is the Ceanothus also known as the Californian lilac; they’re absolutely laden with clusters of small bright blue flowers. These fast growing dense bushy plants have distinctive leathery, deeply veined, leaves often with scalloped or wavy edges. Some of the low-growing varieties make fantastic mounding groundcovers.
Ceanothus are not only busting with flowers they’re also one of the best bee attracting plants. In fact you can often hear the plant buzzing before you see it.
One plant that’s familiar to all gardeners is lavender. Their distinctive flowers spikes in shades of purple and lilac always add welcome colour to the garden. They look great massed together and even provide interest when sheared back after blooming.
One thing most people associate with lavender is its fragrance. In fact lavenders have been used since ancient times. The Romans used the flowers to scent their bath water and soaps and lavender was an essential item in the Middle Ages when bathing wasn’t a high priority for much of the population including royalty.
Speaking of scents, there are many purple flowering herbs. Ground hugging Thyme (Thymus serpyllum ‘Pink Chinz’) produces a carpet of pale lilac blooms. Sage (Salviae folium) is just beginning to fill with its bright purple flowers.
One of the most versatile and toughest plants you can put in your garden is Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis). Apart from the wonderful purple flowers, brushing past will bruise the leaves and give off a fantastic aroma.
If you’re looking for a plant that will do well either left alone to make a great screen or trimmed back to shape, then the Bush Germander (Tecrium fruiticans)is well worth considering. It’s a full sun plant that needs well drained soil.
Bluebells will quickly establish in a shady spot. These Spanish Bluebells are one of the best spring blooming bulbs going around. Leave them undisturbed and they will quickly multiply and cover even the hardest to grow in areas.
Another blue flowering bulb well worth trying is the Cuban Lily. It features a stunning central bloom, however, if you look a little closer, you’ll find not one flower but a mass of smaller blooms.
You may not want to fill your yard with these colours but blues and purples can add a great accent to your garden. So head down to your local garden centre and discover a new world of colour.
Featured Plants:
Californian Lilac (Ceanothus thyrsiflorus)
French Lavender (Lavandula dentate cv.)
Common Thyme (Thymus serpyllum)
Common Sage (Salvia officinalis)
Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis ‘Benenden Blue’)
Bluebells (Hyacinthoides hispanica)
Cuban Lily (Scilla peruviana)
Episode: 24 (13th October 2007)
It’s alright feeling a little blue this spring, gardens are covered in blue and purple this time of the year and it’s great. Shades of blue and purple flowers are bursting to life smothering shrubs and covering the ground.
Probably the number one blue bloomer is the Ceanothus also known as the Californian lilac; they’re absolutely laden with clusters of small bright blue flowers. These fast growing dense bushy plants have distinctive leathery, deeply veined, leaves often with scalloped or wavy edges. Some of the low-growing varieties make fantastic mounding groundcovers.
Ceanothus are not only busting with flowers they’re also one of the best bee attracting plants. In fact you can often hear the plant buzzing before you see it.
One plant that’s familiar to all gardeners is lavender. Their distinctive flowers spikes in shades of purple and lilac always add welcome colour to the garden. They look great massed together and even provide interest when sheared back after blooming.
One thing most people associate with lavender is its fragrance. In fact lavenders have been used since ancient times. The Romans used the flowers to scent their bath water and soaps and lavender was an essential item in the Middle Ages when bathing wasn’t a high priority for much of the population including royalty.
Speaking of scents, there are many purple flowering herbs. Ground hugging Thyme (Thymus serpyllum ‘Pink Chinz’) produces a carpet of pale lilac blooms. Sage (Salviae folium) is just beginning to fill with its bright purple flowers.
One of the most versatile and toughest plants you can put in your garden is Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis). Apart from the wonderful purple flowers, brushing past will bruise the leaves and give off a fantastic aroma.
If you’re looking for a plant that will do well either left alone to make a great screen or trimmed back to shape, then the Bush Germander (Tecrium fruiticans)is well worth considering. It’s a full sun plant that needs well drained soil.
Bluebells will quickly establish in a shady spot. These Spanish Bluebells are one of the best spring blooming bulbs going around. Leave them undisturbed and they will quickly multiply and cover even the hardest to grow in areas.
Another blue flowering bulb well worth trying is the Cuban Lily. It features a stunning central bloom, however, if you look a little closer, you’ll find not one flower but a mass of smaller blooms.
You may not want to fill your yard with these colours but blues and purples can add a great accent to your garden. So head down to your local garden centre and discover a new world of colour.
Featured Plants:
Californian Lilac (Ceanothus thyrsiflorus)
French Lavender (Lavandula dentate cv.)
Common Thyme (Thymus serpyllum)
Common Sage (Salvia officinalis)
Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis ‘Benenden Blue’)
Bluebells (Hyacinthoides hispanica)
Cuban Lily (Scilla peruviana)
AS SEEN ON 
