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Name: blue flower perennial lance shape lvs

Posted by steelskies 4 (My Page) on
Thu, May 10, 12 at 15:34

Help anyone. I saw a perennial today that I've never seen before. It has lance shape leaves in a clump, and darker blue flowers also in a spike type shape. I think the man said it started with an "A". (not any iris type). It is in zone 4.


Follow-Up Postings:

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RE: Name: blue flower perennial lance shape lvs

Not knowing what you have and have not seen , it is hard to tell. How big/tall was the plant? I cannot imagine anything blue in zone 4 other than bulbs(Hiacynth, Muscari). Some violets can be bluish. Arrow-leaved violet?


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RE: Name: blue flower perennial lance shape lvs

Pulmonaria?

What sorts of things are in bloom there now? To give us a sense of the timing.


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RE: Name: blue flower perennial lance shape lvs

  • Posted by remy 6WNY (My Page) on
    Thu, May 10, 12 at 17:26

Was it something at a nursery? It is possible that the bloom was ahead of schedule for zone 4.
Remy


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RE: Name: blue flower perennial lance shape lvs

Muscari? Spanish bluebells? (might be too early for the bluebells, though...)


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RE: Name: blue flower perennial lance shape lvs

Are you sure it started with an A?
Maybe Adenophora?
Could it be Aquilegia? (Colorado columbines can be Blue-purple)


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RE: Name: blue flower perennial lance shape lvs

It was at an older man's residence who was selling a bunch of perennials. But he wasn't selling this one; he said he would have to wait until next year to divide it. I HAVE to know what it was so I need to go back there and (hopefully) won't buy any more plants from him!!!! I already bought a fern leaf peony, a red peony, bachelor buttons, perennial verbena, and something else from him today, and tons more last year!!!

It is not columbine, lady bells or iris. I'll post when I find out.


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RE: Name: blue flower perennial lance shape lvs

Knowing where you are might help.


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RE: Name: blue flower perennial lance shape lvs

Two dark blue spiky flowers that come to mind are Salvias and Veronicas?
Echinops and Eryngium have blue spiky ball shaped flowers.
That's all I can think of currently.
Can you go back and take a pic of it?
Michelle


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RE: Name: blue flower perennial lance shape lvs

  • Posted by mytime 3/4 Alaska (My Page) on
    Fri, May 11, 12 at 10:42

This question is driving me crazy. Since none of us can think of a correct spring blooming perennial, I'm going on the assumption that they were started from seed indoors or in a greenhouse and are ahead of their bloom time. What about lupine? I know the leaves aren't lance-shaped, but if it was a quick look, I suppose they could be mistaken for such. Another is campanula glomerata. What about Agapanthus (hey, it starts with 'A')?
The other thing I came up with, in addition to many of those the rest of you suggested, is a primula. Are there any "blue enough to be called blue" that send up a spike?


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RE: Name: blue flower perennial lance shape lvs

Anchusa? member of the borage family, very, very good deep blue.


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RE: Name: blue flower perennial lance shape lvs

Lance-shaped leaves and blue flowers sounds like centaurea montana (Mountain Bluet) to me. I have the 'Amethyst in Snow' that is white with a purple eye, but I used to grow the blue variety.

Cameron

Here is a link that might be useful: centaurea montana


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RE: Name: blue flower perennial lance shape lvs

I'm going back today to take a picture and ask the nice man the name again. Even though its quite a drive for me. This is driving ME crazy too. I LOVE blue flowers and this one looked different.

I took a look at Brent & Becky's online catalog (what a treat!!!) and it might be camassia? Will try to post a picture when I get it.


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Camassia! blue flower perennial lance shape lvs

I drove to the mans house who had this plant. He said it was camassia (don't know if thats spelled right). I did take pictures, but not sure how to post.


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RE: Name: blue flower perennial lance shape lvs

I have those, they're pretty trouble-free and easy to grow. Bulbs of the common species are available in the fall from the larger bulb vendors, such as Van Engelen.

http://vanengelen.com/catview.cgi?_fn=Product&_category=Best:Camassia

Here is a link that might be useful: You can eat them, too:


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RE: Name: blue flower perennial lance shape lvs

Starts with an 'A', and has blue flowers. Sounds like an amsonia. Perhaps amsonia hubrichtii or amsonia ciliata. Would have to see some pictures.


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