The colours purple and violet are associated with royalty, noble, elegant and sophisticated. Regardless of whether one is planting flowers for the first time or has been doing so for several years, adding some depth of purple colourway in your garden will enhance its beauty. In addition to being colourful flowers, these flowers have their own meanings as well as advantages to individuals. Here, we will discuss the best purple flowers, types, and how to take care of them, together with some reasons to embrace the beauty of the purple flowers in your garden.
Why Choose Purple Flowers for Your Garden?
Inflorescence in purple has been considered as luxury and charm since early ages. It ranges from dark violet to the light violet color and brings distinct character to your garden. Purple also fits most of the other flowers and plants and therefore has made impressive addition in gardens. Despite the garden’s type, you will always find an ideal purple flower that will match your preference and enhance the feel of your garden.
Further, flowers that are purple in color are not only genuine and attractive; they have some advantages. With their wonderful color, many purple flowers also draw pollinators like bees and butterflies to enhance the health of your garden. They are also believed to have sedative properties; therefore, the ideal flowers to put in your house.
Popular Purple Flowers: Names and Descriptions
1. Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)
Lavender is arguably one of the most used purplish flowers and is recognized by its scent. They are a sub-shrub that has perennially growing characteristics that favor well-drained soil and sunny conditions. The compact, fast-growing plant is covered with small purple flowers in a kind of spiked formation, not only for eye candy but bees and butterflies too. It is used in aromatherapy to calm or sooth and is also used in form of dried flowers in sachets and potpourri.
- Height: 1-3 feet
- Care: Water sparingly; prune regularly to maintain shape.
- Benefits: Calming scent, attracts pollinators, used in essential oils.
2. Wisteria (Wisteria sinensis)
The wisteria is an appealing climber with pendant racemes of lilac blue flowers. Often associated with love, this flower grows best on places with direct sun exposure and on soils with good drainage. It is useful in complementing the trellis, pergola or even fences you may have in your compound or place of work. It may take a couple of years before the flowers blossoms but the beauty that erupts is worth waiting for.
- Height: 15-30 feet (depending on variety)
- Care: Requires support structures; prune after flowering.
- Benefits: Creates a dramatic effect, excellent for vertical spaces.
3. Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)
The purple coneflower is perennial plant which blossoms a daisy like flower with purplish ray florets and a central disc. This flower is for pollination and is used for treatment by the herbalist with properties of boosting the immune system. It is fast growing for which it is ideal to be grown by amateur horticulture.
- Height: 2-4 feet
- Care: Tolerant of drought; deadhead regularly for continuous blooms.
- Benefits: Medicinal properties, attracts pollinators, easy to grow.
4. Viola (Viola spp.)
Violas, which are commonly called pansies, are the smaller flower with many color possibilities. Many of the purple varieties of violas can be used in bedding, hanging baskets or containers. Wildly popular owing to their face-like bright flowers, violas are best suited for planting in late spring and early frost.
- Height: 6-12 inches
- Care: Prefers cool weather; deadhead to encourage blooms.
- Benefits: Versatile, ideal for cooler climates, attracts bees.
5. Allium (Allium giganteum)
It belongs to the onion family and has beautiful round headed purplish-red flower which has rather showy in appearance. Perhaps unsurprisingly given this, these flowers are not only aesthetically pleasing but are also relatively easy to cultivate. It can be propagated in groups for the purpose of using them as borders or focal points in the garden. They also have very long flowers perhaps reaching from late spring to early summer.
- Height: 2-4 feet
- Care: Well-drained soil; allow the foliage to die back naturally.
- Benefits: Long-lasting blooms, drought-tolerant, deer-resistant.
6. Clematis (Clematis spp.)
Clematis is a vine that bears impressive large flowers that can be red, pink, purple, blue, or white over summer and early autumn. They can climb fences or trellises and would provide an eye-catching centrepiece to your garden. Clematis flowers are summer plants, but there are some varieties that bloom in spring.
- Height: 6-15 feet
- Care: Requires support; prune after flowering.
- Benefits: Versatile, ideal for vertical gardening, long-lasting blooms.
7. Lupine (Lupinus spp.)
Lupines are narrow, pointed flowers and can grow in colors such as purple, blue and pink. This plant is renowned for its vivid and rich colour and will look lovely planted in any garden. Bush blackjack prefers a well-drainage soil type and will grow well in a full sun exposure. It also has the nitrogen fixing capability in the ground, which is good for the other plants around.
- Height: 1-4 feet
- Care: Needs well-drained soil; requires regular watering.
- Benefits: Fixes nitrogen in soil, attracts pollinators.
8. Orchid (Orchidaceae family)
Orchids are associated with exotic look and while there are so many different kinds of orchids the purple ones seem to have something magical about them. These flowers are produced indoor or usually outside depending on the prevailing weather conditions in the region. Orchids are a little tricky to grow, for example they need humidity and indirect sunlight but they are a very beautiful and long-lasting flowers.
- Height: Varies by species (1-3 feet)
- Care: Prefers indirect sunlight; needs humidity.
- Benefits: Exotic beauty, ideal for indoor gardens.
9. Hyacinth (Hyacinthus orientalis)
Hyacinths are a favorite flower within the springtime due to fragility and recognizable purple colors. They open in crowded umbels in formal or informal gardens, borders or planters. Chemis require well-drained soil and lots of light to do their best and hyacinths are one with these characteristics.
- Height: 8-12 inches
- Care: Water consistently during the growing season.
- Benefits: Fragrant flowers, great for spring gardens.
10. Salvia (Salvia spp.)
Salvia is used as a perennial herb that produces various tones of purple, pink or blue flowers. It also bears flowers that favours the presence of Hummingbirds and butterflies making it a perfect plant for the pollinator garden. Salvias are rather dry and require full sunlight in their growth conditions.
- Height: 1-3 feet
- Care: Well-drained soil, prune back after flowering.
- Benefits: Drought-tolerant, attracts hummingbirds, easy to care for.
How to Care for Purple Flowers
Caring for purple flowers is relatively straightforward, but it varies depending on the specific variety. However, there are a few common care tips that will help most purple flowers thrive:
- Sunlight: Most purple flowers, including lavender and salvia, thrive in full sun. Ensure your plants receive at least 6 hours of sunlight per day for optimal growth.
- Soil: Well-drained soil is crucial for purple flowers like lavender and hyacinths. Avoid overly moist soil, as it can lead to root rot.
- Watering: Watering needs vary depending on the flower, but it’s generally best to water when the soil feels dry to the touch. Purple coneflowers, for example, are drought-tolerant, while violas prefer consistent moisture.
- Fertilization: Feed your purple flowers with a balanced fertilizer to promote healthy growth. Avoid over-fertilizing, as this can lead to excessive foliage growth and fewer flowers.
- Pruning: Regular pruning helps maintain the shape of your flowers and encourages new blooms. Be sure to deadhead spent flowers to promote continuous blooming, especially for violas and coneflowers.
Why Purple Flowers Are Beneficial to Your Garden
- Attracting Pollinators: Purple flowers are a magnet for bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, which can enhance the biodiversity of your garden.
- Aesthetic Appeal: The varying shades of purple provide depth and contrast in your garden, making it visually appealing throughout the seasons.
- Calming Effects: Studies have shown that purple flowers can have a calming effect on the mind, making them perfect for a peaceful garden retreat.
- Medicinal Uses: Many purple flowers, such as lavender and coneflower, have medicinal properties, making them valuable additions to herb gardens.
Conclusion
People give special value to purple flowers owing to their beauty and personality that they bring to everyone’s garden. In this article, you discover that there are numerous types of purple flowers, from lavender to wisteria, and that’s why nobody needs to experience boredom in the garden design process. Having well selected purple flowers in your garden and properly taking care of them will show you what it is to have a colorful and lively garden. Purple flowers can be fit into the following niches; For pollinators; For garden beauty; For medicinal purposes.
References: Purple Flowers Names