Last year we experienced a major drought here in the Hudson Valley. The shallow well in the basement of our 165 year old house ran dry. We were forced to dig up the first garden we planted to install a new well. It was necessary, but devastating. I had cultivated a 70 foot long swath of forget-me-nots in that garden and 2024 was the first year that they were truly glorious. But a few cherished forget-me-nots survived the dig and we will re-establish our swath in years to come. In the meantime, we admire the blue beauties that remain in our garden.
Spring bloomers
Gentian Speedwell (Veronica gentianoides)
image courtesy of Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Gentian Speedwell (Veronica gentianoides) is a delicate beauty with tall spires of airy, light blue late spring flowers. The showy flowers contrast beautifully with the dense mat of glossy green leaves. This perennial can grow 12 to 18 inches high and generally forms a 12 to 18 inch mat. It is easy to grow in moist but well drained soil in sun or part shade. It is also deer, rabbit, and snail resistant. Spent blooms should be cut back after flowering to promote longevity. Veronica gentianoides is native to Turkey, the Caucasus and Iran, though it grows happily in gardens all over the world. It is best adapted to USDA zones 3 through 7. Winner of an Award of Garden Merit from the Royal Horticulture Society
Threadleaf bluestar (Amsonia hubrichtii)
image courtesy of peganum from Small Dole, England, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Threadleaf bluestar (Amsonia hubrichtii) is one of the very few US native perennials that is known for fall color. The 24-36” golden mounds are truly a sight to behold in fall! Its native range is quite small: parts of Oklahoma and Arkansas, but it is an outstanding plant that deserves a home in every garden. It provides textural beauty, star-shaped blue spring blooms, golden-yellow fall color and it is insect, deer, and disease resistant. Fall color is best in full sun, but flowers generally last longer if given some afternoon shade. Amsonia hubrichtii is recommended for USDA zones 5 to 8. It prefers moist but well-drained soil, but will tolerate drought relatively well. Stems should be cut back by about 6" after flowering to prevent flopping. Selected as Perennial Plant of the Year from the Perennial Plant Association; winner of the GreatPlants award.
Bugleweed (Ajuga reptans)
image courtesy of G. Edward Johnson,CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Bugleweed (Ajuga reptans) is one of the most popular ground covers for semi-shade locations. There are dozens of different cultivars, but we stick with the straight species. The shiny, dark green leaves rapidly create a dense, low-growing mat. Tiny blue-violet flowers decorate the foliage in May. Easy to grow in sun or shade on moist or average soil, maybe too easy. Ajuga reptans is related to mint and exhibits the same aggressive tendencies. It will quickly take over other parts of the landscape, including lawn grass, if not properly managed. On the plus side, this perennial is deer resistant, rabbit resistant, clay tolerant, and black walnut tolerant. Native to Europe, Iran, and the Caucasus.
Fun fact: Nutlets are dispersed by ants, resulting in plants popping up in sometimes strange locations. The dispersal of seeds by ants is called myrmecochory.
Delphinium x belladonna 'Cliveden Beauty' (larkspur)
Delphiniums were ideally suited to the Victorian age when they could be fussed over, staked, and kept away from other plants. Since then, hybridizers have worked to perfect smaller plants that require significantly less effort. Delphinium x belladonna 'Cliveden Beauty' (larkspur) is one such plant.
'Cliveden Beauty' is an easy to grow, vigorous plant with graceful spires of sky-blue flowers in early summer. It grows to 36 inches tall and 24 inches wide and never requires staking. Spent blooms should be cut back immediately after flowering to encourage a second flush in fall. Recommended for USDA zones 3 through 7. Happiest in full sun or part shade in rich, moist but well-drained soil.
Word of warning: All delphinium are extremely toxic. May cause serious illness or death if ingested. On the plus side, they are deer and rabbit resistant.
Narrowleaf blue eyed grass (Sisyrinchium angustifolium)
image courtesy of Ghislain118 (AD) http://www.fleurs-des-montagnes.net, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Narrowleaf blue eyed grass (Sisyrinchium angustifolium) can be found growing naturally in meadows, damp fields, and open woods across the eastern US and Canada, west to Texas and Minnesota. It is a short-lived perennial with semi-evergreen grass-like foliage and masses of pale to deep blue spring or early summer flowers. Sisyrinchium angustifolium is a versatile, easy to grow, deer and snail resistant plant that looks great in cottage gardens, woodland gardens, rock gardens, or native gardens. Grow it in sun or part shade on average soil. Recommended for USDA zones 3 to 7. It grows to 24 inches tall and 12 inches wide.
Summer bloomers
Meadow Clary ‘Sky Dance’ (Salvia pratensis ‘Sky Dance’)
Meadow Clary ‘Sky Dance’ (Salvia pratensis ‘Sky Dance’) is an easy to grow, low-maintenance perennial that performs well just about anywhere. Rich green 'leafy' leaves are set off by sky-blue summer flowers which are much loved by pollinators. Reblooms prolifically if deadheaded. This easy to grow plant prefers full sun and average to dry soil. It is drought tolerant, deer-resistant, and juglone tolerant. Native to Europe, western Asian, and northern Africa.
Blue pitcher sage (Salvia azurea)
image courtesy of 松岡明芳, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Blue pitcher sage (Salvia azurea) is our favorite of all the beautiful salvias! Delicate, ruffled pale blue flowers continually grace the tall, grey-green stems from June through frost. Very easy to grow on average to poor soil in full sun. Tolerates part shade. Salvia azurea generally grows to between 36 to 60 inches high and 24 to 48 inches wide. The stately perennial is native to the United States from North Carolina to Florida; west to Texas; north to Nebraska and Minnesota. It is deer resistant and juglone tolerant. Recommended for USDA zones 5 to 9.
Russian globe thistle (Echinops exaltatus)
Image courtesy of Rolf Engstrand, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Globe Thistles are must-grow plants for the pollinator garden. Russian globe thistle (Echinops exaltatus) is the largest of the genus and the last to flower, and it is stunning! It can grow to 96 inches tall and 36 inches wide. Use it to make an architectural statement at the back of the border. These deer and salt resistant perennials are easy to grow in any soil as long as they are given full sun. However, we should issue a word of warning: you may want to remove seed heads before they disintegrate. This plant can reseed vigorously. Seedlings have a long, strong taproot and can be difficult to remove. Recommended for USDA zones 4 to 8. Native to Europe and Asia.
Flat Sea Holly (Eryngium planum)
Flat Sea Holly (Eryngium planum) is an excellent architectural perennial for the dry garden. Blue-tinged stems hold spiky, metallic blue flowers above a rosette of waxy, glaucous foliage from June to September. Pollinators adore the unusual flowers! Dried flowers lend interest to the winter garden and are a boon to the birds. This plant prefers to grow in poor, sandy soils and will tolerate salt. Staking required if grown in less than full sun or overly fertile soil. Eryngium planum grows to 36 inches tall and 24 inches wide. Deer, rabbit, snail, and drought resistant. Recommended for USDA zones 5 to 9. Native to Central and southeastern Europe.
Last but not least: An unusual aquatic perennial that blooms from spring through fall
Water forget-me-not (Myosotis scorpioides)
The Water forget-me-not (Myosotis scorpioides), or True forget-me-not, is a true perennial that will slowly spread by rhizome in any wet soil or pond (though it should not be planted in more than 4" of water). Dainty blue flowers with yellow and white centers are held above semi-evergreen foliage from May through October. We adore forget-me-nots and are so happy to be able to include this one in our pond garden!
According to legend, it is the Water Forget-me-not that gives the family its common name, adopted from a story in German folklore about a knight who fell into the river as he picked the flowers for his lady. Before he drowned, the knight threw them towards her crying, 'Vergiss mein nicht!' (Raven, Smith, 2011, p. 320)
Water forget-me-not grows to 12 inches tall and can form large mats over time. This aquatic plant is native to Europe and Asia. It is extremely easy to grow in full sun or part shade in boggy soil. Recommended for USDA zones 3 to 8.
