How Do You Grow Those Striking “Blue Daze” Flowers?
If you’ve ever seen the striking blue daze flowers, also known as Evolvulus glomeratus or dwarf morning glory, chances are you wanted some for your own garden, front yard, or house. These plants have a unique bright blue color. Not purple that looks blue, but true blue, which is actually quite rare in the flower world. This delightful evergreen shrub grows very low to the ground, perfect for covering sizeable areas.
Blue Daze Flowers: Evolvulus Glomeratus
These funnel-shaped, small blue flowers are about one inch in diameter, and the plant itself will grow about two or three feet in each direction and about one foot high. They also need full sun and are hardy enough to offer their amazingly blue blooms during the entire summer all the way to the first frost. They’re resilient, so they will thrive and flourish in areas that are maybe too dry or hot to grow anything else.
Exploring the Breathtaking World of Blue Daze Varieties
There’s an undeniable charm to the wild, free-flowing beauty of flower gardens, and few species command such appeal as the enchanting Blue Daze. Known scientifically as Evolvulus glomeratus, Blue Daze is a tropical perennial famous for its radiant blue flowers that resemble miniature morning glories. Today, we will dive into two captivating varieties of this stunning plant: The Hawaiian Blue Eyes and the Dwarf Morning Glory.
Hawaiian Blue Eyes
Hawaiian Blue Eyes, a popular variety of Blue Daze, is a particular favorite among gardening enthusiasts due to its exotic charm and exceptional resilience. This species displays a profusion of striking true-blue flowers that emerge from the plant’s sprawling, vine-like stems. The Hawaiian Blue Eyes is named so due to its similarity to the morning glories found in Hawaii, the bright azure of the petals radiating an unmistakable island charm.
This tropical perennial thrives best in full sun exposure and prefers a sandy, well-drained soil mix. The plant’s low maintenance requirements make it an ideal choice for xeriscaping or seaside landscaping. It’s also well-suited to being grown as a ground cover or in hanging baskets where its trailing habit can be showcased beautifully.
Despite its tropical origins, the Hawaiian Blue Eyes demonstrates surprising cold hardiness and can withstand brief periods of frost. While the flowers tend to close in the afternoon or under cloudy conditions, each morning brings forth a new burst of vibrant blooms.
Dwarf Morning Glory
At first glance, the Dwarf Morning Glory might be mistaken for its larger cousin, the classic Morning Glory. This Blue Daze variety is known for its compact size and prolific blooming habit. Dwarf Morning Glory creates an enchanting display with its petite sky-blue flowers contrasting sharply with the plant’s silver-green foliage.
Like the Hawaiian Blue Eyes, the Dwarf Morning Glory prefers full sun and well-drained soil. However, this smaller variety makes it an excellent choice for container gardening. It’s also often used as a border plant or ground cover, creating a lovely “sea of blue” effect in full bloom.
Although it shares many characteristics with other Blue Daze varieties, the Dwarf Morning Glory stands out due to its more compact growth habit. This makes it ideal for gardeners who wish to enjoy the brilliant blue flowers of the Morning Glory family but have limited space to work with.
Full Sun, Dry Soil, Hot Temperatures
Encourage evolvulus blue daze flower to continuously bloom with its blue, ruffled petals using a slow-release fertilizer. The flowers will bloom during the day but expect them to close if there’s a rainstorm approaching or when night comes: a feature they share with their morning glory relatives. They’re ideally suited for ground cover, so try these blue flowers if you need borders for a walkway, garden, or porch.
These flowers are an excellent choice if your region has dry, arid soil with lots of sun and high temperatures. They can tolerate a little shade around midday, but if you try to plant these in an overly shady area, they probably won’t bloom. One of the best parts of this plant is that it doesn’t need to be watered constantly throughout the day. In fact, over-watering is a sure way to kill these beautiful plants.
Perfect for Coastal Gardens
This plant is actually a native of Paraguay and Brazil, which explains why it loves dry soil and lots and lots of sunlight. If you live in a coastal area, you may have difficulty finding flowers to tolerate the salt-filled spray from the ocean. Well, look no further—these flowers are not only gorgeous but can also easily handle salty climates, even direct spray, so they’re great for coastal gardens.
Ideal Soil Conditions
It’s crucial to remember this plant does not like wet soil, which will inevitably cause a deadly fungus that will kill it quickly. Even in the winter, these hardy plants don’t need much water. They’re rated USDA Zones 8-11, so if you live in a region with frost, plant them as an annual or in a pot that can be easily brought inside when the temperature drops.
When planting evolvulus blue daze flower as ground cover, it’s recommended to use mulch with a two- or three-inch layer of supplemental organic compost matter, which can retain the moisture that causes the fungus. Take the time to weed out competitors that can steal nutrients away from this plant, which is essential to keep its downy leaves looking full and the flowers bright blue.
Expect Rapid Growth
This plant is also very fast-growing, so it’s ideal for rapid cover, and the striking lavender-blue flowers are just a bonus. Another benefit of this plant is that it’s hardy regarding climate variations and is disease- and pest-free.
The only real issue with this plant is the fungus that can cause premature death. Not only does insufficient drainage cause this fatal problem, but over-watering, unusually high amounts of rain, and even overcrowding with other plants also can cause the fungus. Also, if there are lots of other flowers or weeds, these plants may not flower as magnificently as they would when grown independently.
Vivid and Bright Blue
The most spectacular aspect of these evolvulus blue daze flowers is by far their vivid blue color, something else they share with their close relative, the morning glory. In nature, blue is the rarest color, with only one in ten plants featuring the color, and of course, far fewer animals that can boast a true blue hue. The Blue Daze achieves this color by cleverly mixing naturally occurring pigments with some nifty tricks of light and reflections.
How to Care for These Flowers
While you already know that these flowers are suitable for ground cover, they’re also a perennial that will come back year after year, and they work just as well in hanging pots or containers. They’re also perfect for rock gardens, as they cascade attractively and cover bare spaces between stones. When hung in a pot, the tendrils and flowers will hang down over the pot’s sides with a pleasing effect.
They’re also self-cleaning, so you don’t have to spend any time deadheading to make it bloom again. However, deadheading can be done if desired. It does help encourage the blooms to return, but it’s not a necessity like it is with some other plants. Another great benefit of growing these beautiful flowers is that deer don’t really like it—so you don’t have to worry about waking up and seeing your flower bed has been munched down to the dirt.
When’s the Best Time to Plant?
The time to plant this sky-blue flower is in the late spring because they start blooming in early summer. Expect to see these fantastic flowers until it gets cold unless your region doesn’t get below freezing for the winter. If it does get really cold, this plant will die over the winter and return again for the spring, just like an old friend.
However, giving it a healthy cutback when the last freeze is done in spring is a good idea, which helps promote new growth. This plant will tolerate being cut about an inch or two away from the dirt’s surface. After the cutting, add some mulch, water, and some slow-release fertilizer. Before you know it, those fabulous blue flowers will be blooming again!
How to Plant
When planting as a border or in larger areas, it’s ideal to space the individual plants roughly a foot apart. It makes such a good border plant because the leaves and growth stay relatively close to the ground, even though this plant can grow a foot high when completely mature. This means there’s no need to spend more money on filler plants to cover up negative spaces—this plant fills in very well on its own.
Though it does well in average to moist soil conditions, growing in full sunlight is crucial. Expect rapid growth, and don’t worry about pH or flower beds soil type, as it’s hardy enough to thrive in just about any soil. Whether it’s a desert, warmer clime, or even the inner city, this plant has the chops to survive and flourish.
Suitable Landscapes
Evolvulus blue daze works well for any spaces that need to be filled in or even as a background cover meant to accent taller flowers. While it’s beautiful on its own or hung in planters, it’s when planted in huge borders or large areas that this stunning plant shines. If there’s enough of it, it quite literally looks like one giant carpet of dazzling blue flowers, which some even consider hypnotic, hence the name “blue daze.”
This plant has many different planting or landscaping options, including:
- Container planting
- Ground cover
- Large areas
- Alpine gardens
- Coastal/saltwater gardens
- Edging or borders
- Mass planting
No matter where you want to put these remarkable blue-flowering plants, they will impress any visitor. In fact, as long as these plants get full sunlight and proper drainage, they will thrive, making them a popular choice for growers of all skill levels. It’s perfect for growing in rock gardens by the beach. Or even just in good old American soil in your front yard.
The blue daze flowers are a striking addition to any garden. These beautiful plants come in various shades, shapes, and sizes. They have an average height of about 2 feet with large blooms up to 12 inches wide! If you want these gorgeous flowers for your own backyard, follow the steps below to grow them successfully. Subscribe today for more articles on how-to gardening tips like this one delivered straight to your inbox every month!
Blue Daze Diseases and Pests
While Blue Daze is a resilient plant, it isn’t completely immune to diseases and pests. Fungal diseases, such as root rot and leaf spot, can affect these plants, especially when grown in conditions that aren’t ideal. Overly wet or poor-draining soil can create a conducive environment for root rot, characterized by wilting plants and yellowing leaves.
Leaf spots can also occur due to fungal pathogens, often appearing as brown or black spots on the leaves. To combat these issues, ensure your Blue Daze is planted in well-draining soil, avoid over-watering, and remove any diseased leaves to prevent the spread of fungal spores.
When it comes to pests, Blue Daze is generally resistant to many common garden pests but can occasionally be bothered by aphids or spider mites. Aphids are tiny insects that suck sap from plant tissues, causing the leaves to turn yellow and curl. Spider mites, even smaller, can cause significant damage as they feed on plant sap, leading to yellow, speckled leaves and overall plant weakness.
If you notice these pests, you can often control them with insecticidal soap or by introducing beneficial insects like ladybugs to your garden, which are natural predators of these pests. Regularly monitoring your Blue Daze will help detect any pest infestations early, allowing you to manage them before they can cause significant damage.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you take care of blue daze plants?
Taking care of Blue Daze plants is relatively easy due to their low-maintenance nature. These plants thrive in full sunlight and prefer sandy, well-drained soil. Regular watering is essential, especially during the growing season, but make sure not to over-water, as this can cause root rot. Blue Daze plants can also benefit from occasional feeding with a balanced slow-release fertilizer during the growing season. Pruning, especially at the start of the growing season, helps to maintain the plant’s shape and encourages more vigorous growth.
Are Blue My Mind and Blue Daze the same?
While closely related and similar, Blue My Mind (Evolvulus hybrid) and Blue Daze (Evolvulus glomeratus) are different plants. Both belong to the same genus, Evolvulus and are known for their beautiful blue flowers. However, Blue My Mind is a newer hybrid variety known for its larger flowers and improved heat tolerance compared to traditional Blue Daze.
Is blue daze an indoor plant?
Blue Daze is primarily grown as an outdoor plant due to its love for full sun and its sprawling growth habit. However, it can be grown indoors with much light, such as on a sunny windowsill. Keep in mind that indoor Blue Daze plants will need careful watering to prevent waterlogging, as indoor conditions often have less evaporation than outdoor ones.
Where can you buy Blue Daze?
Blue Daze plants and seeds can be purchased from a variety of sources. Nurseries and garden centers often carry them, especially in areas with a suitable climate. Online retailers, such as Amazon, eBay, and gardening-specific sites, also offer Blue Daze plants or seeds for purchase. As always, buy from a reputable source to ensure the plants’ or seeds’ health and quality.
Final Words
The Blue Daze plant is an excellent choice for anyone looking to add a splash of blue to their garden or landscape. Its hardy, low-maintenance growth habit makes it easy to care for, and its beautiful flowers make it a great addition to any outdoor space. Whether you’re an experienced gardener or just starting, you’ll find these stunning plants worth the effort! So please don’t wait any longer; get some Blue Daze and enjoy their beauty today!
You can also check out our other gardening articles for more tips on keeping your garden healthy and looking its best. Happy planting! Subscribe today for more articles on how-to gardening tips like this one delivered straight to your inbox every month!
