← Plant Guides

How to Grow Blue Daze

Wikimedia Commons

Blue Daze

Evolvulus glomeratus

flower

Blue Daze is a tender perennial flowering plant prized for its delicate, sky-blue trumpet-shaped flowers that bloom prolifically throughout warm seasons. It forms a low, mounding habit and is often grown as an annual in cooler climates. The fine, silvery-green foliage provides an elegant backdrop to its continuous flowering.

When should you plant Blue Daze in your zone?

Get a personalized planting timeline — when to start seeds, transplant, and harvest — based on your USDA zone and local frost dates. Free to start.

Get my Blue Daze timeline →

Example Blue Daze timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)

  1. Plant Blue Daze

    Around Apr 17

    Near Pittsburgh's average last spring frost.

  2. Tend & protect

    Late spring–summer

    Watering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.

  3. First Blue Daze blooms

    Around Jun 1

    ≈ 45 days after planting

Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Blue Daze dates for your own zip code.

Growing Conditions

☀️
Sun: Full sun, 6-8 hours daily; tolerates partial shade but blooms best in full sun
💧
Water: Moderate watering; drought-tolerant once established. Allow soil to dry slightly between waterings. Reduce watering in winter dormancy.
📏
Spacing: 12 inches
📅
Days to maturity: 45-60 days to first blooms from transplant
🌱
Planting depth: Transplants set at soil level; seeds sown on soil surface (light-dependent germination)

Soil

Type: Well-draining, sandy or sandy loam soil
pH: 6.0-7.0
Amendments:
perlite coarse sand compost

Growing Zones

Find your zone →

Thrives in zones 9b-11; grow as annual in cooler zones

9b 10a 10b 11a 11b

Sign up free to see if Blue Daze grows in your zone — and get a personalized planting timeline.

Get my Blue Daze timeline →

Growth Stages

1

Seedling

2-3 weeks

Tiny seedlings with fine cotyledons emerge; very delicate growth habit

Keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. Provide bright, indirect light. Maintain warm temperatures (70-75°F). Transplant when 2-3 true leaves develop.

2

Vegetative

3-4 weeks

Plant develops spreading, mounding stems with narrow, lance-shaped silvery-green leaves; no flowers yet

Pinch back growing tips to encourage bushier growth. Maintain warm conditions. Begin light feeding with balanced fertilizer every 2-3 weeks.

3

Flowering (Early)

2-3 weeks

First small clusters of delicate sky-blue trumpet flowers appear at branch tips; plant begins its show

Increase phosphorus fertilizer to support blooming. Maintain consistent moisture. Deadhead spent flowers to encourage more blooms.

4

Peak Bloom

8-12 weeks (can extend 16+ weeks in ideal conditions)

Plant is covered with abundant sky-blue flowers; mounding habit becomes more pronounced and rounded

Continue deadheading regularly. Water when top inch of soil is dry. Feed every 2-3 weeks with bloom-promoting fertilizer. Monitor for pests in hot weather.

5

Decline/Dormancy

Variable (4-6 months in cooler zones)

Flowering slows as temperatures cool; foliage may thin in late fall/winter; plant enters semi-dormant state

Reduce watering and fertilizer. In frost-prone areas, bring potted plants indoors or overwinter in greenhouse. Cut back in spring for new growth.

Companion Planting

Plan your garden →

Plant with:

Lantana Zinnia Desert marigold Salvia Gaura Calliopsis Esperanza Russian sage

Avoid planting near:

Heavy feeders that compete for nutrients Plants requiring consistently wet soil

Common Pests

  • Spray with neem oil or insecticidal soap; increase humidity and air circulation; mist foliage in hot weather

  • Use yellow sticky traps; apply insecticidal soap or neem oil; remove affected leaves

  • Spray with neem oil or insecticidal soap; dab with rubbing alcohol on cotton swab for minor infestations

  • Spray with strong water stream; apply neem oil or insecticidal soap; encourage beneficial insects

Uses

🌿

Garden borders and containers

Ornamental

Blue Daze's mounding habit, fine texture, and prolific sky-blue flowers make it ideal for edging, rock gardens, containers, and hanging baskets. Its low maintenance and drought tolerance once established make it perfect for xeriscaping. [source]

🦋

Pollinator nectar source

Wildlife

The delicate flowers attract bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects throughout the blooming season, providing essential nectar and supporting pollinator populations in the garden. [source]

🏠

Landscape design accent

Household

The silvery-green foliage and continuous blue blooms provide year-round visual interest in warm climates and seasonal color in cooler zones when grown as annuals. [source]

Harvest Tips

Not harvested for food. Deadhead spent flowers regularly by pinching off faded blooms just below the flower cluster to encourage continuous flowering throughout the season. Remove dead or diseased foliage as needed.

Fun Facts

  • 🌱 Blue Daze's scientific name Evolvulus comes from the Latin 'evolvere,' meaning to unroll or unfold, referring to the flower's opening pattern.
  • 🌱 The plant is sometimes called 'Dwarf Morning Glory' due to its trumpet-shaped flowers, though it is not related to Ipomoea morning glories.
  • 🌱 Blue Daze flowers open in morning sunlight and close as evening approaches, making it a solar-responsive flower that conserves energy.

Gardening Terms

New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:

Annual Deadhead Full Sun Partial Shade Perennial pH Pinch Back Transplant True Leaves
Shop Blue Daze plants and related plants at Plant Addicts →

Join 30,000 gardeners planning their gardens with LizPlants.

Get your personalized Blue Daze planting timeline

Tell us your zip code and we'll calculate exactly when to start Blue Daze seeds, transplant seedlings, and harvest — based on your USDA zone and local frost dates. Includes calendar reminders and printable task lists. Free to start.

Get my Blue Daze timeline →