Purple flowers are among the most striking and versatile flowers for any garden. You can use them to add drama and flair to an otherwise dull nook. Or, you can use them to balance out other bold colors.
However you choose to use your purple flowers, one thing’s for certain. These beauties add appealing color and dimension to any outdoor space.
People Pleasing Purple Flowers
You will find purple more versatile than you had ever imagined. Purple creates a deeply vibrant contrast when paired with colors like pink or yellow, or you can blend them into a serene pool of blue flowers. Successfully adding purple flowers into your landscape and garden plan is easy once you consider all of your options.
This guide will help you look at the wide range of purples that Mother Nature has gifted to us all. Once you know what’s available to you, we are confident that you’ll agree. Your garden really can use a splash of purple pizazz.
Purple is a Balanced Color That Pleases the Human Eye
Purple pleases the human eye because it is a balanced color that combines cool blue undertones with warm red tones, and blends well into your garden, landscape, or floral arrangements.
If you love the color purple, you’re in luck because purple flowers come in all the options of plants, including herbs, shrubs and trees. In this article we’ll cover them all, so let’s go ahead and plow into the power of purple flowers for your yard and garden landscape, beginning with herbs.
“I must have flowers, always, and always.”
~Claude Monet, French Impressionist painter, 1840-1926
List of Purple Flowers
Here’s a list of all the purple flowers covered in this article. But like faces in a crowd, they mean more to us once we get to know them and place the name with the face and unique personality traits. So scroll on down and then stop by and visit with your favorites and get to know some new ones too.
Climbing Vines With Purple Flowers
Low Growing Plants and Ground Cover With Purple Flowers
- Balloon Flower
- Verbena – a hardy grower, great for erosion control
For more, see small perennial purple flowers and also wildflowers and weeds with purple flowers.
Herbs With Purple Flowers
Ornamental Purple Flowers
This first one is one of our favorites. The balloon flower’s purple petals start out sealed tightly together forming the appearance of a puffed up balloon.
- Balloon Flower
- Bluebeard
- Butterfly Bush
- Chrysanthemum
- Fuchsia
- Gerbera Daisy
- Iris
- Pansy
- Ranunculus
- Violas
Shrubs and Bushes With Purple Flowers
- Brunfelsia (see images on Amazon)
- Heather
- Hydrangea
- Lilacs
- Rhododendron
- Rose – purple roses
- Spiraea
Tall Ornamental Purple Flowers
- Calla Lily
- Hyacinth
- Grape Hyacinth (aka Bluebells)
- Larkspur
- Peony
- Spiderwort – (wild spiderwort is an edible wildflower)[1]https://www.ediblewildfood.com/spiderwort.aspx
- Wild Indigo (Baptisia)
Trees With Purple Flowers
PURPLE FLOWERS
What a wonderful world with so many beautiful flowers of all colors, shapes and sizes. When it comes to just purple flowers alone, there are too many for us to cover here, but this includes some of the most popular varieties of purple flowers to grow in North America.
Climbing Vines With Purple Flowers
Gardeners plant climbing vines for many reasons. Whether you want to fill in a trellis to add privacy or block the eyesore of a ramshackle outbuilding, climbing vines tend to spread quickly and add the coverage you need. Choosing purple flowering vines adds a dash of color that brightens up any garden space.
Bougainvillea – Bougainvillea
Bougainvillea buds open to reveal bright purple flowers with delicate looking fuschia and purple petals. They climb gracefully up a trellis or fence, but they also flourish in ornamental hanging baskets.
In the United States, gardeners grow them in zones 9 – 1 in South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, and Florida. They require a sub-tropical to a tropical environment for survival. Growers cultivate these to give a lush show of color in their gardens or patios.
Bougainvillea is a fairly pest-tolerant plant for the subtropical growing regions of zones 9-10.
Clematis – Clematis
Beginner gardeners often try their hand at growing clematis at the advice of their more seasoned counterparts. This climbing vine grows from spring through fall in cool and moderate climates.
Clematis needs a support structure as it can grow as much as 30 feet, giving a display of rich violet flowers from late summer to early fall in zones 5 – 9. In addition, you can train them to run the length of the garden to serve as ground cover.
We love our clematis for the prolific richly colored blossoms. We don’t remember the name of ours but it’s more maroon or burgundy than purple.
See our article on purple clematis for more of these beauties!
Clematis are prolific blooming vines that add vivid color to posts, rails, and fences from spring to fall, depending on the variety.
Morning Glory – Ipomoea
You’ll find morning glory vines stretching the broad range of zones 3 – 9. While they are perennials in warm climates, you can grow them as annuals in cooler zones.
They get their name from their purple blooms, which slowly open up in the morning hours each day and then begin to close shortly after opening.
In those zones, you can quickly cover an unsightly fence or train a vine to scale a wall. They grow so quickly that some consider them invasive. But don’t worry, if you maintain them, they won’t become too unruly.
Considered an invasive weed by some, morning glories are edible and medicinal, so you might take another look at this plant for more than blooms. Morning glory leaves are stir fried in Asian cooking and the dishes topped with the flowers.[2]https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/17/11/13132/htm#B40-molecules-17-13132
If you’re wondering whether morning glory is a plant poisonous for dogs, check it here.
Morning Glory vines eagerly take over, however, they’re edible with proven medicinal benefits.
Wisteria – Fabaceae
Wisteria is a purple climbing plant that arrived in the Eastern United States from the Far East nations of China and Japan in the early 1800s. These perennials are vigorous climbers and can reach as high as treetops if not trained to a fence or other support structure.
Wisteria is robust and grows quickly in zones 5 – 9. It can thrive in poor quality soil as long as it is kept moist but well-drained. You’ll love the sweet fragrance and the showy light purple blooms. However, careful pruning must be done regularly, or they will take over your entire garden.
But if you have an arbor or archways to decorate, wisteria is a excellent choice
Wisteria is a fast-growing, non-demanding climber, that can add a fantasy realm quality to yards and gardens in zones 5-9.
Passion flower – Passiflora
The passion flower is an exotic looking purple climbing flower with delicate tendrils looping gracefully off its vines. It’s a tropical flower with US distribution in the warm, southernmost parts of the nation in zones 7 – 10. Gardeners in those hot, moist climates prize the passion flower as an ornamental flower to accent their garden walls.
You can find variations of the species that will grow in cooler climates. However, they lack the rich purple hues of their tropical cousins.
The passion flower is used in the United States and Europe to relieve anxiety, restlessness, and insomnia. You can read more about passion flower benefits here.
Hummingbirds adore the sweet nectar of passion flowers, and humans enjoy the beauty and medicinal benefits in relief for stress, anxiety and insomnia.
Ground Cover With Purple Flowers
Balloon Flower – Platycodon grandiflora
The lovely balloon flower plant can grow well in full sun or partial shade. There is a low growing variety that average 7 inches tall and can serve as an attractive leafy green ground cover with purple flowers as well as white flowers and blue blossoms. You can read a lot more about it in our balloon flower article.
Herbs with Purple Flowers
To many gardeners, there’s nothing more satisfying than creating an herb garden. There, we can cultivate vibrant displays of color and pleasing fragrances. We love that most herbs have multiple uses, from seasoning for foods to remedies for ailments, to ornamental herbs with glorious displays of lush purple.
Here are some of the herbs with purple flowers.
Anise Hyssop
Agastache foeniculum
(pronounced: ag-ah-STAK-ee foe-NIK-yew-lum)
Anise Hyssop is a tall purple flowered plant in the mint family you’ll find in zones 3-8. Natural healers prize this herb for medicinal use in treating colds and coughs. It has small purple flowers with a cool, blue undertone.
Anise are native to the American prairies. Gardeners love to include hyssop as they are deer-resistant and drought-tolerant. In addition, they attract butterflies, hummingbirds, and bees.
Attractive to pollinators, anise hyssop is a drought tolerant culinary and medicinal herb growing in zones 3-8.
Catnip
Nepeta cataria (pronounced Nuh-PET-uh cat-AIR-ee-uh)
Catnip is definitely not just for cats! Plant them near your patio or deck in zones 4-8 because the purple flowers are also mosquito-repellent.
Just remember that for mosquito repellent plants to work they need to be crushed and rubbed on your skin or else made into a tincture and sprayed on.
Catnip is a perennial herb which grows to a medium height of 3 feet tall. Therefore, if you’re growing catnip, and can be use as a mid-size ornamental landscape with attractive purple flowers as a backdrop for ground covers (consider edible ground covers!) and low growing flowers.
Like the kitties that love this plant, catnip prefer to bask in full sun.
Plant catnip in full sun for a medium to tall landscape backdrop in zones 4-8.
Chives – Allium schoenoprasum
Plant chives for a medium height spiky plant with purple flowers. You’ll find chives are easy to grow in zones 3 – 10 as long as you plant them in a sunny spot with well-drained soil.
Chives don’t care for drought conditions. However, keep them watered and you’ll enjoy their yummy onion flavor from late spring into the fall.
RELATED ARTICLES: If you want to know how to grow chives or the difference between chives vs. green onions.
Chives thrive in sunny well-drained soil in zones 3-10.
Lavender – Lavandula
Lavender is a fragrant edible that is often used in French cuisine. You probably know them best for their pale purple, alluringly fragrant flowers.
Lavender flourishes in practically any type of soil as long you keep it well-drained. It can survive a winter in moderate climates zones 5-9 , but it must be taken indoors in colder zones.
RELATED: Growing lavender how to make lavender essential oil.
A fragrant herb for cosmetic, medicinal, culinary and aesthetic uses, grow lavender in full sun and well-drained soil in zones 5-9.
Marjoram – Origanum majorana
Marjoram is of the genus Origanum, same as oregano, but marjoram is a subtly sweeter, milder and less pungent herb. We find it interesting that many herbs have lavender or purple flowers. Marjorams buds are darker purple and the blossoms are pale lavender.
Marjoram, along with four other herbs with purple flowers shared in this guide, is one of the five most common herbs used in the French-Mediterranean seasoning blend, Herbs de Provence.
Oregano – Origanum vulgare
Oregano is a perennial herb prized in Mediterranean kitchens. In the US, you can grow it in zones 5 – 9. While it’s technically a perennial, it prefers a mild climate. Growers in cooler zones plant it annually.
It grows to a medium height and produces small purple flowers. It prefers a warmer, drier environment but will adapt to cool temperatures as long as it is planted in a drier spot.
Oregano prefers a warm, dry environment in zones 5-9, and is a favorite herb for flavor and healing.
Rosemary – Salvia rosmarinus, (formerly known as Rosemary officinalis)
Rosemary is a perennial herb with woody, evergreen needles and a pungent, healing fragrance. The blooms can be purple, white, blue, or pink flowers. While rosemary has a flavor of its own and not specifically mint in flavor, rosemary is a member of the mint family, Lamiaceae. It’s often used as an ornamental plant and can grow large enough to prune into a topiary.
Left unchecked, it takes on the appearance of a shrub with purple flowers, and in fact rosemary made it to our list of edible hedges.
See more on the benefits of rosemary here, and drying rosemary and other herbs here.
Rosemary is a care-free drought-tolerant culinary herb that will grow in zones 1-10.
Sage – Salvia officinalis
The culinary herb sage often conjures up images of a traditional Thanksgiving dinner. It’s a warm, earthy herb that packs a powerful flavor punch. Beyond food, sage is useful in home remedies for
The tall purple flowers on the sage plant are reminiscent of lavender flowers, and plant beautify any herb garden. The blooms range from shades of blue to purple. A Mediterranean native, sage is a hardy perennial in zones 5-8, with a preference toward milder climates.
Sage is a hardy perennial in zones 5-8, with edible, medicinal and ornamental value.
Savory – Satureja
Savory is a culinary herb cultivated in the Mediterranean regions from Morocco and France to the Middle East and southern Asia. The plant has a distinct savory aroma from which it takes its name.
The flowers are pale-pink and violet. They strongly prefer a warm, dry climate in zones 5 – 8 and are prone to failing under too much humidity or cold temperatures.
Throughout history, the finest French chefs have used herbs de Provence to enhance their culinary creations. The herbs add aromatic flavors that give layers of flavor to the food.
Herbs de Provence blends vary by chef and brand, however most have 5 staple ingredients in common. You can read more on that and get a simple Herbs de Provence recipe here. Interestingly, all but marjoram make our list of purple flower herbs!
Thyme – Thymus
Home cooks often cite thyme as a favorite in their kitchen gardens. The perennial herb produces compact, small purple flowers and grows well in zones 2-10.
While the culinary use of thyme is well-documented, natural healers have traditionally used it for wound healing due to its antimicrobial properties. Thyme can be lovely when used as an ornamental plant. It has hardy evergreen stems and requires little care.
Thyme is a favorite culinary and antimicrobial evergreen herb that grows well in zones 2-10.
Ornamental Purple Flowers
When you plant a garden with purple flowers, you’ll enjoy bright blossoms virtually all year long. From pansies that arrive in those earliest days of spring through the late autumn when chrysanthemums reign your garden, you’ll enjoy a picturesque view for most of the year.
Bluebeard – Caryopteris
Growers in drought zones plant perennial Bluebeards to conserve water. These rugged plants have dark green leaves and small purple flowers.
Bluebeards take their name from their lavender flowers that droop downward from the green stems to resemble a beard.
These are unassuming plants that require little care. Bluebeards prefer full sun to partial sun and thrive in loose, well-drained soil in zones 5-11. They are cold hardy and while they may go dormant in the winter, you’ll see them again with those first warm spring days.
Butterfly Bush – Asclepias tuberosa
Despite its name, the Butterfly Bush is more closely related to milkweed than shrubbery. It’s a perennial plant that thrives in a dry and sandy well-drained soil. Because of this preference, gardeners in drought-prone areas use this ornamental plant liberally.
You’ll find varieties of this plant in dark purple, orange, or red. These vibrant colors attract a wide variety of butterflies. In addition, the sweet nectar of the butterfly bush attracts hummingbirds and bees. Whether your goal is intense color or to attract pollinators, a butterfly bush makes a fantastic addition to your garden.
EDITOR’S NOTE: While butterfly bushes do tend to be drought tolerant, most also do well in consistently moist well-drained soil. We tend to have ample rain and few drought spells in our area of NC and ours does well. Meanwhile, a reader wrote in with this additional tip:
“The only butterfly bush I’ve ever seen was right under a broken rain spout. The man who planted it didn’t fix the spout precisely because the bush was the only one he had that survived.
The bush was in Ithaca, NY. It’s a very rainy climate, and that bush was getting all the water from the roof pouring over it whenever it rained. It was very wet, all the time.“
~K. Hindall, Ithaca, NY
So, the bottom line on the wonderful butterfly bush? It’s hardy, easy and adaptable to many conditions and locations!
Here you can find lots more on the wonderful butterfly bush varieties, pruning and more.
The butterfly bush is hardy for zones 5 – 9. Gardeners in zones 8 and 9 may find they remain evergreen.
Chrysanthemum – Chrysanthemum
The cheerful purple pom-pom flowers that are the hallmark of a chrysanthemum are a treasured sight every autumn from September to late November in zones 5 – 9. The lush flowers bloom in shades of bright purple, orange, yellow, red, or white.
A popular variation of chrysanthemums has an appearance more like a purple daisy and is often tucked into autumn bridal bouquets.
You may also hear gardeners refer to these flowers in the shortened name, “mum.” These flowers are quite hardy but do require watering, well-drained soil, and fertilization. You’ll be rewarded for your efforts when you get to show off your blooms in the fall.
Mums (Chrysanthemum), are favorite high performers for cut flower arrangements and bridal bouquets.
Fuchsia – Fuchsia
The fuchsia gives us gorgeous two-toned flowers. The delicate outer petals are pink or red but open to reveal a purple center. The contrast between the layers is breathtaking.
Technically, the fuchsia is a tropical tree originating in the Caribbean islands or zones 10 and 11. In other growing zones in the United States, we enjoy them as ornamental flowers in hanging baskets to decorate our patios after the threat of frost is past.
They are annuals in baskets and require moist, well-drained soil, plenty of sunlight, and deadheading of the spent flowers. Be sure to pull them inside if an unexpected dip in temperatures occurs.
The gorgeous tropical fuchsia makes for brilliant splashes of color as potted plants and hanging baskets in all zones. Prune or pinch to create new growth for new blooms.
Gerbera Daisy – Gerbera jamesonii
Common Names
- Gerbera daisy
- Transvaal daisy
- Barberton daisy
The true Gerbera Daisy originated in the tropical regions of Africa and Asia. What we in the United States call a Gerbera Daisy is actually a hybrid version of that same daisy that’s tolerant of our milder climates in zones 8-10.
In addition to purple, gerbera daisies come in white, pink, red, and yellow. The purple daisy has a range from a white purple to a lush, rich shade of purple.
They prefer well-drained moist soil, and will develop mold if left wet for too long.
Plant these perennials for ornamental use if you’re overrun with deer. The deer don’t find them palatable and will usually pass them up to find a new feast.
The beautiful and bold Gerbera Daisy (Gerbera), is a favorite long lasting cut flower for vibrant color in floral arrangements.
Iris – Iris germanica
Gardeners looking for a touch of flair in their garden know that the Iris won’t disappoint. It’s known to flourish in environments from semi-desert regions to river banks.
The bright purple Iris was named in honor of Greek Goddess Iris, the goddess of rainbows. It’s no surprise, as the violet flower is the same hue you’ll see in the purple of a clear rainbow.
The iris thrives in zones 8 – 11 and won’t fail to offer you a pop of color when used for ornamental purposes. While it prefers well-drained soil, it can withstand short periods of extreme wet.
Iris germanica – named after the Greek Goddess of Rainbows.
Pansy – Viola hortensis
The pansy is a wildly popular variation of the garden viola that flourishes in zones 4 – 10. Prized for their sunny yellow and purple flowers that cheer up gardens in cool climates, the pansy loves full to partial sun. However, it quickly withers in intense heat.
The hybrid garden pansy is a biennial plant. This means that it can bloom in those mild, cool temperatures for two years before it goes to seed and dies off. However, gardeners in warmer climates must treat these as annuals and replace them as they wither from the heat.
A garden viola that grows in zones 4-10, Pansies bloom early and can stand up to the cold but wither in the heat in warmer zones.
Violas – Viola
Growers in cool climates know that violets are some of the earliest flowers they can plant in the spring. In the southern US, gardeners place them in their fall flower beds for a burst of cheerful purple, white, or blue color.
Once planted, violets will open to reveal petals with a delicate, scallop shape. They love the warmth of the sun but do best in partial sun, especially in hotter climates.
You may also hear violas referred to as violets. There are over 500 species of violets, and some are annuals but others perennials. Therefore, you must read your seed packet carefully when selecting violas. You’ll enjoy planting violas in zones 5 – 10.
Tall Ornamental Purple Flowers
Purple stem flowers are a favorite of growers who cultivate cutting flowers. Popular for white and purple bridal bouquets try growing these long purple flowers, and you’ll always have the makings of fresh cut flowers on hand for your own home.
Hyacinth – Hyacinthus
The hyacinth is a pretty purple flower that adds sweet fragrance to your bouquet. They grow from bulbs and make their appearance from spring in warmer climates in zones 4 – 8.
They are native to the Eastern Mediterranean region and prefer warm temperatures and loose well-drained soil. You’re likely to attract bees and hummingbirds to your garden when you include these stunning purple plants.
Sweet scented hyacinths attract hummingbirds and bees, and grow from bulbs in warm to moderate zones 4-8.
Grape Hyacinth or Bluebells – Muscari
While their name is similar, grape hyacinths are actually a completely different genus than Hyacinthus. They are also a perennial bulb plant that thrives in zones 4 – 8, but the similarities stop there.
Grape hyacinth blooms display closed looking blue to dark purple flowers that grow tall, giving the appearance of purple spikes. They prefer warm, loose, well-drained soil but can adapt to cool climates.
In the southwestern United States, you’ll hear these flowers called bluebells or bluebonnets.
Grape Hyacinth (Muscari) are blue-to-purple fragrant blossoms on perennial bulbs that thrive in zones 4-8.
Larkspur – Delphinium
The larkspur is a tall purple cutting flower that gardeners use to build height at the back garden border in zones 2 – 10. They can grow as tall as 4 foot tall in cooler climates or 6 foot tall in warmer climates, where they thrive due to the longer growing season.
They are prized by florists who utilize them to make towering floral arrangements with blue-purple flowers. You can also grow them in pink, orange, or red.
Be careful if you have pets, as larkspur is poisonous if they ingest them.
Purple flowered Larkspur (Delphinium) are best for background color for landscapes in zones 2-10.
Purple Calla Lily – Calla palustris
Perhaps you know the calla lily as the white Easter lily. However, there are breathtaking color variations in shades such as pink, orange, yellow, black, and a lush purple flower. Florists use the purple calla lily to represent passion.
Interestingly, calla lilies aren’t really lilies at all. The calla flower was misclassified by Swedish scientist Carolus Linnaeus when cataloging the species. Despite an effort to correct the error later in history, the name had already stuck!
The calla lily is a member of the Araceae family, which includes caladium and philodendron.
Calla lilies are a cool zone plant which grows as far north as Alaska and Norway. They grow from a bulb and bloom for a short time each year in the early spring. In zones 9 and 10, they are winter hardy.
The purple calla lily represents passion, is cold tolerant and blooms in spring.
Wild Indigo – Baptisia
This is a hardy species and will grow almost anywhere in zones 5 – 9, as long as they receive full sun and well-drained soil. Interestingly, these lush blue blooms are actually closer kin to beans than flowers, as their edible seeds are classified as a legumes.
Virtually all parts of the wild indigo is used for medicinal and healing benefits, and you can buy wild indigo tinctures and teas on Amazon.[3]https://www.mottchildren.org/health-library/hn-2184005
A native of the midwest, Wild Indigo is lovely in landscapes and is also used for medicinal benefit in tinctures and teas.
Tulip – Tulipa
One of the most recognizable plants in the world, people are surprised to hear that tulips didn’t originate in the Netherlands. In fact, Persians cultivated this sophisticated flower as far back as the 10th century A.D.
Tulips sprout from a bulb each springtime, poking their heads through the cool soil long before the hot days of summer. They thrive in climates from 4 – 10 but have a stronger preference towards those cooler zones.
You’ll find tulips available in a wide range of colors including black or deep purple flowers, to pink, red, white, yellow, and cream colored tulips. There is perhaps no more stunning a sight than a springtime bride carrying a deep purple flower bridal bouquet made from tulips.
Favored for bright early spring color, tulips thrive in cooler climates, but can grow in zones 4-10.
A tulip doesn’t strive to impress anyone. It doesn’t struggle to be different than a rose. It doesn’t have to because it is different. And there’s room in the garden for every flower.
Marianne Williamson, American spiritual teacher, author, and lecturer
Peony – Paeoniaceae
The peony is an ancient native to China, where its petals were part of the cuisine. In fact, these delicate petals were a favorite seasoning of Confucius. In addition, they were grown for application in traditional Eastern medicine.
Today, the hybrids that we enjoy in the United States grow profuse, large flowers in the warm weeks of late spring. They have a powerful sweet fragrance that many associate with the months of May and June.
They flourish in cool to moderate climate zones of 3 – 8. You’ll find varieties with white, pink, yellow, or purple flowers. They are a favorite flower for a springtime bridal bouquet.
Purple peonies grow in zones 3-8 and range in color from pale lavender to vibrant violet, with a scent as lovely as the flowers.
Shrubs and Bushes With Purple Flowers
Selecting flowering shrubs and bushes is one of the most delightful tasks in planning a garden. Shrubs can add height to create a focal point or be planted close together to define a border. However you use them, you’ll enjoy the beauty they add to your yard.
Heather – Calluna vulgaris
Heather is a perennial shrub that thrives in acidic soils and from partial shade to full sun environments. It grows to just under 2 feet tall as an ornamental shrub. Hardy in zones 5 – 9, growers in zones 4 have had success by planting it in a location sheltered from north winds.
The vivid light purple flowers can also appear more on the pink side of the spectrum and grow in tight plume-like groupings. Heather might also be mauve or white in color.
Take care when planting heather. It can become invasive and take over your entire garden without careful monitoring. The plus side of this robust growth is that you can plant them in areas plagued with deer, as they will regrow quickly.
Heather (Calluna vulgaris) grows quickly for color coverage in full sun to partial shade in zones 5-9. Caution: can be invasive.
Hydrangea – Hydrangea
We’re including the traditionally white hydrangea plant on our list because it can produce blossoms in various shades of purple, as well as pink, red, white or blue flowers. Gardeners love the surprise of a hydrangea because it’s hard to know for certain what color you’ll get without knowing the acidity of your soil.
The pH in your soil dictates the color of your hydrangea. So, if you have a pH of 7+, your flowers might be pink or red. On the other hand, a pH of 6 or lower will likely produce blooms of dark purple, lavender, or blue-purple.
You can grow this large and showy purple bush in almost any cool to fairly hot climate, zones 3 – 9. It loves organic fertilizers like eggshells, banana peels, and coffee grounds to help it bloom several times throughout the summer.
The pH in your soil dictates the color of your hydrangea. A pH of 7+ produces pink or red flowers, and a pH of 6 or less will produce darker blooms in purple, lavender and blue-purple.
Lilacs – Syringa
For two short weeks each spring, gardeners who have patiently nurtured their lilac shrubs get to see an outrageous show of tight clusters of beautiful flowers. More than mere beauty, these lilac-colored flowers fill the air with a strong, sweet fragrance. You can also find lilac in pink or white variations in zones 3 – 9.
Lilacs are technically a tree that can grow up to 30 feet tall. However, most gardeners prune them into more manageable shrubs to create a focal point in a natural area or garden.
Fragrant lilacs are easy to care for and can grow up to 30′ in well-drained, non-sandy soil in cool to mild climates in zones 3-9.
Rhododendron – Rhododendron
The rhododendron is a purple flowering bush that thrives in the clay soil of Appalachia residing in woods and amongst natural rock gardens of mountainous landscapes, and in the rocky soils of the Northwest in the United States. A native to Nepal, this beautiful shrub loves the mild temperatures of lower altitude mountains in zones 4 – 8. You’ll see vibrant displays of purple blooms from very early spring until the early summer when the weather turns hot.
Rhododendrons are carefree shrubs in mild climates. One caution is that they are prone to invasion by pests, especially caterpillars who seem to find them quite tasty, so you may need to invite more natural predators to prevent them from devouring your shrub.
You can select rhododendrons, and their sub-species azaleas, in a lavender purple, pink, white, or yellow. Use them to accent your early spring garden with a showy splash of color.
Rhododendrons are carefree shrubs in the milder climates of zones 4-8, blooming from early spring until late summer.
Rose – Rosa, Floribunda
Roses are perennial, woody shrubs with thorns and profusely fragrant blooms. Purple roses are not an “original” rose shade. They grow in zones 4 – 11; however, there are wide ranges of roses. Take care to select a shrub appropriate for your area.
First grown in red, pink, white, and yellow, growers cultivated several hybrid varieties including purple. Florists use purple roses to convey a feeling of enchantment when creating bouquets or arrangements.
Roses require well-cultivated soil, regular fertilization, pruning away of withered blossoms, and plenty of water. You’ll be rewarded for your work with a gorgeous floral display and fragrant roses.
“You can complain that roses have thorns, or you can rejoice because thorns have roses.”
~Pablo Picasso, famous multi-disciplinary Spanish artist, 1881-1973
Spiraea – Spiraea
The spiraea is a robust shrub that produces red-purple flowers that growers often describe as a light violet. Other varieties are white and pink. Expect profuse blooms all summer long.
This shrub grows in the Northern Hemisphere in zones from cool to sub-tropical zones 4 – 10. It thrives with little care, as long as it remains free of excessive moisture.
Hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees are all attracted to spiraea, so some people plant them just to watch the show of wildlife. One challenge worth noting is that moths love to snack on spiraea. You can’t use herbicides as you don’t want to poison the good pollinators; therefore, keep a vigilant eye on this shrub.
We love our baby’s breath spiraea with delicate white blossoms and lovely spring and fall colors.
Find purple spiraea on Amazon here.
Beneficial for attracting pollinators, Spiraea grows easily in the subtropical zones 4-10.
“Don’t wait for someone to bring you flowers. Plant your own garden and decorate your own soul.”
~Luther Burbank
Trees With Purple Flowers
While the length of time they bloom each year may vary, most all gardeners can agree that trees with purple flowers are worth the wait during the winter. We love seeing them awaken in the spring and bringing us shade from the hot summer sun. Ultimately, that show of purple foliage or flowers is so worth the wait!
Crepe Myrtle – Lagerstroemia indica
The crepe myrtle family encompasses almost 50 species of colorful, prolifically blooming trees. You can find varieties with white, bright pink, or light purple flowers.
The common crepe myrtle tree dots the landscape from the mid-Atlantic to the deep South and west to Texas. A native of India, it prefers a humid, warm climate.
The petals of the blooms have a delicate crepey texture that has a slightly wrinkled appearance. This is the inspiration for the tree’s name. It requires well-drained soil, the moderately warm to hot climate of zones 7 – 10, and regular fertilization to continue to bloom every year.
Crepe Myrtle, with vivid flourishing purple flowers and smooth and captivating bark, is a popular landscape tree i zoes 7-10.
Fern Tree – Jacaranda mimosifolia
In the United States, you can find specimens of fern trees in the hottest states including Arizona, Florida, Texas, Nevada, and California. It’s a sub-tropical tree which originated in the subtropical regions of South American and Africa.
Its name describes the full fern-like bright green foliage. When it blooms, bright blue-purple flowers drape gracefully and delicately perfume the air. The blooms last about two months from spring to summer each year.
Fern Tree (Jacaranda mimosifolia) – This subtropical tree may only be grown in frost free zones 8-11.
Purple Magnolia – Magnolia liliiflora
Don’t be confused by the name or color of the blossoms, the magnolia liliiflora with the violet flowers is a cousin to the traditional creamy white magnolia liliifera. This variation is also called the Mulan magnolia thanks to its cultivation in China.
This springtime flowering tree gives a dramatic show of violet blooms in the spring and provides bright green leaves the rest of the season and can be grown in zones 7 – 9.
In the Asian horticultural tradition, it’s a small ornamental tree that requires pruning, fertilizing and careful tending. This makes them a rarer find than their cream-flowered counterparts.
Redbud Tree – Cercis
Ornamental redbud trees are hardy trees that thrive from the Canadian border of zone 4 to Florida zone 10 in the eastern United States. In the western states, they flourish from the foothills of the Rocky Mountains to the high plains.
Redbuds are typically a fairly short but sturdy tree that blooms in the early spring. The blossoms open to a colorful pink-purple color for about a month.
They require fall trimming to remove dead limbs, regular mulching, and watering during dry spells. Overall, gardeners find great success in growing redbud trees.
It’s always been odd to me that these predominantly purple flowering trees are call “red buds”, but whatever the name, these are a favorite landscape tree for adding early spring color.
Redbud Trees, (Cercis) are early spring blooms showcasing vibrant purple blossoms against pale grey bark to signify the end of winter and the wonder of spring to come.
“Learn character from trees, values from roots, and change from leaves.”
~Tasneem Hameed, HR Professional, Writer,
The Bottom Line on Purple Flowers – We Love Them All!
From simple and sophisticated to over-the-top dramatic, you can find a purple flower to work in your garden. There are more purple flowers in the world than we can possibly cover. Therefore, we shared the most popular varieties you’ll find here in the United States.
What’s your favorite purple flower? Let us know your favorite and if we missed it, we’ll definitely add it here.
Hi! My name is Deborah Tayloe. I’m a full-time freelance writer and blogger. I blog about my favorite things: gardening, cooking, and DIY. I live in a very rural area called Bertie County, North Carolina. Here, I have plenty of open space to pursue my gardening habit. I’m a regular contributor to GardensAll and publish my own blog, DIY Home & Garden.
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