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Finally!! A 'true blue' flower!!
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Posted by perennialfan273 zone 5 (My Page) on Tue, Jan 26, 10 at 23:26
| Okay, I can't take all the credit for finding this (most of it, but not all of it lol). The more I research plants, the more I realize how much diversity there really is in the world of plants, and with diversity comes much beauty. People have been asking for a "true blue" flowering plant, and while I was doing a google search for plectranthus "silver shield" last night, I also stumbled upon this...
Plectranthus thyrsoideus
Below is a link to the picture of the plant. For most people, this will actually be a tender perennial, so you'll have to keep it in a pot or take cuttings and overwinter it if you want to enjoy it year after year (I know that's what I'll have to do). Now tell me when you see this picture that you don't want to grow this plant! I bet you can't!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/gerris2/3356491234/in/set-72157611894705651/ |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Finally!! A 'true blue' flower!!
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| Oh, that is blue! I looked up other photos and all seem true to color. The mass of blooms is pretty amazing in the photos, too. Yes, I covet. :-) Cameron |
RE: Finally!! A 'true blue' flower!!
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| new trick for you under the box you type in... it says .... Optional Link URL: copy/paste your link there ... then below type in something pithy like LINK ... lol ... and you will have a clickable link in your post .. link below ... note how most often pix are taken in shade ... but it is blue ken |
Here is a link that might be useful: link
RE: Finally!! A 'true blue' flower!!
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| "Now tell me when you see this picture that you don't want to grow this plant! I bet you can't!" Despite how appealing the photos are, it should be mentioned that this plant (once known as Coleus thyroides) is typically a winter bloomer, and most people will need a greenhouse to get maximal flowering. I grew it for a couple of years and it was a shy bloomer under lights. If anyone has gotten a big flowering show in a border during the growing season, I'd like to hear about it. |
RE: Finally!! A 'true blue' flower!!
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| Thanks for sharing about the beautiful plant. Longwood is near Philadelphia so must be z6, probably wouldn't do well in my zone. I remember that long thread last year about the true blues. I've decided that to some extent, the shade of blue is a function of the ph of your soil, but not the only determinant. Anyway, when I looked up that plant at Longwood (gorgeous), I found this most interesting article, worth the read, about a plant (Encephalartos woodii aka Wood's Cycad) that has gone extinct in nature; can only be reproduce by "pups" as there are no females to cross pollinate it with. Fascinating. 
And the Plectranthus thyrsoideus: 
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Here is a link that might be useful: King of the Conservatory
RE: Finally!! A 'true blue' flower!!
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| BTW .. what is an UN-true blue .... is sky blue not true ... navy not true cerulean blue not true??? .. or wait.. that is sky blue ... is a forget me not untrue???? .. and if it is untrue.. then lets forget about it ... ken, who is apparently bored |
Here is a link that might be useful: link
RE: Finally!! A 'true blue' flower!!
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- Posted by dicot Los Angeles (My Page) on
Fri, Jan 29, 10 at 15:42
| My Plectranthus neochilus is in bloom right now, but it definitely has a lavender tint to the blue petals. 
Salvia sinaloensis says "bah" to there not being other true blue perennials. |
RE: Finally!! A 'true blue' flower!!
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| And, note that it is growing in the conservatory at Longwood, not outside! Too bad :( |
RE: Finally!! A 'true blue' flower!!
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| For your possible interest... I enjoyed the following Timber Press book a few years ago: A Book of Blue Flowers, by Robert Geneve. It included many pictures. Will have to check to see if I wrote a review. There may be a copy in your local library. ~ Hilda www.bostongardens.com |
RE: Finally!! A 'true blue' flower!!
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| Okay, as or right now I officially HATE Longwood Gardens. I called them up to ask them about this plant and they won't sell it to anyone in their gift shop because they "don't want anyone else to have it". Furthermore, they wouldn't even tell me where I can get it!! I'm sorry, but this is just plain mean!! I finally found a beautiful blue flowering plant and now I can't get it. |
RE: Finally!! A 'true blue' flower!!
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| I like the Anchusas for their very blue flowers. Anchusa azurea 'Loddon Royalist' and others |
RE: Finally!! A 'true blue' flower!!
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| There are mail-order nurseries selling Coleus thyrsoideus (one that comes to mind is Logee's). |
RE: Finally!! A 'true blue' flower!!
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| Eric, would I possibly be able to trade you in spring for some of this plant?? I really don't like dealing with mail order nurseries. |
RE: Finally!! A 'true blue' flower!!
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| It's nice, but as Ken says, there are other blues. No one can tell me my geranium Rozanne is not blue, or my Johnson's Blue. I still think my Virginia Bluebells are blue, though sky blue. I was on a blue kick a while back and have a fair bit of blue. I can sympathize on the issue, though, of purple or violet flowers being called blue.(like some salvias like May Night.) There is nothing wrong with purple, just call it that. |
RE: Finally!! A 'true blue' flower!!
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| This thread is not about that Cycad, but my new T&M catalog came today, and I see that they have a couple of Cycads (not that rare one) that look like the photo other than the color of the flower. One has pretty leaves that appear almost white, but the seeds are expensive, of course. |
RE: Finally!! A 'true blue' flower!!
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| All the Lithodora 'Grace Ward' that came in work today looked pretty blue, but that's probably because we have a whole nursery full of bareroots and leafy winter veggies to compare too :P As soon as you get two 'blue' plants together, the difference is dramatic. However, Delphinium grandiflorum 'Blue Butterfly' is one of those solid-blue flowers that puts all the other violets and lavenders to shame. |
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