Blue trailers for hanging baskets/planters

So, having planned and ordered the plants months ago for the window planters and baskets around one of the buildings at work, the boss threw us a 'curve ball' today.

We've been asked if we can plant them up with a mixture of red, white and blue flowers, which need to be looking good from early June onwards.

The reds and whites aren't really a problem, we've used Surfinias for a few years now and they always perform well. Our usual supplier has a good selection in red and white, so if we can get them in time we'll be happy.

However, we're not sure what to use for blue. We could go for Lobelias of course, but apart from those, are there any other good blue flowered trailing plants anyone can recommend?

 

Suttons have Red, White and Blue Petunias (I think) in their Jubilee / Olympic Celebration range:

http://www.suttons.co.uk/Gardening/...Celebration+Bedding+Pack+Plus+Flag_MH2910.htm



and they also have a celebration pack for hanging baskets:

http://www.suttons.co.uk/Gardening/...elebration+Plant+Collection_MH2860.htm#221581

which seems to be Calibrachoa Superbells Red Devil, Lobelia Panthera Cobalt and Verbena Superbena White if that is any help?

 

The only two I can think of are blue Pansies and Ageratums, though the Ageratums might be a little tall.

In the past I've seen dwarf sweet peas hanging from baskets, 2 to 3ft long, it's quite effective, but these will obviously be a paler blue than you require.

 

Blue trailing Verbena

 

There are blue Bacopa which is a lovely trailing plant . Or the double blue bacopa shown below . I am trying them for the first time this year. Ordered them Tuesday night arrived today - huge plugs the best I have ever seen Then again I dont know how this variety performs ............
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/18-x-BACO...arden_PlantsSeedsBulbs_JN&hash=item3372aef6cb

 

I would stick to red white and blue Surfinas, Lobelia and Bacopa can sometimes be hidden by petunias over time.

 

Laurentia, I grew the white one last year and it was great in the baskets, very long flowering and vigorous, the blue one looks pretty too

 

Thanks for the replies and suggestions.

In the end we decided to stick with our original idea of using red and white Surfinias and blue Lobelia. Would like to have tried some of the others, but we've got to have them established and flowering well by early June, so we're going to play it safe and stick with what we know.

It's true that Lobelia can be swamped by Surfinias, but we've allowed for that by increasing the number of Lobelia. Also, the displays have to be at their best for around 6 weeks from early June to late July and it's unlikely that the Lobelia would get crowded out during that period.

Like the look of Bacpoa and Laurentia, will probably give those a try next year. We've grown red Verbenas before, but never tried the blue ones, so may try those in future too.

Once again, thanks for all your suggestions, if all goes according to plan* I will post some photos of the end results in June/July.

*If it doesn't go according to plan, you can all say I told you so!

 

Hopin I won't need to read the small print on this "contract"

Hope it goes well and you have a smashing display.

 

So, here's an update as promised.
We received the plants around the third week in May, got the baskets and containers planted up fairly soon afterwards and despite some cool and wet weather in early June, they've come on well and are now looking fairly good.

Window baskets, using a mix of Surfinia 'Red', Surfinia 'Snow' and Lobelia 'Fountains Blue'.




Same mix in these pots, but we've also planted Heliotrope 'Marine' in the centre of each pot to add some height.

 

Looking very nice trunky!