Cool Blue Flowers – The Best Picks for Hot Summer Gardens

Our favourites for the high summer months of January and February are ‘Twist Again’ and ‘Blue My Mind’. We have very good reasons for choosing them! 

Agapanthus ‘Twist Again’

Andy de Wet Plant Breeders, the growers of legendary agapanthus varieties treasured the world over, commented on a YouTube video that even a young nursery-grown Agapanthus ‘Twist Again’ will be in the ‘twisting groove’ with the flowers it produces. In a three-month flowering phase from late spring to early autumn, this plant will carry flowering stems that have finished, others that are almost finished, and more that are coming again. Apart from this long-flowering capability, the umbels of tubular flowers are creamy when in bud, and white when fully open, each with a very dark blue basis and short stem. This makes them spectacular as garden and cut flowers! 

Care tips

• Plant in full sun to light shade – never hide our proudly South African agapanthus in very deep shade, as they will not bloom as they want to! 
• Enrich the soil with ample compost and fertilise throughout summer with a slow-releasing product to stimulate flower production. 
• Water regularly – although drought-hardy, they will perform much better if hydrated well. 

Mind-blowing blue

A much-lauded groundcover that is seldom not in flower is Evolvulus ‘Blue My Mind’with bright blue flowers and fuzzy silvery green leaves. This plant is super heat-resistant and does not require any deadheading or other maintenance. It performs best in full sun. ‘Blue My Mind’ is unfortunately very frost tender, but quite drought resistant when established, although the plant will be much lusher if watered regularly when the soil feels dry. 

Planting tip

Evolvulus ‘Blue My Mind’ 

‘Blue My Mind’ can be planted in hanging baskets, mixed containers, and as a spreading groundcover in sunny borders. Size is about 20 cm x 40 cm.