Throughout history, purple was a color that the royals and the wealthy kept for themselves. Thankfully, times have changed, and anyone can enjoy this majestic color. Planting purple flowers in a garden is an excellent way to incorporate the color into your life.True purple flowers are rare in nature, but that doesn’t mean you’ll have trouble finding a selection to choose from if you’re seeking purple blooms for a special occasion or to plant in your garden. Combine purple flowers in a variety of hues, sizes, and shapes to create a visually striking, purple theme. Design an English-style flower display, mixing vibrant purple flowers with various pastel-colored blooms. No matter what colors you choose, purple flowers will provide an opulent focal point.
Sea Holly plants have long-lasting blooms
If you’re looking for an out-of-the-ordinary flower choice for your garden, consider the striking, thistle-like, sea holly plant. Its iridescent flowers and silver leaves are mesmerizing. This perennial is perfect for both containers or borders, and it enjoys an extended bloom time through the summer months. As a cut flower, the sea holly stays beautiful for a long time, making it perfect for a bouquet. This plant needs full sun and regular watering, usually once per week, unless the heat is extreme.
Clematis is the queen of climbers
Once you’ve successfully grown a clematis, you’ll likely become a lifelong fan. Available in a wide selection of sizes and colors, the purple clematis is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful. The clematis grows on a vine, some of which can reach 10 to 20 feet, so it needs some sort of trellis to thrive. Other varieties fit nicely in pots on your patio. The blooms reach 5 to 6 inches across, but others are small, bell-shaped, or double blossoms. These plants love sunshine and well-drained soil that’s slightly alkaline.
Lupine is a favorite flower among pollinators
Beginning gardeners and professional growers alike love the lupine flower, a member of the pea family. The vivid, cone-shaped flowers bloom in late spring or early summer. This easy-to-grow plant needs full sun unless the summer heat is extreme. In those areas, partial shade is better. In some areas, these perennials can grow as annuals. Bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds love this plant, so if you’re seeking ways to attract pollinators to your garden, this is a perfect choice. The purple blooms also create an appealing and elegant bouquet.
The dwarf Iris grows in pine forests
The beautiful dwarf Iris is native to eastern parts of the country and usually grows in dry pine forests. The dwarf iris only grows to about 6 inches in height. The violet blooms are like the larger irises, consisting of three sepals that face downward and three upright petals. A fuzzy crest on the sepals is a distinguishing characteristic. They bloom in early spring. You can grow them from bulbs, preferably in a location with good light and well-drained soil.
Ornamental alliums are hardy, sensational show-stoppers
The allium is an excellent combination of eye-catching elegance, drought tolerance, and pest resistance, making it a perfect choice for an easy-to-care-for garden. They belong to the same family as onions, shallots, and garlic. You’ll find purple alliums in an array of bloom types, from large globes to drumstick shapes, to those that look like exploding, violet-hued fireworks. These plants love sunlight. Plant bulbs in the fall, and they’ll bloom in early summer.
Lavender has a heavenly scent, but insects aren’t a fan
A perennial that loves hot sun and dry soil, lavender is an excellent choice for flower gardens. The perfect bouquet flower, they work well as a fresh-cut flower or in a dried arrangement. Its fragrant scent makes it a favorite choice for creating sachets and potpourri. Lavender has silvery-green foliage and upright purple flower spikes that bloom from June through August. They serve as a natural pest repellent when planted around porches or patios.
Bellflowers are vigorous growers with a variety of flower shapes
Whether you prefer bell, star, or tubular-shaped blooms, you’ll love the diversity and beauty of the bellflower, a member of the Campanula family. Choose from upright growers that reach a height of up to 3 feet, or go for low-growing plants with vibrant colors and lush green leaves to add color and vibrancy. Light shade or full sun is best, and they favor growing zones with regular snow cover. They bloom from early to mid-summer, but with proper deadheading, they may continue their showy colors into the fall.
Wisteria vines are vigorous growers once established
Clusters of fragrant flowers are just a part of the wisteria’s appeal. These plants bloom in the spring but continue into the early summer months. Purple is the most popular color, but you’ll also find other shades, including blues, whites, and pinks. The wisteria requires at least 6 hours of full sun per day. Their foliage drops in the fall. Train them to grow over pergolas or arbors for shade cover. You’ll love the graceful appearance of the hanging floral bundles. Once the blooms have faded, listen for the popping sounds of its ripened seedpods bursting and ejecting the seeds out into the world.
Monkshood is a challenging plant that’s worth the effort
Don’t plant these purple flowers in gardens that children or pets can access. Monkshood is a poisonous plant. However, for those gardeners seeking an unusual and challenging plant project, look no further than this dignified bloomer. Not only does the plant produce magnificent purple-cone blossoms, but it also grows attractive, hand-shaped, bright-green foliage. It grows best in spots with morning sun and afternoon shade, with moist but well-drained soil. Just be sure to wear gloves when working near the plant.
Candytuft blooms in cloud-like mounds
Although the most common blooms are white, this evergreen also has varieties that produce purple or pink globes as well. A member of the mustard family, these plants are great choices for rock gardens and low borders. They prefer well-drained soil but tolerate a wide range of soil types. Candytuft grows well from seed when planted in spring and prefers to be in a spot that gets full sun. The purple flowers are attractive additions to cottage gardens and small spaces.