Mountain slopes, coastal scrub and high desert pockets each host their own surprising blooms, and some of the bluest among them are rare enough to warrant special attention. This list gathers species you might only spot on specific hikes, in secluded valleys, or protected reserves.
There are 20 rare blue flowers, ranging from Big Bear Bluecurls to Turquoise Puya. For each entry you’ll find below the Scientific name,Native range,Rarity status so you can see where each grows and how threatened it is — whether it’s a local endemic or a species with scattered populations you’ll find below.
How can I tell these rare blue flowers apart from common blue garden varieties?
Look at size, habitat and floral structure: many rare blue species have distinctive calyces, unique leaf arrangements or grow only in very particular soils or elevations. Carry a field guide or use a plant ID app with GPS to compare the Scientific name and Native range from this list, and photograph multiple plant parts (flowers, leaves, seed pods) for accurate ID.
Are any of these rare blue flowers suitable for cultivation or conservation gardening?
Some can be grown from seed or cuttings if you replicate their native conditions (soil type, drainage, elevation, microclimate) and follow local regulations; others are protected and should not be collected from the wild. Check the Rarity status in the list and consult local conservation groups before attempting cultivation.
Rare Blue Flowers
| Common name | Scientific name | Native range | Rarity status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Himalayan Blue Poppy | Meconopsis gakyidiana | Bhutan, Eastern Himalayas | Endemic to high-altitude regions; difficult to cultivate. |
| Turquoise Puya | Puya berteroniana | Andes of Chile | Limited native range; very rare in cultivation. |
| Jade Vine | Strongylodon macrobotrys | Philippines | IUCN Vulnerable due to deforestation. |
| Chilean Blue Crocus | Tecophilaea cyanocrocus | Andes of Chile | IUCN Critically Endangered; once thought extinct in the wild. |
| Blue Leschenaultia | Lechenaultia biloba | Western Australia | Endemic to a specific region of Western Australia. |
| Blue Orchid | Vanda coerulea | Himalayas, Southeast Asia | IUCN Endangered due to over-collection and habitat loss. |
| Sky Pilot | Polemonium viscosum | Rocky Mountains, North America | Restricted to high-altitude alpine tundra and scree slopes. |
| Himalayan Gentian | Gentiana kurroo | Western Himalayas | IUCN Endangered due to over-collection for medicinal use. |
| Blue Toadie | Calectasia cyanea | Western Australia | IUCN Vulnerable. |
| Parish’s Larkspur | Delphinium parishii | Mojave Desert, USA | Desert endemic with a limited range. |
| Tharp’s Bluestar | Amsonia tharpii | Texas, USA | Rare and endemic to a small area of Texas. |
| Shamrock Pea | Parochetus communis | Asia and Africa | Locally common in its native range but rare in cultivation. |
| Sichuan Corydalis | Corydalis flexuosa | Sichuan, China | Endemic to a single province; wild populations are limited. |
| Blue Lips | Sclerochiton harveyanus | South Africa | Not endangered but has a limited native distribution. |
| Blue Devil | Eryngium ovinum | Australia | Endemic to grasslands and woodlands of SE Australia. |
| Gentian Sage | Salvia patens | Central Mexico | Not endangered but has a limited native range. |
| Soapwort Gentian | Gentiana saponaria | Eastern North America | Considered threatened or endangered in several US states. |
| Blue Poppy-wort | Stylophorum sutchuenense | Central China | Rare and endemic to a limited region in China. |
| Big Bear Bluecurls | Trichostema micranthum | California, USA | CNPS listed as Critically Imperiled. |
| Turquoise Ixia | Ixia viridiflora | South Africa | Locally threatened; very rare and sought-after in cultivation. |
Images and Descriptions
Himalayan Blue Poppy
The national flower of Bhutan, this legendary plant produces breathtaking, sky-blue, poppy-like flowers. It thrives only in cool, moist, high-altitude conditions above 3,500 meters, making it exceptionally rare in gardens and a treasure to behold in its native mountain habitat.
Turquoise Puya
This spectacular bromeliad produces a towering 3-meter spike of shocking metallic turquoise-blue flowers with bright orange anthers. It is pollinated by birds in its native habitat and its otherworldly color and grand size make it a highly sought-after but rarely seen botanical wonder.
Jade Vine
This woody vine from the Philippine rainforests is famous for its cascading trusses of luminous, claw-shaped, blue-green flowers. The unique turquoise color is almost unseen elsewhere in the plant kingdom, and its habitat is under threat, making this incredible species increasingly rare.
Chilean Blue Crocus
This tiny bulb produces an incredibly intense, gentian-blue flower with a white throat, a true jewel of the high Andes. Rediscovered in 2001 after being presumed extinct for decades, it remains one of the world’s rarest and most sought-after bulbs for specialist growers.
Blue Leschenaultia
Arguably one of the most stunning blue wildflowers, this small shrub produces masses of brilliant sky-blue to deep-blue fan-shaped flowers. It is notoriously difficult to cultivate outside its native sandy, well-drained soils, making it a rare sight in gardens worldwide.
Blue Orchid
One of the few truly blue orchids, this species displays stunning, long-lasting flowers with a tessellated pattern of sky blue to deep violet-blue. Its rarity and beauty have made it a prized species for both collectors and for creating modern blue orchid hybrids.
Sky Pilot
This hardy alpine plant, also known as Skunky Jacob’s Ladder, produces clusters of bell-shaped, sky-blue flowers above 3,000 meters. Its specialized habitat on high mountain peaks makes it a rare find, accessible only to dedicated hikers and mountaineers.
Himalayan Gentian
This gentian is prized for its large, trumpet-shaped flowers of a deep, pure blue with a speckled throat. It grows on grassy, rocky slopes in the Himalayas but is now endangered due to its roots being harvested for traditional medicine, making wild sightings very rare.
Blue Toadie
Known as the Star of Bethlehem, this small, rush-like plant produces brilliant metallic blue, star-shaped flowers that can last for months. It is native to a small region of Western Australia and is considered vulnerable due to land clearing and habitat loss.
Parish’s Larkspur
A surprising flash of vibrant color in a harsh landscape, this wildflower produces spires of intense sky-blue to gentian-blue flowers. It is found only in the dry, rocky washes of the Mojave and Sonoran deserts, blooming briefly after winter rains.
Tharp’s Bluestar
This very rare perennial has pale, sky-blue, star-shaped flowers that appear in small clusters. It is a tough plant adapted to gypsum soils in its extremely limited native range, making it a focus for conservation efforts and a rarity for plant enthusiasts.
Shamrock Pea
Also known as Blue Oxalis, this creeping, clover-like plant produces surprisingly vibrant, cobalt-blue, sweet pea-shaped flowers. While widespread in its native mountain habitats, it is a delicate and uncommon plant for gardeners to cultivate, prized for its unique foliage and flower color.
Sichuan Corydalis
This woodland plant is famous for its clusters of electric-blue, tubular flowers held above delicate, ferny foliage. While cultivars are now available, the true wild species is restricted to the mountains of Sichuan, making it a rare and coveted plant for shade gardens.
Blue Lips
This unusual shrub produces fascinating flowers with a large, five-lobed lower petal of sky-blue and four smaller, white upper petals, resembling a pair of lips. It is an uncommon and striking plant from a specific region of South Africa, rarely seen in cultivation.
Blue Devil
This prickly perennial sends up branched stems topped with globe-shaped, thistle-like flower heads in an intense, metallic blue color. The entire upper portion of the plant can turn blue, making it a startlingly beautiful and uncommon sight in its native grassy habitats.
Gentian Sage
Famed for having one of the purest and most intense blue flowers in the plant world, this Salvia produces large, deep-blue blossoms on tall stems. While available from specialist nurseries, its restricted natural habitat makes it a rare species in the wild.
Soapwort Gentian
This gentian features clusters of beautiful, club-shaped, brilliant blue flowers that often remain closed, resembling little bottles. It is native to moist meadows and wetlands but has become rare due to habitat loss, making its discovery a special treat for wildflower lovers.
Blue Poppy-wort
A rare relative of the common Celandine Poppy, this stunning woodland plant produces delicate, cup-shaped flowers of a clear, pale sky blue. It is almost unknown in cultivation and remains a very rare and desirable plant, found only in its native Chinese habitat.
Big Bear Bluecurls
One of California’s rarest wildflowers, this tiny annual is found only in a few moist pebble plains in the San Bernardino Mountains. It produces tiny, curved, blue-purple flowers and is highly threatened by habitat degradation, making it a critical focus for conservation.
Turquoise Ixia
This South African bulb produces perhaps the most shockingly beautiful flower color imaginable: a bright, metallic turquoise-green with a deep purple-black center. It is a rare gem from the Western Cape, prized by collectors but threatened by agriculture in its native range.
