Allium christophii is a wonderful long lasting blue allium. Verbena bonariensis as has been mentioned is another long lasting blue with some height. Shrubs: ceanothus is prolific, quick growing and evergreen. And lavender.
Last edited: 06 May 2017 20:39:22
Based in Sussex, I garden to encourage as many birds to my garden as possible.
I love purple blooms - they just look gorgeous against green.
I like: Agapanthus, Lavender, Aliums, Lupins and Delphiniums in lilacs/purples with hardy geraniums for low cover.
My garden is a bit too slug-friendly for the Lupins and Delphs, so these are grown in pots until nearly in flower and then positioned in the border or maybe on the patio for their show time.
Echinops ritro and echinops bannaticus - globe thistles with impressive foliage and blue globe flowers that are very attractive to bumble bees, honey bees, hoverflies and butter flies.
Buddleias - purple flowers and plain or variegated foliage depending on variety. Full of nectar so magnets for butterflies and bees.
Foxgloves - digitalis purpurea - loved by bees.
Hardy geraniums with blue or purple flowers - white too if yu want to add a bit of zing and contrast.
Erysimum Bowles Mauve - short lived perennial with long flowering season for pollinators.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
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Allium christophii is a wonderful long lasting blue allium. Verbena bonariensis as has been mentioned is another long lasting blue with some height. Shrubs: ceanothus is prolific, quick growing and evergreen. And lavender.
Last edited: 06 May 2017 20:39:22
I'm surprised no one has yet mentioned Perovskia and Nepeta (in all sizes)
Artichoke
I love purple blooms - they just look gorgeous against green.
I like: Agapanthus, Lavender, Aliums, Lupins and Delphiniums in lilacs/purples with hardy geraniums for low cover.
My garden is a bit too slug-friendly for the Lupins and Delphs, so these are grown in pots until nearly in flower and then positioned in the border or maybe on the patio for their show time.
Oh...nepeta was one of my forgotten ones.
Thanks Steve, I need to check on those seedlings
So many ideas, thanks alot everyone! I'll be looking at these when my laptop finishes updating grrr
Oh and to contrast with the blue/purple I have some dahlias - Waltzing Matilda and Bishop of Canterbury
Texas Mountain Laurel trees: https://images.search.yahoo.com/yhs/search?p=Texas+Mountain+Laurel&fr=yhs-mozilla-001&hspart=mozilla&hsimp=yhs-001&imgurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wildflower.org%2Fimage_archive%2F640x480%2FPCD2321%2FPCD2321_IMG0065.JPG#id=310&iurl=http%3A%2F%2F2.bp.blogspot.com%2F-9_6i51QN8ho%2FT1gcmc-iklI%2FAAAAAAAABJA%2FRQ9SdZ_1ysk%2Fs1600%2Fmountain%2Blaurel.jpg&action=click
I wondered what those beautiful blue flowers on the roadside were!
Texas Mountain Laurel trees. I have two small ones in my front garden. https://images.search.yahoo.com/yhs/search?p=Texas+Mountain+Laurel&fr=yhs-mozilla-001&hspart=mozilla&hsimp=yhs-001&imgurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wildflower.org%2Fimage_archive%2F640x480%2FPCD2321%2FPCD2321_IMG0065.JPG#id=310&iurl=http%3A%2F%2F2.bp.blogspot.com%2F-9_6i51QN8ho%2FT1gcmc-iklI%2FAAAAAAAABJA%2FRQ9SdZ_1ysk%2Fs1600%2Fmountain%2Blaurel.jpg&action=click
Oops. I accidentally double posted when editing.
Last edited: 06 May 2017 22:19:38
Echinops ritro and echinops bannaticus - globe thistles with impressive foliage and blue globe flowers that are very attractive to bumble bees, honey bees, hoverflies and butter flies.
Buddleias - purple flowers and plain or variegated foliage depending on variety. Full of nectar so magnets for butterflies and bees.
Foxgloves - digitalis purpurea - loved by bees.
Hardy geraniums with blue or purple flowers - white too if yu want to add a bit of zing and contrast.
Erysimum Bowles Mauve - short lived perennial with long flowering season for pollinators.