January 15, 2016
62 Types of Purple Flowers
Believe it or not, purple is one of the most popular flower colors. The blooms below range in shades from light lilac to deep violet. With its royal symbolism, shades of purple are sure to add some elegance to your garden!
Scroll through to learn where each flower grows best as well as their sun and soil needs. We also added a growing tip for everything from the more difficult Sweet Pea to easy-going violets.
Verbena
Verbena bonariensis
These flowers blossom in shades between magenta and violet with tall clustered blooms. If taken care of, Verbena will last all summer long.
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Lavendar
Lavandula
Tiny lavender buds grow on silvery-gray spires. The fragrance produced from these little blooms can do wonders for stress relief.
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Clematis
Clematis
The Arabella variety of Clematis blooms in a beautiful mauve and can grow up to 30 feet tall. When flourishing, it can produce more flowers in less space than almost any other plant.
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Bellflower
Campanula
This charming little blossoms are upturned, cup-shaped flowers that range in hues from white to lavender. Campanula make excellent ground covers and will thrive in your rock garden.
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Dwarf Iris
Iris Reticulata
Dwarf Irises are the petite versions of the well-known slender beauties. They bloom early and unfurl with dark, rich petals.
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Balloon Flower
Platycodon
Balloon Flower is named for the shape it assumes before blossoming. The hollow, balloon-like flowers open to five-pointed blooms.
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Catmint
Nepeta
These long, silvery floral spikes are not only easy to grow, but also provide a long season of blooms. Catmint makes for great cut flowers in the summer.
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Salvia
Salvia
Salvia can grow anywhere from 8 to 30 inches tall. Along its stalk, it is teeming with small tubular plumes in dramatic purple hues.
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Allium
Allium
Ornamental Allium comes in a plethora of hues and heights. Traditionally they have a long slender stalk with a globe of blooms at the top. The Globe master and Gladiator variety are the tallest and have the largest flower heads.
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Monkshood
Aconitum napellus
Monkshood received its name because of its resemblance with a monk's habit. The flowers grow on a tall stem and blossom in a deep shade of purple. This flower is poisonous. Handle with care.
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Alpine Betony
Stachys monieri
Alpine Betony is a clump-forming perennial that grows atop bright green foliage. Bright-purple flowers bloom in early summer.
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Lily of the Nile
Agapanthus orientalis
Lily of the Nile blooms in large round clusters ranging from light-blue to deep-violet. They grow atop stems that can reach 4 feet tall.
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Anemone
Anemone nemorosa
The Anemone is a diverse species that comes in many colors and varieties that bloom in spring and others that bloom in fall. They can also be low-growing plants that prefer woodlands and rock gardens or tall-growing that thrive in late summer.
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Bee Orchid
Ophrys apifera
Named for their bee-like shape, these orchids attract male bees who help pollinate the flowers. The orchid comes in many different color combinations. The 3 outer petals range from white to purple and the central lip can be a solid color, stripped or even dotted.
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Bittersweet Nightshade
Solanum dulcamara
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Wild Indigo
Baptisia australis
Members of the pea family, the Wild Indigo's lupine-like flowers are ideal for cutting and can grow to 4 feet tall. They will stay healthy all summer long and provide a great backdrop for later blooming Irises.
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Bell Heather
Erica cinerea
Bell Heather is a flowering plant in the heath family. It is a low-growing shrub with purple, bell-shaped blooms. The flowers are dry in texture similar to strawflower
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Blue-Eyed Grass
Sisyrinchium montanum
Blue-Eyed Grass is not a grass at all, but a perennial wildflower. It forms clumps of long green foliage with a small, bright-purple flower.
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Wild Hyacinth
Dichelostemma capitatum
Wild Hyacinth is a native wildflower of California and grows easily in meadows across the state. A ball-shaped cluster of up to 20 individual flowers blooms on top of a slender stem.
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China Aster
Callistephus chinensis
With similar blooms to the chrysanthemum, the China Aster also comes in many colors and blooms in the summer. They often have a yellow center with bushy, long, colorful petals that are about 2 to 3 inches in length.
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Canterbury Bells
Campanula medium
Much like their bellflower counterparts, Canterbury Bells are easily grown and cared for. They come in many colors and have an elongated bell-shape.
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Carnations
Dianthus caryophyllus
Carnations are popular for the spectrum of colors they come in. They grow full blooms of serrated petals on a long, narrow stalk.
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Cattleya Orchid
Cattleya
Cattleyas are one of the most popular types of orchid and have been hybridized for over a 100 years. They now come in an array of colors, shapes and sizes.
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Sea Thistle
Cirsium japonicum
This hardy perennial is gaining popularity in the U.S. as a cut flower for it attractive globe-like flowers. It also can attract bees, butterflies and birds to your garden.
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Calla Lily
Zantedeschia
Calla Lilies are very popular for their elegant bell shape both in gardens and as cut flowers. They grow well outdoors and as houseplants.
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Cosmos
Cosmos
Cosmos are showy annuals with bowl-shaped flowers and long stems. They are great cut flowers and will bring birds and butterflies to your garden.
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Common Comfrey
Symphytum officinale
Comfrey is a strong-growing perennial with hairy leaves and a bell-shaped flower. The plant's foliage is often used to heal inflammation and sores.
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Coneflower
Echinacea Purpurea
Bright and daisy-like, these popular perennials drought-tolerant and easy to care for. They also make great cut flowers and attract songbirds.
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Candytuft
Iberis pruitii
Candytuft is a flowering evergreen that is native to Europe. While usually white they also come in lilac and work well in rock gardens.
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Cyclamen
Cyclamen persicum
Cyclamen is a popular house plant that produces vibrant flowers in reds and purples. The varieties sold as houseplants are tropical and should be kept indoors.
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Crocus
Crocus Vernus
The crocus is one of the first flowers to bloom in early spring. They come in many colors and most have strong fragrances that lure bees out of their hives.
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Columbine
Aquilegia
Columbines bloom in the springtime from dark green foliage that turn maroon in the fall. The bell-shaped flowers come in a variety of colors and are a favorite of hummingbirds.
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Dendrobium Orchid
Dendrobium
Dendrobiums come in thousands of different varieties but can be broken down to two groups, hard-caned and soft-caned. Hard-caned are very thin with darker leaves. Soft-caned are evergreen and can keep their leaves for many years.
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Fuchsia
Fuchsia magellanica
Fuchsia is an exotic, two-toned flower with an unusual shape. They can most often be found in hanging baskets with over-flowing blooms.
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Foxgloves
Digitalis purpurea
Foxglove is a tall, dramatic spike covered in tubular flowers. It blooms midsummer in a wide array of colors. If you have any cardiac issues, avoid Foxglove. It contains cardiac glycosides which can be very dangerous to those at risk
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Gladiolus
Gladiolus hortulanus
This perennial favorite grows beautiful, showy flowers. Growing up to 6 feet high in a multitude of color, Gladiolus make a great cut flower.
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Waxflower
Chamelaucium
Waxflower blooms in late winter and have become increasingly popular in the floral industry. The flowers range from deep purple to bright red and grow on stems covered in needle-like foliage.
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Perennial Geranium
Geranium
These perennial blue flowers produces a seemingly endless supply of flowers ranging from white to deep blue and bloom from June to frost.
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Heliotrope
Heliotropium peruvianum
Heliotropes are bushy annuals with tiny cluster of blue, white or purple flowers. They have a strong perfume and very deep green leaves.
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Honesty
Lunaria annua
Honesty is grown for its bright, fragrant flowers in the warmer months and also its unique seed-heads that appear after the blooms. Coveted by florists, they are oval and translucent
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Liatris
Liatris
Ranging from 1 to 5 feet tall, these spikes are covered in fuzzy purple flowers. Liatris blooms from the top to the bottom, unlike traditional bottom to top blooming of most plants.
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Lilac
Syringa vulgaris
Lilacs are a beloved, fragrant shrub that produce clusters of light-purple flowers. They prefer northern states and bloom for 2 weeks.
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Lupine
Lupinus
Lupine comes in a wide array of colors and appears similar to sweet peas with floral spikes that emerge from a tall green stem.
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Lisianthus
Eustoma Grandiflorum
Lisianthus flowers look very similar to a rose but come in shades of blue and lilac. They can also come in single or doubled blooms, with rougher edges, or darker coloration in the center.
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Aster
Aster
Asters appear similar to daisies with starry-shaped heads and yellow centers. The flower can range in height from 6 inches to 8 feet and can serve many different functions in your garden.
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Morning Glory
Ipomoea purpurea
Morning Glories are vines with saucer-shaped blooms that open during the morning, hence the name. You can often see dark marks on each petal from where the bud neatly folds.
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Mystic Merlin
Malva Sylvestris
These magical looking flowers open with silky blooms in rich shade of purple. They are ideal for cottage gardens with their long-blooming life cycle.
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Purple Pansy
Viola wittrockiana
Pansies come in a wide variety of colors and can bloom in any season. They are hardy annuals that do well as borders and ground covers.
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Pasque
Pulsatilla
Pasques are alpine natives. They have silky fern-like foliage and purple petals with yellow centers. This flower is an excellent addition to a rock garden.
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Petunia
Petunia hybrida
With 35 true species worldwide, hybrid Petunias can be found in almost any color. The most traditional varieties are sprawling plants with white or purple blooms
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Rhododendron
Rhododendron
are popular because of their showy springtime blooms and large green leaves that last almost all year. The flowers are often either funnel or bell-shaped with a pleasant perfume.
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Scabiosa
Scabiosa
Also known as pincushion flowers, Scabiosa is an interesting flower with a pincushion-like center and an outer layer of petals. This summer bloomer can be found most often in shades of blue, white and purple.
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Sea Holly
Eryngium
If you are looking to add a less traditional looking flower to your garden, Sea Holly is a great option. It has spiny leaves and a tassel-like bloom.
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Wisteria
Wisteria sinensis
Wisteria is known for its intoxicating fragrance, but this quick climber also has and abundance of cascading blooms. Colors range from white and blue to violet.
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Hydrangea
Hydrangea macrophylla
These big, sky blue blooms will definitely brighten up your garden. They have large heads composed of many smaller flowers.
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Zinnia
Zinnia elegans
Zinnias have big, bright, daisy-like head that grows from a single stem. There are many varieties. The most common being the dahlia flower which grows up to 3 feet.
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Moonflower
Datura stramonium
Moonflowers grow on perennial vines in sub-tropical zones. Their large blooms produce a relaxing smell and generally come in white or purple.
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Dianthus
Dianthus
Belonging to the same family as carnations, Dianthus are colorful, hardy annuals. They emit a spicy fragrance and can most frequently be found in hues of pink, purple and white.
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Hellebores
Helleborus
Helleborus is a perennial with leathery leaves that protect a circle of tiny stamen-like petals. They have a long blooming period, lasting anywhere from 6 to 8 weeks and ranging in color from white to purple.
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Sweet pea
Lathyrus odoratus
Sweet peas come in many lovely colors and give off a fragile fragrance that is commonly used in perfumes.
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Gloxinia
Sinningia speciosa
Today's Gloxinia are hybrids that can breed quickly and produce many blooms. The display last about two months and rarely return after fading.
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Butterfly Bush
Buddleia davidii
The Butterfly Bush had lance-shaped leaves with arching branches. Buddleia is one of the most fragrant bushes and attracts hummingbirds and butterflies - hence the name.
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Shop Best Selling Flowers
Photo Credit: Verbena via Diego Delso, Dwarf Iris via Bob Gutowski, Balloon Flower via Christer T Johansson, Salvia via Cillas, Bittersweet Nightshade via Joshua Mayer, Bell Heather via Anne Burgess, Blue-Eyed Grass via Matthieu Gauvain, China Aster via Joe Ravi, Cattleya Orchid via Orchid photos by Arne and Bent Larsen, Sea Thistle via Dalgial, Calla Lily via F. D. Richards, Candytuft via Rameshng, Cyclamen via Entomolo, Waxflower via Forest & Kim Starr, Honesty via Rosenzweig, Lisianthus via Thomas, Mystic Merlin via Galia, Scabiosa via Bilby, Moonflower via Llez, Gloxinia via Andrey Korzun.