A Book of Blue Flowers

Perhaps the most uncommon hue in the plant kingdom, the color blue strikes a distinctive note in any garden. In this fascinating book, now available in paperback, Robert Geneve provides a wide selection of blue flowers that will help readers expand the range of colors in their gardening palettes — from powder blue and turquoise to navy and violet. A well-traveled garden visitor and gifted photographer, the author has included more than 150 stunning photos of blue flowers from gardens around the world. A Book of Blue Flowers is an ideal handbook for gardeners of all skill levels and in any climate.

Media reviews of this book:

"By including plants from the USA, Australia, Asia, and Europe the author has ensured that this book's appeal is wide-ranging."

—Christine Shaw, Gardens Illustrated, September 2001

"If blue is the color you seek in garden flowers, this book has plenty of ideas for you."

—American Gardener, July/August 2001

"Every gardener can use this book to get the most blue flower color into beds and borders."

—Barbara Blossom Ashmun, Fine Gardening, May/June 2001

"[We] owe him thanks for organizing blue flowers into an easy-to-use reference book. "

—Joanne S. Carpender, National Gardener, March 2001

"Beautiful color photographs illustrate Geneve's handsome highly accessible resource, offering valuable guidance and lots of ideas for gardeners of all levels."

—Booklist, September 15, 2000

Customer reviews of this book:

"Really interesting, great selection of plants, lots of useful information."

—Susanne S. from Arvada, Colorado, May 4, 2006

"Wonderful!"

—Helen S. from Chapel Hill, North Carolina, January 30, 2006

"Very helpful. Blue is one of my favorite colors for the garden. This book will come in handy next spring when I make my flower selections. Thank you!"

—Keith B. from Felton, Pennsylvania, September 19, 2005

"Beautiful book. Some blue flowers are growing in my garden right now."

—Akiko K. from Mito-shi, Japan, August 18, 2005

"What a wonderful book! Mr. Geneve covers everything so well that I am left with no questions!"

—M. B. from Garyville, Louisiana, June 1, 2005

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An excerpt from this book:

Blue is not a common color in plant organs other than flowers. Our view of the world would be quite different if a segment of deciduous plants had brilliant blue-colored leaves included with the reds and yellows that dominate fall. Red as a fall color is the result of unmasking and intensifying anthocyanins as chlorophyll breaks down in the leaf. Since blue is one manifestation of anthocyanin pigments, I am not sure why it is not found in fall colors except that it may be related to the cellular pH in senescing leaves. It suggests that blue as a flower color has advantages for attracting pollinators that warranted its evolution in flowers ...

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