Gardening Plants & Flowers Flowers

60 Best Plants With Purple Flowers to Grow Outdoors

Common purple flowers with the prettiest blooms to liven up your garden

purple crocus flowers

The Spruce / Adrienne Legault

Purple flowers and purple foliage plants have a soothing effect when used in the landscape. Bearing a color that has long been a symbol of royalty, purple flowers also suggest richness and elegance. Plants with purple flowers and green leaves provide a stunning addition to any garden and landscape. Purple flowering plants are available in many shade variations, from graceful lavender to dark and rich violet. They come in spring bulbs, fall-blooming wildflowers, ground covers, climbing plants, and more.

Here are our 60 favorite plants with purple flowers that will add beautiful hues to your garden.

  • 01 of 60

    May Night Salvia (Salvia x sylvestris 'May Night')

    May night salvia plant with deep purple flower spikes

    The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova

    May Night salvia, a deep bluish-purple perennial, produces small blooms on flower spikes about 2 feet tall. It is known for its long blooming period from May through June, making it a valuable landscape plant. Like other salvias, this one is a great choice for perennial borders, cottage gardens, butterfly gardens, or wildflower gardens. Early spring is the best time to cut plants back to encourage fresh new growth.

    • USDA Growing Zones: 4 to 8
    • Color Varieties: Purple with blue tints
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun
    • Soil Needs: Well-drained
  • 02 of 60

    Caradonna Salvia (Salvia nemorosa 'Caradonna')

    Caradonna salvia plant

    The Spruce / K. Dave

    Caradonna salvia is similar to May Night, but it is a deeper shade of purple and features a more slender flower stalk that highlights the flowers. It grows 1 to 2 feet high. And like other salvias, it has a very long bloom period from June to September. It does well in dry conditions, but it flowers best if it gets regular moisture. 

    • USDA Growing Zones: 4 to 8
    • Color Varieties: Deep shades of purple
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun
    • Soil Needs: Well-drained, moist
  • 03 of 60

    Lamium (Lamium maculatum 'Purple Dragon')

    Lamium maculatum

    The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova

    Lamium maculatum is perhaps best known as a ground cover plant with silvery foliage, but the cultivar 'Purple Dragon' adds light purple flowers. (It also comes in pink, mauve, red, and white, depending on the cultivar.) Lamium plants don't tolerate foot traffic, so they should be situated out of the way. Leaves also will easily scorch, so it's best to keep the plants away from direct sun.

    • USDA Growing Zones: 4 to 9
    • Color Varieties: Purple
    • Sun Exposure: Part sun, Shade
    • Soil Needs: Average, medium moisture, well-drained
  • 04 of 60

    Allium (Allium spp.)

    purple allium

    The Spruce / Letícia Almeida

    Alliums are a welcome addition to the landscape, not only for their color but also for the globular shape. The flower head is made of clusters of individual florets that create the full and lush round shape. Like other spring-flowering bulbs, they need to be planted in the fall. Heights range from 2 to 5 feet, depending on variety. And flowering occurs in the late spring to early summer.

    • USDA Growing Zones: 4 to 10
    • Color Varieties: Purple, pink, yellow, white, green
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun
    • Soil Needs: Slightly acidic, well-drained
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  • 05 of 60

    Petunia (Petunia x hybrida)

    Petunia plant with trumpet-shaped ruffled purple flowers and buds closeup

    The Spruce / Autumn Wood

    Petunias are one of the most well-known purple flowers, recognized by their wide, trumpet-shaped blooms. The petals come in a variety of looks, including double blooms, ruffled, smooth, striped, solid colors, and even varieties with heart-shaped patterns. Petunias are commonly used in hanging baskets, in window boxes, and as bedding plants. They bloom from early May right up until frost. And they need lots of sun and water to keep them full and blooming.

    • USDA Growing Zones: 10 to 11, typically grown as an annual
    • Color Varieties: Pink, purple, yellow, orange, red, green, white
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun
    • Soil Needs: Rich, moist, well-drained

    Tip

    Plant the same flower in various purple shades for added interest in your garden. Also, incorporate plants with purple foliage to add texture.

  • 06 of 60

    Chrysanthemum

    purple mums

    Carina Darjan/500 px / Getty Images

    Chrysanthemums or mums are a well-loved garden flower often purchased as an annual to display in containers. But mums do beautifully as perennials, too. Pinch them back by removing the stem and top two leaves until late June; this promotes bushier growth and more flower buds. Mums come in a wide array of colors including purples; try 'Purple Andrea', 'Grape Queen', and 'Grandchild' cultivars for gorgeous color in the autumn garden.

    • USDA Growing Zones: 5 to 9
    • Color Varieties: Purple, red, orange, yellow, white, pink
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun
    • Soil Needs: Well-drained
  • 07 of 60

    Azalea (Rhododendron spp.)

    purple azalea

    Valerii Maksimov / Getty Images

    Azaleas are gorgeous evergreen shrubs with spring blooms that light up the garden with their delicate shapes and vibrant hues. They bloom well in partial shade to full sun, making them a versatile ornamental plant. There are some compact varieties, while some older heirlooms get very large. The wide range of colors includes some lovely purples, including 'Autumn Lilac', 'Lee's Dark Purple', and 'Purple Splendor'.

    • USDA Growing Zones: 6 to 10
    • Color Varieties: Purple, red, orange, yellow, white, pink
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun
    • Soil Needs: Well-drained
  • 08 of 60

    Columbine (Aquilegia vulgaris)

    Columbine plant with blue-purple flowers on thin red stems

    The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova

    Columbine plants have delicate flowers that appear in April and May. Aquilegia vulgaris and its cultivars mature at about 1 to 3 feet tall. They work well in cottage gardens and rock gardens. Although this plant loves the sun, it does not like excess heat. Add a layer of mulch around the plant to keep the roots cool and moist.

    • USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 9
    • Color Varieties: Blue, orange, pink, purple, red, white, yellow
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
    • Soil Needs: Sandy or loamy, medium moisture, well-drained
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  • 09 of 60

    Larkspur (Consolida ajacis)

    Consolida ajacis purple flowers
    jessicahyde / Getty Images

    True larkspurs are annual flowers (Consolida ajacis is the most common species grown in gardens) that are tough and hardy. These plants grow to around 3 to 4 feet tall, with spiky blooms that show up on the main stalk. They grow quickly from seed, blooming in spring and summer. These annuals may self-seed freely, producing plants year after year. But be aware that larkspurs are toxic, so avoid planting them where kids of pets might eat them.

    • USDA Growing Zones: 2 to 10
    • Color Varieties: Purple, white, blue
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
    • Soil Needs: Medium moisture, well-drained
  • 10 of 60

    Lobelia (Lobelia erinus)

    Lobelia plant with small blue-purple flowers in between leaves and small white flower clusters

    The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova

    Lobelia blooms from summer through the first frost. There are numerous varieties of lobelia plants, but the cultivars providing trailing blue/purple flowers are usually Lobelia eranus. Lobelia flowers have five petals, and some have white eyes. They don't need deadheading (removing spent blooms) because they self-clean. If they suffer from heat, revive the plants by cutting them back and then providing regular water.

    • USDA Growing Zones: 10 to 11, typically grown as an annual
    • Color Varieties: Blue, purple, pink, white, red
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
    • Soil Needs: Rich, moist, well-drained
  • 11 of 60

    Jackman's Clematis (Clematis 'Jackmanii')

    Jackman's clematis

    The Spruce / Adrienne Legault

    Jackman's clematis is a flowering vine that produces large, deep purple flowers in mid-summer. The clematis has pretty and profuse flowers that have four velvety petals. The vines are best trained to climb on trellises, arbors, walls, and fences. A trick to success with clematis vines is growing the plants in sunlight but keeping the roots cool. This can be achieved by mulching the root area or adding short plants over the root zone to provide ground shade.

    • USDA Growing Zones: 4 to 11
    • Color Varieties: Lavender to deep purple
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
    • Soil Needs: Rich, moist, well-drained
  • 12 of 60

    Dahlia (Dahla spp.)

    purple dahlia

    Jeanine Akers/500px / Getty Images

    Dahlias require a bit of work in colder zones, to plant each spring and lift to store for winter, but many gardeners think their lush beauty is worth the effort. There are a number of gorgeous purple dahlias available, including the vigorous deep plum 'Thomas Edison', the blue-violet 'Lilac Time', and the purple-tipped pink 'Mikayla'.

    • USDA Growing Zones: 8 to 10
    • Color Varieties: Purple, red, orange, yellow, white, pink
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun
    • Soil Needs: Well-drained, loamy
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  • 13 of 60

    Heliotrope (Heliotrope spp.)

    Heliotrope plant with small light purple and dark purple flower clusters on top of leaves

    The Spruce / Krystal Slagle

    Heliotrope is a shrub-like plant with clusters of fragrant blooms, growing 1 to 4 feet high. These plants begin blooming in summer and continue through the first frost. Maintaining even soil moisture is key in their growth. They will wither away in both soil that is too dry or too soggy. Moreover, these plants are toxic to eat, so keep them away from kids and pets.

    • USDA Growing Zones: 9 to 11, typically grown as an annual
    • Color Varieties: Lavender to deep purple
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun
    • Soil Needs: Rich, loamy, moist, well-drained
  • 14 of 60

    Crocus (Crocus spp.)

    purple crocus

    The Spruce / Adrienne Legault

    Harbingers of spring, crocuses and other bulb plants are welcome flowering visitors to gardens in March and April. Crocuses are small plants with star-shaped blooms that grow close to the ground, reaching just 3 to 6 inches tall depending on the type. Looking like blades of grass, the foliage is marked down the middle with a light stripe. Make sure your crocuses aren't sitting in soggy soil, which can cause them to rot.

    • USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 8
    • Color Varieties: Purple, blue, pink, yellow, gold, orange, white
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
    • Soil Needs: Well-drained
  • 15 of 60

    Verbena (Verbena spp.)

    tall verbena

    The Spruce / Letícia Almeida

    The Verbena genus includes both annual and perennial species, many of which produce purple flowers. The flowers are tiny and fragrant, creating saucer-shaped clusters that can span 3 inches. The plant itself is airy, ethereal, and tends to sprawl. Although they easily spread, they can be trained to grow in a more compact space with new blooms through regular pruning.

    • USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 8
    • Color Varieties: Purple, pink, red, white, orange
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun
    • Soil Needs: Dry to medium moisture, acidic, well-drained
  • 16 of 60

    Delphinium (Delphinium 'Black Knight')

    Delphinium
    aimintang / Getty Images

    Delphiniums grow as high as 8 feet and are often featured in cottage gardens. The 'Black Knight' cultivar adds a robust burst of dark purple into a garden thanks to its spiked flowers. Delphiniums are relatively short-lived perennials, rarely surviving more than three to four years. The blooms appear in clusters along the stalk in June to July, sometimes reblooming in the fall. Staking is suggested to help them grow well. Delphinium is toxic, so avoid planting it in areas with children and pets.

    • USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 7
    • Color Varieties: Blue, purple, white, pink
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun
    • Soil Needs: Rich, moist, well-drained
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  • 17 of 60

    Purple Ice Plant (Delosperma cooperi)

    Purple ice plant with long thin leaves and deep pink radiating petals with sparkles in sunlight

    The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova

    The purple ice plant features flowers with finely textured petals surrounding solid centers. It blooms through most of the summer and fall. The "ice" in this plant's common name comes from the sparkle on its leaves, which is the result of sunlight reflecting off tiny hairs on the leaf surface. This perennial demands soil that drains sharply, so ensure that it's not sitting in soggy soil.

    • USDA Growing Zones: 6 to 11
    • Color Varieties: Purple, pink, red, orange, yellow
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun
    • Soil Needs: Sandy, dry, well-drained
  • 18 of 60

    Pacific Rhododendron (Rhododendron macrophyllum)

    Pacific rhododendron shrub with pink showy bell-shaped flowers

    Moelyn Photos / Getty Images  

    Pacific rhododendron shrubs can grow quite high. And they produce showy bell-shaped flowers in the spring and summer. Their foliage is evergreen. These shrubs don’t actually need fertile soil to grow well; rather they prefer fairly low-nutrient soil. They are hardy shrubs, but they do like even soil moisture. So you must have a consistent watering schedule. However, good drainage is important because soggy soil can kill them.

    • USDA Growing Zones: 4 to 8
    • Color Varieties: Pink, purple
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
    • Soil Needs: Acidic, well-drained
  • 19 of 60

    Butterfly Bush (Buddleja davidii)

    Butterfly bush with dark purple flower spike in sunlight

    The Spruce / David Beaulieu

    The butterfly bush is a deciduous shrub with arching branches. It produces brightly colored flower spikes throughout the summer that are highly attractive to butterflies and other pollinators, hence the shrub’s common name. This shrub is quite easy to grow, and because of that it is considered invasive in some areas. So be sure to check for any local restrictions on planting it. Consider newer varieties with sterile flowers that don't spread invasively.

    • USDA Growing Zones: 5 to 9
    • Color Varieties: Purple, pink, white, yellow
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun
    • Soil Needs: Average, medium moisture, well-drained
  • 20 of 60

    Bougainvillea (Bougainvillea spp.)

    Bougainvillea shrub covering garage front with deep pink flowers on vines

    The Spruce / Leticia Almeida

    Bougainvillea is a genus of tropical vines. These showy plants can act as ground covers if they’re left free to grow. Or they can easily be trained to grow on a support, such as a trellis or fence. The foliage is evergreen in tropical areas. And the large, brightly colored blooms appear seasonally. These vines do have thorns, so care should be taken when working with them.

    • USDA Growing Zones: 10 to 11, typically grown as an annual
    • Color Varieties: Purple, red, pink, yellow
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun
    • Soil Needs: Acidic, well-drained
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  • 21 of 60

    Midnight Blue Rose (Rosa 'Midnight Blue')

    Midnight Blue Rose

    阿橋 HQ / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 2.0 

    The Midnight Blue rose is a beautiful cultivar with deep purple flowers that stretch around 2 to 3 inches across. The blooms are known to have a strong fragrance. These shrubs can flower from spring to fall, and deadheading can help to encourage further blooming. But be careful of the thorns on these shrubs.

    • USDA Growing Zones: 6 to 11
    • Color Varieties: Deep purple
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
    • Soil Needs: Loamy, well-drained
  • 22 of 60

    Rhapsody in Blue Rose (Rosa 'Rhapsody in Blue')

    Rhapsody in blue rose plant with vivid purple and ruffled flowers in sunlight closeup

    Nadya So / Getty Images

    The Rhapsody in Blue rose cultivar is another stunning plant with purple flowers. Its blooms, which stretch around 2.5 inches across, appear from late spring all the way until fall. They start out as a vivid purple color and then fade to a mauve-gray. In their centers, they have bright gold stamens. They also feature a strong orange-like fragrance. Deadheading is ideal to promote repeat-blooming.

    • USDA Growing Zones: 5 to 9
    • Color Varieties: Purple
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun
    • Soil Needs: Loamy, well-drained
  • 23 of 60

    Blue Beard (Caryopteris × clandonensis)

    Blue beard plant with small blue-purple flowers on thin stems with yellow-green leaves

    The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova

    Blue beard, also known as blue spirea and blue mist, is a small shrub with a mounding growth habit. It only reaches around 2 to 4 feet tall and wide. It features aromatic foliage, and in the late summer the flowers appear. The small, blue-violet flowers are said to look like clouds of blue mist on the plant. This shrub needs sharp soil drainage, as it is particularly intolerant to soggy soil.

    • USDA Growing Zones: 5 to 9
    • Color Varieties: Blue-violet
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun
    • Soil Needs: Average, medium moisture, well-drained
  • 24 of 60

    Winter Heath (Erica spp.)

    Winter heath plant with small clusters of light pink blooms on reddish-orange stems

    The Spruce / David Beaulieu

    Winter heaths are small evergreen shrubs with dense foliage and a mounding growth habit. Like heather, they also look best when planted en masse for maximum impact. Their flowering time depends on location and variety. But often the small clusters of blooms will appear during winter (in mild climates) and in early spring. Prune as needed just after the shrubs are done flowering.

    • USDA Growing Zones: 5 to 9
    • Color Varieties: Purple, pink, red, yellow, white
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun
    • Soil Needs: Acidic, moist, well-drained
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    Lilac (Syringa vulgaris)

    Lilac plant with tiny clusters of small light purple flowers on branches

    The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova

    Lilac bushes are popular plants with purple flowers. These deciduous shrubs bloom in the mid- to late spring with branching clusters of tiny flowers. The flowers have an exceptionally sweet fragrance. The foliage ranges from blue-green to gray-green. These shrubs are fairly low-maintenance once established. Prune to clean up growth just after flowering is finished.  Newer varieties are available that perform well in warmer climates.

    • USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 7
    • Color Varieties: Lavender-blue, white, burgundy, deep purple, lilac
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun
    • Soil Needs: Loamy, well-drained
  • 26 of 60

    Heather (Calluna spp.)

    Heather plant with long stems with small pink flowers and white buds

    The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova

    Many species of heather shrubs feature dainty purple flowers along long stems that appear from summer to fall. Heather shrubs look especially striking when planted en masse. And they do particularly well on slopes and in rock gardens. Make sure to give your heather plants consistent moisture, but ensure that the soil has good drainage. Prune them as needed in the early spring before new growth starts. 

    • USDA Growing Zones: 4 to 6
    • Color Varieties: Purple, pink, white
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
    • Soil Needs: Acidic, moist, well-drained
  • 27 of 60

    Hydrangea (Hydrangea spp.)

    Hydrangea plant with light purple and large round flower clusters on edge of stem

    The Spruce / Claire Cohen Bates

    Hydrangeas long have been popular garden plants for their flowers that come in many different colors, including purple. Some varieties have large, round flower clusters while others have smaller, flatter flowers. They generally bloom from mid-summer to fall. Water hydrangeas at least weekly unless you’ve had rainfall, but make sure they’re not sitting in soggy soil. Note that soil pH affects bloom color.

    • USDA Growing Zones: 5 to 9
    • Color Varieties: White, blue, green, red, pink, purple
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
    • Soil Needs: Rich, well-drained
  • 28 of 60

    Morning Glory (Ipomoea purpurea)

    Morning glory plant with deep purple trumpet-shaped flowers with pink centers

    The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova

    Morning glories are fast-growing annual flowering vines that are a favorite of many gardeners. They’re low-maintenance, and they don’t require pruning or deadheading to look their best. They can grow along the ground or up on a support structure. Their colorful trumpet-shaped flowers appear in the summer and fall. Be sure to water weekly unless you’ve had rainfall. Note that morning glory can be invasive in some areas.

    • USDA Growing Zones: 2 to 11
    • Color Varieties: Purple, pink, blue, white
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun
    • Soil Needs: Moist, well-drained
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  • 29 of 60

    Wisteria (Wisteria frutescens)

    Wisteria shrub vines with light purple flowers on drooping stems

    The Spruce / Loren Probish

    Wisteria is a woody vine with deep green foliage that can stretch to 30 feet or longer under prime growing conditions. It bears fragrant purple flowers on drooping stems in the spring. Narrow, smooth seed pods follow the flowers. Provide this vine with a sturdy trellis, post, or other support structure to fully enjoy its beautiful growth.

    • USDA Growing Zones: 5 to 9
    • Color Varieties: Purple
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun
    • Soil Needs: Humusy, moist, well-drained
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    Lavender (Lavandula spp.)

    Lavender plant with small purple flowers on end of thin stems

    The Spruce / Adrienne Legault

    Lavender is an herb that’s popular not only for its fragrance but also for its purple flowers. The tiny clusters of flowers appear in the summertime on upright spikes. The aromatic foliage is a gray-green color. Make sure to situate your lavender plant in a spot that gets full sun and has well-drained soil. In an optimal growing site, the plant needs relatively little care.

    • USDA Growing Zones: 5 to 9
    • Color Varieties: Purple
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun
    • Soil Needs: Well-drained
  • 31 of 60

    Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)

    Purple coneflower with light pink radiating petals with spiny center cone bloom closeup

    The Spruce / Adrienne Legault

    The purple coneflower is a particularly showy plant. It has an upright growth habit, reaching around 2 to 5 feet high. And in the summer, daisy-like flowers with a spiny center cone bloom. The flowers can stretch up to 5 inches across. The stiff stems also bear dark green foliage. This plant will often self-seed if the spent flower heads are left in place. So if you wish to control its spread, remove the spent blooms.

    • USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 8
    • Color Varieties: Purple-pink
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
    • Soil Needs: Average, well-drained
  • 32 of 60

    Iris (Iris reticulata)

    Iris plant with deep purple flowers with yellow, white and black inner petals

    The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova

    Irises come in a number of varieties with slightly different appearances and growth habits. These flowers feature blooms made of two types of petals. The outer petals droop downward while the smaller inner petals stand upright. This gives the whole flower an interesting shape. Irises often attract butterflies and hummingbirds. Deadhead spent blooms, and trim back the foliage once frost arrives in the fall. Reticulata irises are dwarf irises that bloom early in spring.

    • USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 9
    • Color Varieties: Purple, blue, white, yellow
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun
    • Soil Needs: Rich, well-drained
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  • 33 of 60

    Pansy (Viola x wittrockiana)

    Pansy plant with purple and white flowers closeup

    The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova

    Pansies are a popular but short-lived garden plant. Outside of their hardiness zones, they’re often grown as annuals. They prefer cool weather and tolerate frosts. In southern climates, they're typically planted in fall and overwinter, blooming through spring until summer temperatures arrive. They rarely reach more than a foot in height and spread, but they have large, colorful flowers that bloom in the spring.

    • USDA Growing Zones: 6 to 10, typically grown as annuals
    • Color Varieties: Blue, purple, red, pink, yellow, orange, white, bicolors
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
    • Soil Needs: Rich, moist, well-drained
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    Monkshood (Aconitum napellus)

    monkshood

    Razvan / Getty Images

    Monkshood blooms late in the season and adds gorgeous deep violet color to the garden. There's a range of color in the many cultivars from white to deep purples and blues, with many hues and bicolors in between. Note that monkshood is toxic if ingested.

    • USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 8
    • Color Varieties: Purple, white, deep blue
    • Sun Exposure: Partial to full sun
    • Soil Needs: Well-drained, moist
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    Wild Violets (Viola papilionacea)

    wild violets

    jfairone / Getty Images

    Violets are a common low-growing ground cover that spread eagerly and often appear in lawns. Their sweet-smelling colorful flowers arrive in mid spring, and their heart shaped dark green leaves remain through autumn. Some think of violets as a weed, but their early blooms are important food for pollinators.

    • USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 9
    • Color Varieties: Purple, white, lavender
    • Sun Exposure: Part sun to part shade
    • Soil Needs: Tolerates a wide range of soil
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    Grecian Windflower (Anemone blanda)

    Grecian windflower

    Iva Vagnerova / Getty Images

    Grecian windflowers (Anemone blanda) are also known as Balkan windflowers. They grow from a hard, nut-like tuber and the flowers naturalize readily in loamy, well-drained soil. The daisy like, spring blooming flowers come in shades of periwinkle blue, white, light purple, and pink.

    • USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 9
    • Color Varieties: Purple, pink, white, periwinkle blue
    • Sun Exposure: Partial shade to full sun
    • Soil Needs: Well-drained, loamy
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  • 37 of 60

    Grape Hyacinth (Muscari)

    muscari

    AtWaG / Getty Images

    Grape hyacinths are a spring blooming bulb that provide gorgeous color in the garden. The classic Muscari armeniacum has deep violet blue flowers. Two great cultivars to try for purple shades are Muscari latifolium (a bicolor with periwinkle and plum flowers) and Muscari latifolium 'Purple Rain' (which has light lavender purple flowers).

    • USDA Growing Zones: 4 to 8
    • Color Varieties: Shades of blue, purple, white, pink
    • Sun Exposure: Partial to full sun
    • Soil Needs: Well-drained but moist
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    Aster (Symphiotricum 'Wood's Purple')

    purple asters

    jonnysek / Getty Images

    Asters, also known as Michaelmas daisies, bloom for weeks in early autumn. The most commonly grown asters in North America are New England Asters. There are a number of purple asters, but one of the most reliable is 'Wood's Purple'. This light purple aster with yellow centers grows about 12 inches tall, loves a sunny spot, and spreads out happily, weaving in among other perennials.

    • USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 8
    • Color Varieties: Light purple
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun
    • Soil Needs: Well-drained, loamy
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    Dutch Hyacinth (Hyacinthus orientalis)

    purple hyacinths

    Yuliya Sidorova / Getty Images

    Dutch hyacinths are reliably fragrant, colorful spring bloomers. One cut flower will perfume an entire room. The bulbs are toxic to cats, dogs, and horses, so exercise caution when planting or digging them. The best deep purple varieties are 'Peter Stuyvesant', 'Purple Sensation', and 'Atlantic'.

    • USDA Growing Zones: 4 to 8
    • Color Varieties: Shades of blue, purple, white, pink, yellow
    • Sun Exposure: Partial to full sun
    • Soil Needs: Well-drained but moist, slightly acidic
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    Bachelor Buttons (Centaurea cyranus)

    bachelor buttons

    automidori / Getty Images

    Bachelor buttons, also called cornflowers, are a colorful annual flower that looks lovely in the cottage style garden. They reseed readily but can also be planted from seed in late fall or early to mid spring. Cornflowers come in a wide range of cool colors, including purple. Two great varieties to try are 'Mauve Boy' (light purple) and 'Black Ball' (deep burgundy purple).

    • USDA Growing Zones: 2 to 11
    • Color Varieties: Shades of blue, purple, white, pink
    • Sun Exposure: Partial to full sun
    • Soil Needs: Well-drained but moist
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  • 41 of 60

    Flowering Catmint (Nepeta)

    flowering catmint

    kasakovmaksim / Getty Images

    Flowering catmint has tiny pale purple flowers that grow on tall spikes from rounded clumps of grey-green leaves. Cats love the minty-smelling leaves and hummingbirds, bees, and other pollinators love the nectar-rich flowers. Catmint likes sun and well-drained soil, but is otherwise not fussy and is a great addition to the cottage garden, where it blooms for weeks in summer. There are a number of cultivars that vary in height, but most have light blue and purple flowers.

    • USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 8
    • Color Varieties: Light purple and blue
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun
    • Soil Needs: Well-drained, sandy or loamy
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    Snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus)

    snapdragons

    Ellen Kinsi / Getty Images

    Snapdragons don't come in deep royal purple, but there are many shades of pale orchid, fuchsia pink, deep burgundy, and bright magenta to lend vivid color to your garden. They come in deep solid colors and lovely bicolors and bloom from late summer until after frost. They're considered an annual in colder zones, but some varieties will often reseed themselves, so watch for the tiny seedlings to appear in mid spring.

    • USDA Growing Zones: 7 to 11
    • Color Varieties: Magenta, fuchsia, pink, white, red, yellow, burgundy
    • Sun Exposure: Partial to full sun
    • Soil Needs: Well-drained, acidic
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    Sweet William (Dianthus barbatus)

    dianthus

    Vitalij Krispin / Getty Images

    There are over 300 varieties of dianthus. The perennial, needle-leafed spreading Dianthus grataniapolitensis known as "Cheddar pinks" has small flowers. The clumping semi-perennial variety (often called "Sweet William") is the most common, with some cultivars being the double-petaled, clove-scented carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus). Trim spent flowers to encourage a second round of buds. Dianthus come in a range of hues including bicolors in magenta and light purple.

    • USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 9
    • Color Varieties: Magenta, fuchsia, pink, white, red, bicolors
    • Sun Exposure: Partial to full sun
    • Soil Needs: Well-drained, loamy
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    Blue Waterfall Bellflower (Campanula poscharskyana 'Blue Waterfall')

    creeping bellflower

    AL Hedderly / Getty Images

    Bellflowers come in a wide range of types, in different sizes and shapes, but nearly every variation has shades of purple from light to dark. 'Blue Waterfall' (Campanula poscharskyana) is native to Serbia, a vigorous creeping variety with lavender-blue flowers. It grows very well on slopes and in rock gardens.

    • USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 8
    • Color Varieties: Purple, violet
    • Sun Exposure: Partial to full sun
    • Soil Needs: Well-drained
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    Tall Phlox (Phlox paniculata)

    Tall purple phlox

    Valeriy Volkonskiy / Getty Images

    Tall phlox, also known as garden phlox, are indispensable in the late summer garden. Their sturdy structure and long-lasting blooms are a vibrant color boost at a time when many summer blooms are fading. They do need some air circulation to avoid powdery mildew, so give them some room and divide frequently. Some of the best purple cultivars include 'Blue Boy', 'Blue Paradise', and 'Amethyst'.

    • USDA Growing Zones: 4 to 8 (varies by cultivar)
    • Color Varieties: Purple, blue, scarlet, pink, white
    • Sun Exposure: Partial to full sun
    • Soil Needs: Well-drained
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    Tall Bearded Iris (Iris germanica)

    dark purple irises in garden

    Photos by R A Kearton / Getty Images

    Perhaps the most popular iris type is the tall bearded, or German, iris, which grows from spreading rhizomes and bears colorful, fluffy flowers in mid spring. The older heirlooms have smaller but vigorous flowers, while newer hybrids have larger, frilly blooms. Divide frequently to keep blooms abundant. Some stunning purple cultivars include 'Dracula's Shadow', 'Titan's Glory', and 'Superstition'.

    • USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 9
    • Color Varieties: Purple, red, orange, yellow, white, pink
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun
    • Soil Needs: Well-drained
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    Cranesbill Geranium (Geranium spp.)

    purple geranium

    Iva Vagnerova / Getty Images

    Despite the similar name, perennial cranesbill geraniums look very different from annual geraniums. These hardy ground cover plants have delicate grapeleaf-shaped foliage and abundant summer flowers in colors including blue, purple, white, and pink. The best purple cultivars include 'Orion', 'Raven', 'Rozanne', and 'Johnson's Blue'. Trim the first round of spent flowers to encourage new growth.

    • USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 9
    • Color Varieties: Purple, blue, white, pink
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun
    • Soil Needs: Well-drained, slightly acidic
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    Mr. Fokker Anemone (Anemone coronaria de Caen 'Mr. Fokker')

    blue anemone

    MichelR45 / Getty Images

    Anemone is a name given to a wide variety of flowers. One anemone loved for its deep purple-blue tones is 'Mr. Fokker.' This mid to late spring bloomer provides dynamic color in the garden, and attracts butterflies. It is perennial in Zones 7 through 10, or can be planted in early spring for summer blooms in colder zones.

    • USDA Growing Zones: 7 to 10
    • Color Varieties: Deep cobalt blue and purple tones
    • Sun Exposure: Partial to full sun
    • Soil Needs: Well-drained
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    Million Bells (Calibrachoa)

    purple calibrachoa

    undefined undefined / Getty Images

    Calibrachoa is a trailing flowering plant that is popular for use in container gardens. This vigorous annual provides many weeks of color and requires only regular watering and deadheading to remove spent blooms to keep it thriving for the season. Some of the most vibrant purple cultivars of calibrachoa are 'Callie Blue', 'Lindura Purple', and 'Trailing Blue'.

    • USDA Growing Zones: 9 to 11
    • Color Varieties: Purple, red, orange, yellow, white, pink
    • Sun Exposure: Full to part sun
    • Soil Needs: Well-drained, moist, rich
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    Tulip (Tulipa spp.)

    purple tulips

    Miguel Sotomayor / Getty Images

    Who doesn't love tulips? Their graceful form and vast palette of colors are such a beautiful balm in spring. Some are annual, while some are perennial, so do some research before choosing your bulbs. There are many lovely purple tulips to try: the dark purple 'Queen of Night', pale, frosty 'Candy Prince', and light orchid 'Violet Beauty'.

    • USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 8 (varies)
    • Color Varieties: Purple, red, orange, yellow, white, pink
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun
    • Soil Needs: Well-drained, loamy, slightly acidic
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    Blue Ageratum (Ageratum houstonianum)

    blue ageratum

    Werner Maidinger/ Getty Images

    Also known as floss flower or billy goat weed, this pale purple gem comes in a short annual variety and a taller perennial. The perennial one grows from a loose clump of shallow roots. Ageratum comes in shades of pale violet blue or white, and blooms late summer through autumn. It may spread quickly but is easily controlled by simply pulling it.

    • USDA Growing Zones: 2 to 11
    • Color Varieties: Pale violet purple, reddish purple, white
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
    • Soil Needs: Well-drained, moist
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    Pasque Flower (Pulsatilla vulgaris)

    pasque flower

    Animaflora / Getty Images

    This herbaceous perennial is also known as Easter flower. It resembles a tiny tulip and comes in shades of bluish and reddish purple. It emerges very early in spring, making it a welcome harbinger of the season. These small colorful flowers are useful for edging and in rock gardens.

    • USDA Growing Zones: 4 to 8
    • Color Varieties: Purple, reddish-violet
    • Sun Exposure: Full to partial sun
    • Soil Needs: Loamy, sandy, well-drained
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    English Bluebells (Hyacinthoides non-scripta)

    English bluebells

    JohnINPIX / Getty Images

    English bluebells are a quintessential fairy tale flower. They multiply where they're planted and are a reliable spring bloomer. They're not as vigorous as Spanish bluebells, but they're also not as invasive. Plant them in clumps in your cottage garden, or in woodland areas for delightful vivid blue-violet hues in late spring.

    • USDA Growing Zones: 4 to 9
    • Color Varieties: Purple, blue, violet
    • Sun Exposure: Dappled to partial sun
    • Soil Needs: Loamy, sandy, clay
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    Gladioli (Gladiolus palustris)

    purple gladioli

    Katrin Ray Shumakov / Getty Images

    Gladioli grow from a bulb and are perennial in warmer zones. Their tall spikes of graceful flowers in a rainbow of colors make them popular for floral arrangements. There's a range of purple colors from light to dark, including 'Milka', 'Big Girl', and 'Purple Magic'.

    • USDA Growing Zones: 7 to 10
    • Color Varieties: Purple, red, orange, yellow, white, pink
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun
    • Soil Needs: Sandy loam
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    Balloon Flower (Platycodon grandiflorus)

    blue balloon flower

    magicflute002 / Getty Images

    The balloon flower is in the Campanula family. There are tall and dwarf varieties, and the flowers are either bright purple, creamy white, or pale pink. Before the flower buds open they form a delightful round shape that looks like a balloon. They bloom in summer and attract many pollinators including bees and butterflies.

    • USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 8
    • Color Varieties: Purple, pale pink, white
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
    • Soil Needs: Loamy, rich, well-drained
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    Woodland Phlox (Phlox divaricata)

    'Chatahoochee' phlox

    Angie Cottingham 500px / Getty Images

    Woodland phlox provide delicate colors in the spring garden. These hardy perennials increase each year and divide easily. Heirloom varieties produce lightly-fragrant flowers of pale periwinkle blue or white, but newer hybrids (like 'Sherwood Purple' and 'Blue Moon') have larger flowers in shades of bright violet blue. 'Chatahoochee' is a new cultivar with pale blue flowers and reddish-purple centers.

    • USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 8
    • Color Varieties: Purple, pale blue, white
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
    • Soil Needs: Loamy, well-drained
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    Zinnias (Zinnia elegans)

    zinnias

    Teresa Kopec / Getty Images

    Zinnias are well-loved annual flowers that come in a cheery array of vivid colors. Planted from seed in spring, they provide weeks of color in late summer through autumn; seeds can be saved to plant the following year. Purple varieties include 'Purple Prince', 'Double Violet Queen', and 'Lavender Gem'.

    • USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 10
    • Color Varieties: Purple, pink, red, yellow, orange, white
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun
    • Soil Needs: Well-drained
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    Lupines (Lupinus x hybrida)

    lupines

    Svetlana Krayushkina / Getty Images

    Lupines are attractive perennials with starry-shaped green leaves and tall spikes of delicate flowers. They bloom in spring and summer, depending on the variety. They are deer resistant and attractive to pollinators. Some great purple varieties of lupine include 'Blacksmith', 'Russell Blue Shades', and 'Masterpiece'.

    • USDA Growing Zones: 4 to 8
    • Color Varieties: Purple, pink, red, yellow, orange, white
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun
    • Soil Needs: Well-drained, moist
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    Stock (Matthiola incana)

    stock flowers

    Pinrath Phanpradith / Getty Images

    Stock flowers are old-fashioned, deliciously fragrant annuals that make great cut flowers. They come in a wide range of colors including pink, white, blue, and purple. The purple varieties cover a wide range from deep plum 'Iron Purple' to violet-blue 'Chanter Blue' to magenta 'Quarter Purple' to pale orchid 'Lavender Quartet'.

    • USDA Growing Zones: 7 to 10
    • Color Varieties: Purple, pink, blue, apricot, white
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
    • Soil Needs: Well-drained, rich
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    Hollyhock (Alcea spp.)

    purple hollyhock

    Bablu Mrong / Getty Images

    These tall, old-fashioned beauties are lovely at the back of the garden bed or against a fence. They bloom for weeks in summer and provide plenty of seeds for replanting. Hollyhocks are biennial, so plant every year to keep the blooms going. Purple varieties include 'Queeny Purple', 'Purple Rain', and 'Creme de Cassis'. Dark purple shades include 'Blacknight' and 'Enigmatic Twilight'.

    • USDA Growing Zones: 2 to 10
    • Color Varieties: Purple, pink, red, burgundy, apricot, white
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
    • Soil Needs: Well-drained, moist
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  1. Works Cited

    “Larkspur (Delphinium Spp.) : USDA ARS.” Usda.Gov, https://www.ars.usda.gov/pacific-west-area/logan-ut/poisonous-plant-research/docs/larkspur-delphinium-spp/. Accessed 14 Sept. 2021.

  2. Works Cited

    “Larkspur (Delphinium Spp.) : USDA ARS.” Usda.Gov, https://www.ars.usda.gov/pacific-west-area/logan-ut/poisonous-plant-research/docs/larkspur-delphinium-spp/. Accessed 14 Sept. 2021.

    Surhone, Lambert M., et al., editors. Heliotropium Arborescens. Betascript Publishing, 2010.

  3. Delphinium. Ncsu.Edu

  4. Monkshood. Missouri Botanical Garden.

  5. Hyacinth. ASPCA