If you’ve ever searched for naturally blue flowers in nature, you’ll understand why in Shrek Fiona sent Donkey on a mission to find a blue flower with red thorns when Shrek got struck by an arrow … she needed to send Donkey on a distracting and nearly impossible mission. Nature simply doesn’t like making blue things. In fact, true blue pigmentation is extremely rare in botanical biology — which makes blue wedding blooms both one of the most requested colors and one of the most challenging colors in wedding floral design.
And here’s where this gets personal for me.
Every time a bride tells me, “I’m thinking blue for my wedding,” my brain instantly flashes to that moment in Shrek where Fiona sends Donkey into the forest to find the impossible. There he is, running around shouting:
“Blue flower, red thorns! Blue flower, red thorns! This would be so much easier if I wasn’t colorblind!”
And then — miraculously — he finds a perfectly blooming blue hydrangea bush with red thorns just growing casually in the forest.
Which… trust me… does. not. happen.
If those existed, I would be cultivating an entire enchanted grove behind my studio.
But the truth is, blue florals are rare, finicky, seasonally limited, and sometimes unpredictable — which is exactly why I love working with them. Designing with blue requires intentionality, creativity, and a deep understanding of what nature actually gives us. And when done right?
It creates a color story that feels timeless, romantic, and impossibly elegant.
So while Donkey may have had to trek through the woods shouting at himself, you don’t have to. Here’s what’s real, what’s possible, and how we bring blue wedding florals to life at Flowers by Lily Garland.
Why Blue Is So Rare in Nature
Most plants rely on pigments like:
- Chlorophyll (greens)
- Carotenoids (yellows/oranges)
- Anthocyanins (reds/purples)
But true blue?
Nature didn’t exactly prioritize that option on the palette.
This is why the natural blue spectrum is limited to softer hues like powder, sky, and soft royal blue. And it’s also why many brides come in dreaming of navy florals, only to discover that deep blue blooms simply don’t grow naturally.
But don’t worry — we’re never without beautiful options.
The Blue Flowers We Love Using
Despite blue being rare, nature gives us a few beautiful standouts:
💙 Hydrangeas: Classic, lush, and romantic. The most consistently available natural blue flower — though still not with red thorns (sorry Donkey).
💙 Delphinium (Light & Dark Blue): Tall, airy, elegant, and perfect for adding dimension and vertical movement.
💙 Nigella (“Love-in-a-Mist”): Soft, whimsical, perfectly textured. A favorite for garden-style bouquets.
💙 Bachelor Buttons: A deeper, almost royal blue — lovely for accenting and it grows local in the PNW! Which is a plus not only for the freshness but also your budget.
💙 Tweedia: Yes, it’s blue. Yes, it’s pretty. And yes… its milky sap makes my hands itch and its leaves shed at the slightest provocation. Tweedia is one of those flowers that if you want it in you bouquet, you have to request it by name — because otherwise I’ll probably pretend it doesn’t exist in your inspiration pictures.
💙 Pom-poms: Just recently they were genetically modified and now come naturally (not died) and available in a few different shades of blue. They tend to lean slightly periwinkle or a touch lavender.
💙 Died blue roses: Newer to emerge, they can add a beautiful touch to weddings. I find that I like them better when mixed with other colors or naturally blue flowers. As a stand alone flower they tend to look died and unnatural unless mixed in correctly.
💙 Additional Textural Elements
- Viburnum berries
- Thistle
Is Blue Trending for Weddings?
Honestly?
Blue isn’t a trend — it’s a classic.
And year after year, these palettes remain timeless favorites:
- White + greenery
- White + soft blue
- White + blush
Blue has this elegant, calming quality that photographs beautifully and complements nearly every style, from coastal to garden to modern romantic.
Blue isn’t going anywhere. It’s here to stay.
Final Thoughts
Blue flowers may be rare in nature, but they remain one of the most beautiful — and beloved — choices for wedding florals. With the right combination of natural and supplemental elements, we can create a blue palette that feels harmonious, timeless, and deeply personal.
So whether you’re dreaming of soft powder-blue accents or a bold, elegant true blue story, we’ll make your vision come alive — no enchanted forest required.
(But if you do hear someone shouting “blue flower, red thorns,” just know I’m laughing right there with you.)
