Teal is a beautiful blue-green color that can be found in nature. When thinking of teal flowers, there are a few options that come to mind. In this article, we will explore some of the flowers that exhibit teal tones and help identify what flower is truly the color teal.
Defining the Color Teal
Before identifying flowers that are teal, it’s important to understand exactly what color teal is. Teal sits between blue and green on the color spectrum. It is a cool tone created by combining blue and green pigments. The hexadecimal code for teal is #008080. This code signifies a color made from 0% red, 50% green, and 50% blue.
Some descriptive words for teal are aqua, sea green, peacock blue, and green-blue. It’s a tranquil color that conjures up images of the ocean and water. When visualizing teal, think of the Caribbean Sea or turquoise jewelry.
Flowers in the Blue-Green Family
When searching for teal flowers, there are a few different varieties across the blue-green color family that contain teal tones:
Morning Glory
Morning glories come in a wide range of colors, including many shades of blue and blue-green. The Heavenly Blue morning glory can exhibit a vibrant teal color in its petals. This annual flowering vine thrives in full sun and blooms throughout the summer.
Hydrangea
The popular hydrangea shrub produces large clusters of showy flowers. There are cultivars of hydrangea that bloom in aqua-blue and teal shades, such as Nikko Blue. The color of hydrangeas can change based on soil pH, but teal varieties maintain their signature hue.
Iris
Many irises display a diverse palette of blues, purples, whites, and yellows. The iris family includes smaller teal irises like Dwarf Blue Elf and the larger Dutch Iris in more greenish-blue tones. These perennials bring a pop of spring color to the garden.
Allium
Ornamental alliums are known for their spherical flower heads composed of dozens of star-shaped blossoms. Allium caeruleum features deep blue flowers with hints of teal on the petal tips. This plant flowers in late spring and makes an intriguing garden accent.
Pansy
Free-flowering pansies come in a rainbow of colors. Some pansy varieties have faces that blend blue and green for a striking teal effect. The Cool Wave series includes spreading pansies in teal swirl and frosty blue/teal shades perfect for containers.
Rose
Blue and purple roses are rare in nature, with most roses exhibiting red, pink, white, or yellow tones. However, flower breeders have developed deep lavender-blue roses that meet in the middle with teal shades, such as the Blue Girl rose. These unique roses add a pop of color that contrasts with most warm-toned roses.
Orchid
The incredible diversity of orchid flowers includes some varieties in teal, blue-green, and turquoise colors. Examples are Vanda coerulea, Dendrobium anosmum, and Paphiopedilum hybrides. The flowers of these exotic orchids make them prized collector’s items.
Tulip
While most tulips are known for their red, yellow, pink or purple flowers, certain tulip hybrids fall into the blue-green spectrum. The singular ‘Teal’ tulip has ruffled petals in a matte, grayish teal shade. Other tulips like ‘Blue Heron’ and ‘Blue Parrot’ offer blossoms blending blue, purple and sea green.
Lisianthus
The lisianthus bears elegant, rose-like blooms on long, straight stems. Breeders have selected for lisianthus in every color, including greenish-blue cultivars. Lisianthus grown in teal shades, such as ‘Blue Eyes’, make exceptional cut flowers.
Cornflower
Cornflowers, also known as bachelor’s buttons, are annuals native to Europe’s countryside. The blue cornflower (Centaurea cyanus) can produce blooms with a touch of teal along with shades of dark blue. These easy-to-grow flowers self-seed readily in the garden.
True Teal Flowers
After reviewing numerous flower varieties that contain teal tones, we can identify two flowers that are truly the archetypal teal in color:
Teal Lisianthus
While lisianthus comes in many shades of blue, only a few specific cultivars match the quintessential teal color. The ‘Teal’ lisianthus features semi-double blooms in a perfect teal hue with no purple or green undertones. Other true teal lisianthus include ‘Ocean Breeze’ and ‘Turquoise Blue’.
Teal Hydrangea
As a classic teal flower, hydrangea’s color can be modified by soil pH but some varieties stay true teal. Hydrangea macrosiphon ‘Teal’ keeps beautiful teal-blue blooms all season long regardless of soil chemistry. Other reliably teal hydrangeas are ‘Forever Teal’ and ‘Endless Summer Twist-n-Shout’.
Factors that Influence Flower Color
Though we’ve identified the teal lisianthus and hydrangea as “true teal” flowers, it’s important to understand the factors that can influence flower color intensity and shading:
Soil pH
The pH level of the soil affects how certain pigments form in some flowers. Blue and purple anthocyanin pigments are more intensely expressed in acidic soils. This means bluish flowers like hydrangea can shift from blue to pink based on pH.
Light Exposure
The amount of sunlight a flower receives impacts color. Intense sunlight causes some blues and purples to fade, while shade enhances these cool tones. Placement and lighting can strengthen teal shades.
Temperature
Growing conditions like cool weather can intensify purples and blues in flowers. Warm temperatures tend to mute these colors. This is why many early-blooming spring flowers in temperate regions display the boldest blues.
Watering
Proper soil moisture is key to vivid flower color. Both underwatering and overwatering can impair pigment development. Consistent watering when the soil dries out aids flowers in achieving their truest intended colors.
Flower Age
The maturity of the flower influences coloration. Younger blossoms often exhibit more intense, saturated hues. As flowers age and decline, colors tend to fade and mix, losing vibrancy.
Comparing Teal Flowers
To get a better visual understanding of how teal flowers compare, here is a table highlighting examples of popular teal flower varieties:
| Flower | Variety | Color Characteristics |
|---|---|---|
| Morning Glory | Heavenly Blue | Bright blue with hints of teal |
| Iris | Dwarf Blue Elf | Small teal blue blossoms |
| Hydrangea | Nikko Blue | Large clustered flowers in blue/teal tones |
| Lisianthus | Teal | Clear teal petals with no other undertones |
| Allium | caeruleum | Small starry flowers in teal tips |
| Rose | Blue Girl | Lavender-blue blooms with teal shades |
| Tulip | Teal | Ruffled gray teal petals |
| Pansy | Cool Wave Teal Swirl | Multi-colored faces in blue, yellow and teal |
Caring for Teal Flowers
To help teal blooms thrive, keep these tips in mind:
– For hydrangea, amend the soil to lower pH if needed to induce blue/teal tones
– Choose locations with some shade to prevent teal colors from fading
– Deadhead spent flowers to encourage more teal blooms
– Water thoroughly when top inch of soil is dry to prevent color loss
– Use fertilizers higher in phosphorus to promote vivid flower color
– Plant in well-draining soil and avoid overwatering
With the right care, many flowers can achieve their deepest teal shades in the garden.
Combining Teal Flowers in the Landscape
Teal flowers pair beautifully with other colors in the landscape:
– Contrast with warm shades like orange, peach, and yellow
– Complement purples, blues, and pinks for a cool palette
– Add an unexpected pop of color beside white and silver foliage
– Tone down bright reds, fuchsias, and hot pinks
– juvenate a spring garden when paired with pastel tulips and irises
For containers, match teal flowers with coordinating pot colors or metallic accents. In bouquets and floral arrangements, teal provides a unifying color when combined with an assortment of blue, purple and green flowers.
Conclusion
Teal is an eye-catching floral color that instantly livens up any garden. While many flowers exhibit teal tones, lisianthus and hydrangea best epitomize a true teal. Providing optimal growing conditions allows teal flowers to flourish. Showcase these aquatic hues in borders, bouquets, and planters for a tranquil touch of the tropics. Let teal flowers transport you to the shores of a blue lagoon.