10 Bewitching Blue Flowers That Look Almost Unreal – Start Them From Seed This Winter for a Long Summer of Color

True blue flowers have an almost otherworldly look – so vivid it’s easy to imagine they’ve been AI-generated. Blue is the rarest color in nature, and most “blue” flowers actually lean purple, so when plants reveal unmistakable shades of navy, sapphire, cerulean, or powder blue, they’re a sight to behold in the garden.

The good news is that many blue flowers can be grown from seed, with late winter sowing offering a valuable head start on the growing season. Start them indoors now and they’ll be ready to plant out as soon as the last frost has passed.

Our pick of bewitching blue flowers proves that the most magical colors in the garden aren’t artificial – or quite as rare as they seem – and they’re exactly the kind of blues-busting therapy we all need during the dark days of winter.

1. Bachelor Buttons

Bachelor buttons, also known as cornflowers, are such an easy way to add true blue to the garden. Their crisp, clear blooms radiate from dark centers on slender stems, and bring a light, airy feel to gardens.

Fast-growing annuals, bachelor buttons are very straightforward to grow from seed with these TKE Farms & Gardens seeds, from Amazon. They respond well to early sowing indoors in late winter, which ensures earlier blooms once they’re planted out in spring.

Bachelor buttons are not just bewitching to gardeners – they're also magnets for bees and other pollinators, making them all-round must-haves in USDA zones 2–11.

2. Lobelia

Lobelia is a gorgeous flower that’s famous for its vibrant blue blooms, making it perfect for dreaming about on winter days. These tiny, trailing flowers create a sea of blue that looks stunning edging borders, hanging baskets, or window boxes.

Starting lobelia from seed in winter is surprisingly easy. These Welldales Blue Lobelia Seeds from Amazon are ideal. Sprinkle the fine seeds on the surface of moist seed compost and gently press them in without covering them. Keep the tray in a warm spot indoors, and you’ll see sprouts within a couple of weeks. By the time spring arrives, you’ll have lush plants ready to transform your garden.

3. Delphiniums

Delphiniums are among those rare flowers that appear as true blue. These tall, elegant spires add drama to the back of borders in USDA zones 3–7, and are favorites of bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.

There are plenty of blue delphinium varieties to choose from, but Burpee's Dasante Blue Delphinium Seeds are a standout option if you’re after rich color and reliable performance. This variety produces striking deep-blue flowers that add wow to modern and cottage gardens alike.

As short-lived perennial flowers, delphiniums offer great value for money, as you should get at least two flowerings. If you wait until spring to plant them, they are unlikely to flower until next year, but starting the seeds indoors in winter will give you a good chance of seeing blooms this summer.

4. Blue Flax

Blue flax (Linum perenne) is a perennial meadow flower that produces a carpet of delicate, sky-blue blooms on fine stems for a soft, natural look that softens borders. While each flower is short-lived, plants bloom in quick succession, giving weeks of continuous color.

This hardy beauty is easy to grow from seed with these Outsidepride Blue Flax Seeds on Amazon, and can be started indoors in late winter for earlier flowering. Blue flax prefers full sun and well-drained soil, thriving in zones 3–9, and once established, it’s relatively drought-tolerant and low-maintenance.

5. Nigella

Nigella, often called Love-in-a-Mist, is a truly bewitching flower known for its delicate, fern-like foliage that appears as mist around stunning blue blooms. Grow them all in blue or as a gorgeous color mix, like with these Outsidepride Jewels Mix Nigella Seeds from Amazon, which combine different shades of blue with white and pastel pinks.

These unique annual flowers are surprisingly easy to grow from seed in zones 2–11, even in winter. Start them in a cool, bright location indoors before transplanting in early spring. Their vivid flowers will appear from June to September.

6. California Bluebell

The California bluebell (Phacelia campanularia) is prized for its intensely blue, bell-shaped flowers, which are among the most vivid blues you can grow from seed. This compact annual flower is native to the deserts of California, and its striking blue hues are especially effective when paired with softer pastels or silvery foliage.

These Seed Needs California Bluebell Seeds, available via Amazon, can be started indoors in late winter for earlier blooms, or sown directly outdoors once temperatures begin to rise. California bluebell prefers full sun and well-drained soil in zones 9–10, but can be grown in as cool as zone 5 with the right care.

7. Jacob's Ladder

Jacob's ladder (Polemonium caeruleum) is a beautiful choice for adding blue blooms to your garden. These delicate flowers, named for their ladder-like foliage, produce stunning clusters of soft blue petals that brighten any space. Even better, you can start them in winter with these Blue Pearl seeds, from Pase Seeds via Amazon.

This hardy perennial thrives in cooler temperatures, and sowing seeds indoors during the colder months gives them a head start for spring planting. Simply plant the seeds in trays of moist soil, keep them in a cool, bright spot, and watch them sprout.

8. Cerinthe

Cerinthe, also known as honeywort or blue shrimp plant, is a fascinating plant that stands out with its unusual, tubular blooms that appear in shades of blue to purple. These flowers, paired with silvery-green foliage, create a striking and elegant display.

Even better, you can start them from seed in winter with these Outsidepride Cerinthe Major Honeywort Seeds from Amazon. Cerinthe seeds are large and easy to handle – simply sow them in pots of moist compost and cover lightly with soil. Place the pots in a bright, cool spot, and come spring, you’ll have strong seedlings ready to fill your garden with their captivating beauty.

9. Himalayan Blue Poppy

If you're seeking a rare blue flower and aren't afraid of a challenge, then the Himalayan blue poppy (Meconopsis) is the one for you. Varieties such as the reliable ‘Lingholm’ (available from Ferri Seeds) have a spectacular electric blue pigment that's hard to match, but they are particular about their growing conditions. They're also perennial in zones 5–8, so you'll get to enjoy their display for years to come.

Blue poppies are best sown in late winter, as the seeds benefit from a period of cold stratification to trigger germination. Given the right conditions – moist, acidic, humus-rich soil and some protection from summer heat – they reward patient gardeners in cooler regions with the most spectacular blue blooms.

10. Globe Thistles

Globe thistles (Echinops) are a bold choice for the garden, with their striking spherical flowers in shades of metallic blue. These unique blooms sit atop tall stems, creating a dramatic and architectural effect.

Globe thistles are not only eye-catching but also attract bees and butterflies, and often keep flowering until September for late season color. You can start them from seed in winter or pre-order them as roots now from Eden Brothers and plant them out in spring.