Members of the PBS list discussed their favorite blue flowered bulbs in November 2004. There was some carry over from the purple favorites, considered blue by some and purple by others. Participants mentioned the bulbs listed below as favorites. They are listed alphabetically, sometimes with comments, followed by the name and the location of the person who named them as favorite, usually from experience growing them. If we have a picture of the plants mentioned on the wiki there is a link to that picture.
One member also mentioned his favorite turquoise or teal flowers and they are included at the end of this list.
Agapanthus -- some lovely deep violet-blue agapanthus such as 'Stormy Seas', Kathy Stokmanis, Sierra foothills, Northern California; 'Bressingham Blue' is a pretty good deep true blue. It's a rather small cultivar, perhaps 75cm high or so, but considerably hardier than many of the big agapanthus -- Rodger Whitlock, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
Anemone blanda -- mixed blue shades run the range from a medium pale true blue through deep blue and pale ice blue, but all are harmonious and blend beautifully, blooming from early to late and extending their own season this way, Jim Waddick, Kansas City, Missouri
Aristea bakeri has survived our dry summer just fine in the ground so it looks like a keeper and I thought the flowers a nice color of blue when it bloomed this spring, Mary Sue Ittner, California's North Coast
Aristea ecklonii -- I love this in flower under trees when it is grown well en masse. Lots of small sparkling blue stars amidst a deep green field of leaves. Lee Poulsen, Southern California, USDA Zone 9-10
Babiana disticha -- a pale blue with darker blue markings and a lovely perfume. Sheila Burrow, Perth, Western Australia.
Bellevalia dubia has nice blue buds when it first starts to bloom and then becomes brown. Mary Sue Ittner, California's North Coast
Caladenia -- beautiful blue species terrestrial orchids from Australia -- Tsuh Yang Chen
Camassia is a nice blue Kathy Stokmanis, Sierra foothills, Northern California
Commelina tuberosa (aka C. coelestis) -- sparkling, intense blue This one grown from root clusters which will remind you of those of a turban ranunculus. -- Jim McKenney, Montgomery County, Maryland,
Conanthera species, especially Conanthera bifolia, Bill Dijk, Tauranga, New Zealand
Crocus adamii. This endemic (I think) to the Greater Caucasus Mountains comes in a delightful shade of blues with varying shades of gray feathering the outside of the petals. Boyce Tankersley, Illinois
Cypella coelestis (syn. Phalocallis coelestis, Cypella plumbea) -- This one isn't completely true blue, but is such a ghostly stunning color of sky blue with a hint of lavender when seen in person that it has to go on the list. Lee Poulsen, Southern California, USDA Zone 9-10
Delphinium -- Delphinium decorum and Delphinium paryii are almost blue or part blue. There is unknown species I grew from seed that is really a gorgeous color of blue. It may be Delphinium chinensis. Mary Sue Ittner, California's North Coast. This latter also nominated as true blue by Lee Poulsen, Southern California, USDA Zone 9-10
Delphinium tricorne. This is a local native. Flower color varies, but it can be very good. Jim McKenney, Montgomery County, Maryland.
Geissorhiza species, especially Geissorhiza.radians -- Bill Dijk, Tauranga, New Zealand
Gelasine elongata (syn G.azurea) Bill Dijk, Tauranga, New Zealand
Griffinia species are small, but fun. And on to the biggies like Griffinia hyacinthina--Kevin D. Preuss, Florida
Herbertia species including Herbertia pulchella, a special, particular dark blue nicely shaped form of a real treasure.-- Bill Dijk, Tauranga, New Zealand
Ipheion 'Rolf Fiedler' -- This is very easy to grow and such nice shade of blue. I think it's the best colored of the blue Ipheion/ I. uniflorum cultivars. At peak bloom a pot will be covered with creamy sky blue flowers -- Lee Poulsen, Southern California, USDA Zone 9-10; Can't be beaten for true blue colouring -- Sheila Burrow, Perth, Western Australia.
Iris -- The range of blues is incredible. I especially like those that have a picotee edge -- Kathy Stokmanis, Sierra foothills, Northern California. Bearded Iris - various cultivars, all shades of blue. Some may not be completely true blue, but they're close enough and come in shades from dark to very pale -- Lee Poulsen, Southern California, USDA Zone 9-10; Regardless of series, there seem to be good blues throughout the genus; irrespective of bulb vs. rhizome -- Boyce Tankersley, Illinois
Iris cycloglossa -- Bill Dijk, Tauranga, New Zealand
Iris sibirica cultivars -- Mary Sue Ittner
Lapeirousia oreogena Bill Dijk, Tauranga, New Zealand
Leucocoryne species and hybrids, showy, long-lasting with the added bonus of delectable perfume--Bill Dijk, Tauranga, New Zealand
Leucocoryne coquimbensis -- This species I really like is blue with a white center -- Mary Sue Ittner, California's North Coast. They are very long flowering bulbs and have a delightful perfume. The cut flowers can last up to 4 weeks in a vase. I believe these are the Queen of blue flowers :-) Sheila Burrow, Perth, Western Australia.
Lycoris sprengeri with almost totally electric blue flowers exist, but none are named or common. Jim Waddick, Kansas City, Missouri ; Lycoris sprengeri buds -- The blue is so electric that you can't help but notice it. And when it is in bud, the bluer bulbs look almost completely neon blue. Lee Poulsen, Southern California, USDA Zone 9-10
Moraea villosa 'Zoe', Moraea loubseri, Bill Dijk, Tauranga, New Zealand; can't remember the specific species, but these were in the Research greenhouse at Mobot, part of Peter Goldblatt's taxonomic collection. Boyce Tankersley, Illinois
Muscari. How to pick just one favorite blue? Boyce Tankersley, Illinois
Nemastylis geminiflora -- I couldn't believe that a native to the central Texas hill country where I grew up could be so pretty and so blue. Lee Poulsen, Southern California, USDA Zone 9-10
Nymphaea caerulea and some of its hybrids. Yes, these are waterlilies. Jim McKenney, Montgomery County, Maryland
Orthrosanthus are nice too-- Mary Sue Ittner, California's North Coast
Pasithea caerulea is a very nice blue -- Mary Sue Ittner, California's North Coast
Salvia patens 'Cambridge Blue' -- Liz Waterman, Northern California; Salvia patens -- Mary Sue Ittner, California's North Coast
Scilla -- Scilla lingulata -- The strain that Harold Koopowitz brought to one of Cathy Craig's get-togethers was a wonderful shade of blue. Lee Poulsen, Southern California, USDA Zone 9-10
Scilla peruviana -- of which I have the blue and a purple form, Sheila Burrow, Perth, Western Australia.
Scilla siberica is the best of the blues -- Boyce Tankersley, Illinois; Almost any of the blue Scilla siberica are top of the 'blue list' whether just typical, seed grown or named forms; they all have a rich blue color and are nearly fool proof here. They self sow, but not vigorously; enough to spread comfortably. Jim Waddick, Kansas City, Missouri
Tecophilaea cyanocrocus -- the charmer, treasure and envy of all the blue flowers -- Bill Dijk, Tauranga, New Zealand Of all the blue flowers I've grown this one reigns supreme. Not only is it the bluest flower I've grown, it is also the most intense hue of blue I've grown-- Lee Poulsen, Southern California, USDA Zone 9-10. Apparently can't grow them well in my climate, but it doesn't really matter -- Boyce Tankersley, Illinois. Favorite ones I don't grow yet -- Kathy Stokmanis, Sierra foothills, Northern California. The queen of blue bulbs, but the queen of blue flowers generally. -- Rodger Whitlock, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
Tecophilaea cyanocrocus var. leichtlinii but I don't like them as much as Leucocoryne -- Sheila Burrow, Perth, Western Australia. Slow to bloom for me from seed and even from corms changing hemispheres and not lasting very long, but a beautiful color. -- Mary Sue Ittner, California's North Coast
Thelymitra -- beautiful blue species terrestrial orchids from Australia, Tsuh Yang Chen
Triteleia laxa, largely because there are so many different shades of blue and lilac to be seen in different locations. I think the cobalt blue of the species as seen in Humboldt county, referrred to as 'Humboldt Star'. Then there is the form found in Fresno County that the Robinetts called 'Sierra Giant' or 'Dinnerplate' Laxa, which has unusually large flower heads (diameter as large as a dinner plate) and comes in a very soft lilac color. It grows 3 feet tall in some locations and is lovely to see blooming in the dark shade of a Live Oak. -- Nancy Gilbert, Northern California
Tropaeolum azureum, Bill Dijk, Tauranga, New Zealand
Worsleya procera (syn. Worselya rayneri) -- Bill Dijk, Tauranga, New Zealand. You could grow old and grey waiting for the pleasures of the blooms, but these lilac flowers offers some of the nicest hues of "blue" in the amaryllidaceae. Kevin D. Preuss, Florida
Zephyra elegans -- A photo I saw made me want to grow this one, Lee Poulsen, Southern California, USDA Zone 9-10
Lee Poulsen, Southern California, USDA Zone 9-10, nominated his favorite Teal/Cyan/Aquamarine/Blue-green/Turquoise flowers since he felt it was unlikely there would be a topic just for them. Pictures of them are shown below.
Ixia viridiflora -- Everyone just stops and stares at this Ixia when it is in bloom.
Lachenalia viridiflora -- A stunning color and a very showy Lachenalia.
