On 27 May 2004 17:21:35 -0700, (color_me_) wrote:

hi there... i'm planning on giving a flower as a gift, to a neighbor,
who works a lot in his yard, so i want it to be something he can
plant, that will bloom every year... also i'd like it to be blue &
preferably, relatively big tall and strong. i'm wondering about an
iris. any recommendations? many thanks, ~raine

It all depends on what you consider "tall" .. and how true to blue you
need.

There is a perennial scabiosa that's a lavenderish blue with a lighter
center, and it will grow into a spreading and around 1.5 feet tall

There are Michelmas daisies that come in two colors, a pink and the
one that is well.. aster blue, both have a goldish yellow eye, they
grow 4 - 5 feet tall here, and they will spread, but not
honorifically. at least not for me. Easy enough to spot and pull out.
They do not bloom until fall though.. the do attract a lot of bees, so
that's great if you want pollinators, and you're not allergic.

Cranesbill Geraniums.. lots of different sorts of those, blue, white,
or magenta, but they do spread if you don't dead head.

Delphiniums come in many shades of blue.. sky, lavender, dark dark
indigo, with or without white "bees" or eyes. They do get real
tall..which means Stake 'em up!! or put some multi level plant rings
for them to grow through.. (upside down cheapie store tomato cages
that the legs have broken off of or gotten too bent up) ..running some
wires across them a couple directions and letting them grow up through
them helps keep them from falling over..well even used like a tomato
cage works well too..particularly with the wires across the rings.
Delphiniums can be "bug magnets" I guess, but I didn't notice when I
had a couple. More may be a problem or a bigger problem in some areas
more than others. I remember reading if you wanted a bug free garden
you shouldn't grow hybrid tea roses or delphiniums. LOL

There are those columbines, but if you have thrips or leaf miner in
your area, skip those!

Gentians are BLUE of course, don't know how tall they get or where
your area is.

Iris come in many colors and heights and types, as well as single and
repeat bloomers.

Clematis, General Sikorski is supposed to be close to sky blue.

Blue flax are beautiful, but in a hot climate, they're shriveled by
the time I get up. .. although there are supposed to be some that stay
open longer.

I have an anchusa that is very blue, small flowers, and stiff hairy
leaves, anchusa azurea I think, really a biennial and reseeds readily,
and will grow anywhere from a single stem 1.5 feet tall, to a larger
multi-branched plant about 3 - 4 feet tall. They bloom early.. like
NOW.. when they've come up from last year's plants, spring sprouted
seed will come on anywhere in the year from late May to June.

There is Centaurea Montana a perennial version of Bachelor's buttons
or Corn flowers...very blue..2 - 3 feet tall.

You can always mix in a few annuals for this year if you can't find a
perennial that's in bloom this year.. Blue Bedder Salvia are really
nice.. silverish foliage and Very blue flowers against that foliage is
wonderful..

Might chat with him a bit to see his taste.. does he like the big
bold flowers, or can he appreciate smaller flowers. Many people don't
quite "get" those small flowers in spikes of flowers on veronicas. I
really don't care for double flowers, but I can appreciate many sizes
of flowers.

Then you can always go to the Blue cast leaves of a Hosta sieboldiani
and there is one larger but .. the ones with HUGE seersucker like
leaves are mighty impressive, and get pretty tall. Granted these
aren't blue flowered..or .. they may be.. pale, most are white though,
but he leaves are the key element there, and might be ..depending on
his tastes.something he'd appreciate as it's Big and bold and takes
up SPACE. Hopefully slugs aren't a major problem where you live..as
they like hostas of course.

There are lots of others .. but don't know what zone you're in.
Mecanopsis betonicifolia Tibetan Blue Poppy Zone 7-8 .. always grabbed
my attention, but I'm in the wrong zone. It says: Best in moist but
well drained rich acidic soil. Site in partial shade with shelter fro
cold winds. May be short lived in hot or dry locations. Divide
clumps after flowering to maintain vigor.. It's a clump forming
perennial bearing large saucer shaped flowers that are clear blue.. or
purple blue or white. So you'd need to know they were Blue, they are
gorgeous if you have the spot for them 4 feet tall too!

Well I'll shaddup now ;-)

Janice