Teal is a beautiful bluish-green color found in nature. When it comes to flowers, the teal color is less common but there are some real teal flowers that exist. In this article, we will explore what teal flowers are, examples of real teal flowers, and how to grow your own teal flowers.
What are teal flowers?
Teal flowers refer to flowers that have petals or foliage in a bluish-green teal color. The teal color comes from a mix of blue and green pigments in the plant. While most flowers come in reds, pinks, purples, whites, and yellows, finding flowers in a true teal shade is more rare.
Some teal flowers get their color from selective breeding by horticulturists who breed plants to develop new flower colors. Other teal flowers occur naturally in the wild through genetic variations that cause them to express the bluish-green teal pigments.
The teal color in flowers is created by anthocyanin pigments. Anthocyanins are water-soluble pigments that appear blue, purple, or red depending on the pH level. Teal anthocyanins are a more alkaline version of the pigment, causing the blue-green teal color.
Examples of real teal flowers
Here are some of the real teal flowers that can be found in nature or grown in gardens:
Chinese Hibiscus
The Chinese hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis) is a tropical shrub that produces large, ornate flowers in a variety of colors including bold teal shades. The teal Chinese hibiscus has petals layered like crepe paper with a mix of green and blue hues.
African Iris
The African iris (Dietes iridioides) produces white and teal flowers on long stalks. The falls, or lower petals, contain beautiful teal and purple markings. African irises do well in dry climates.
Columbine
Some species of columbine such as the Rocky Mountain columbine (Aquilegia caerulea) have teal sepals behind the spurred petals. Wild columbines spread by reseeding and come in a range of colors.
Orchids
There are over 25,000 species of orchids that come in an incredible diversity of colors and patterns. Some orchid varieties have teal-colored sepals and petals such as Vanda coerulea, Dendrobium anosmum, and hybrid teal phalaenopsis orchids.
daylily
Daylily cultivars such as ‘Pandora’s Box’, ‘Blue Eyed Daylily’, and ‘Ocean Treasure’ have flowers in greenish-blue shades. Daylilies are perennial plants with each flower lasting only one day.
Hydrangea
The popular hydrangea shrub can produce flowers in blue and teal shades based on soil pH. More alkaline soils result in teal hydrangea blooms. Popular teal varieties include Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Nikko Blue’ and Hydrangea serrata ‘Bluebird’.
Morning glory
Some types of morning glory such as Ipomoea tricolor have flowers that open white and fade to teal or turquoise shades. Morning glories are fast-growing climbing vines.
Pansy
Teal pansies can provide cool teal accents to gardens and flower beds. The ‘Ocean Orange’ pansy cultivar has ruffled orange and teal petals while the ‘Antique Mahogany’ pansy has purple-centered flowers edged in teal.
| Flower | Colors | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Chinese Hibiscus | Teal | Tropical shrub |
| African Iris | Teal, purple | Perennial |
| Columbine | Blue, teal | Perennial |
| Orchids | Teal, white | Tropical |
| Daylily | Green, blue | Perennial |
| Hydrangea | Blue, teal | Shrub |
| Morning Glory | White to teal | Vine |
| Pansy | Teal, orange, purple | Annual |
How to grow teal flowers
Here are some tips for growing your own teal flowers:
Select teal flower varieties – Seek out seeds and plants labeled as teal or blue-green. Focus on types known to produce teal blooms like hydrangeas, columbines, irises, and certain orchids.
Provide well-draining soil – Enrich soil with compost or manure to improve drainage. Most plants with blue/teal blooms prefer evenly moist, well-draining soil. Avoid soils that are constantly soggy.
Give full sun to partial shade – Position plants in an area with at least 4-6 hours of sunlight per day. Morning sun is ideal for teal blooms. Some shade is appreciated in hot climates.
Water 1-2 inches per week – Water thoroughly when top few inches of soil become dry. Proper watering encourages healthy growth and vibrant teal blooms.
Fertilize monthly – Use a balanced liquid fertilizer or slow-release granular fertilizer. Fertilizing helps intensify flower colors.
Prune spent blooms – Deadhead faded flowers to encourage reblooming. For hydrangeas, prune selectively to shape shrubs.
Watch soil pH – For blue-flowering plants like hydrangeas, aim for more alkaline soil with a pH between 6.0-6.5. Acidic soils below 5.5 will cause pink or red blooms.
With the right growing conditions, many of these teal-colored beauties can add a splash of color to your garden with their unique bluish-green blossoms.
Conclusion
While pure teal flowers are uncommon in nature, there are a number of real flowers that exhibit stunning teal, blue-green hues. Chinese hibiscus, African irises, columbines, orchids, and hydrangeas are among flowering plants that can display teal petals or foliage. With selective breeding and cultivation, horticulturists have also developed teal versions of flowers like daylilies, morning glories, and pansies. Gardners can grow their own teal blooms by choosing vibrant teal varieties and providing optimal growing conditions like proper sunlight, drainage, water, and pH levels. The striking teal blossoms make a eye-catching addition to any garden.
