“Blue Bird” is a wonderful addition to any garden with its highly decorative flowers. Similar to the “Teller Blue”, this varietal has large, lacecap flowers, with a centre of fertile florets, surrounded by more decorative, sterile flowers. These exterior flowers will be a light shade of blue and the innermost fertile buds with take on a striking lavender-colour depending on the acidity of the soil. This requires soils below 6.5 pH. In addition to the pleasant natural arrangement of flowers and with the overall rounded features of the shrub, these plants work well being a part of mixed flowerbeds or as feature plants in a bed or container. Although these plants can tolerate sunny areas, they prefer partially shaded areas. The ground must remain moist. As such, mulching is recommended. So, any areas where they are used, should be kept well-watered, but also well-drained. For colder weather concerns, these plants do well in all areas in the UK and can easily tolerate harsh temperatures down to -10°C. If below this, they should be better protected, especially in areas with strong and dry winter winds. They do, however, present a wonderful autumn colour change in their leaves as well.
