I have 3 daughters and none would be classified as gardeners but over the last few years their interest has picked up. This morning I was surprised to have one ask, is there a true blue iris?

I am interested in finding out what everyone is growing. Thanks

Define "true blue". Blue comes in all sorts of shades, pale to deep.

I have and like ABSOLUTE TREASURE and NAVY BLUES, though you might consider the latter too violet.




If you can find AUTUMN SAPPHIRE, that seems to be blue-ish. (I'm not sure than mine is the true plant.)



You will more likely find "truer" blue shades in the pastels, than in deeper shades.

I think Absolute Treasure and AUTUMN SAPPHIRE are nice blues. I agree the darker ones lean toward purple undertones. Thanks for posting.

There is no such thing as true blue in plants OR animals with the exception of the blue (true blue) monarch butterfly.

All the "blue" flowers we have are not really blue.

As for great growers, check out Procrastinator. I could send you a start! It blooms very late in the season for me.

Monty, that is lovely! I need that one for the name too, lol! I would love to do a trade or postage for it.

Monty, that photo of Procrastinator is beautiful. Please upload it to the database!

I meant to, I guess I shall do that now

Teresa - We'll touch back on that soon

Caribbean Queen, although not a blue self, is an amazing blue Amoena, and is a good grower.

Hard To Resist, an with an Emma Cook pattern, is another very nice blue and very good grower.

Stan Coates is a nice baby blue iris.

I've only had Busy Being Blue for a couple of years, but it seems to be a good bloomer. It is one of my earliest iris, which I like.


I've grown Neptune's Cloak for many years. It is a good increaser and reliable bloomer.


I only got this last year, but it bloomed in a pot, which I thought is a good sign.

All three of these are as close to true blue as you'll find in an iris, IMO.

Sky and Sun is on my next Winterberry order, Andrea. I am so excited to have it coming.

BUSY BEING BLUE is shorter than I generally like, and it could use more ruffling, but I can't fault the color (definitely pale blue) and its consistent and reliable early season bloom is the reason I still keep it around.

I know we've had a blue conversation in the past. I recall Mer du Sud mentioned as a pretty good deep blue. It is on my want list:


I have Color Me Blue, which is a good grower for me and a true light blue:

Procrastinator is very pretty---nice form! It must be named for its bloom time.

Laurie, that's my theory too! It blooms as one of my last to open. I am very happy with this one. I'll always have it

OMG Monty.. There are TONS of blue flowers. Gentian, Forget Me Nots, Plumbago, Cynoglossum, Ceratostigma, Lobelia, Brunnera, Morning glory, Delphinium, Baby Blue Eyes, Salvias... and on and on..

And Monarch butterflies are orange and black... not a trace of blue..

Most of my favorites have already been mentioned.. Here are some others..
'Blue Sapphire'


'Waterline'


'Sapphire Hills'


'Ocean Liner'

I had never heard of a blue monarch, but I looked it up and there is such a species. However, it doesn't have much true blue from the pictures I saw. There are bluer butterflies...
Blue Monarch Tirumala petiverana (an African species):
https://www.inaturalist.org/ta...

Other blue butterflies:
https://australianbutterflies....

The above website says there are no true blue pigments in plants, but I disagree. Certain anthocyanin pigments in flowers are blue.

Blues were always my favorite. (and, LOTS of birds have blue)

Sometimes it is difficult to get a true color with photos, but I try.

Good old 'Sea Power'



'Blue Reflection'




Dwarf 'Forever Blue' (reblooms-a lot) This one was always hard to photograph. Much better in person.

Bonnie, that picture of Sea Power deserves to be put in the database. Simply stunning!