Discover beautiful purple flowering plants for the garden, selected by expert horticulturists and growers. Subscribe to Gardens Illustrated Magazine and get your first 3 issues for just £5! Gardens Illustrated Team
However, sometimes you have a specific color in mind to complete the planting design. Here, experts including Jimmy Black, Matt Rees, Marina Christopher, Tom Brown, Tom Coward and Fleur van Zoonveld pick their favorite purple-flowered plants for the garden.Purple flowers are a great addition to any planting design. With a range of colors from calming lilacs and lavenders to exciting magentas, no border would be complete without purple flowers.
You may also be interested in:Excellent white flowers.
More Purple Flowers for Your Garden
- Salvia pratensis ‘Indigo’
Salvia pratensis ‘Indigo’ was bred by Thomas Carlyle at Loddon Nursery in Twyford, Berkshire. It has a rosette of leaves and rather loose flower stems shaped like an inverted pyramid so the apex is wider than its base. The violet-blue flowers of this species are large and very attractive to bees. Height 90 cm Native to Europe Growing conditions Well-drained soil. sun Hardiness RHS H7, USDA 7a-11 Summer of interest
Recommended by plant woman and ecologist Marina Christopher.
Here’s more about our favorite salvia.
- Geranium ‘Orion’
In the late 1990s, Dutch nurseryman Brian Kibbs discovered a plant of the hardy, mound-forming geranium ‘Brookside’ (a hybrid between G. clerkii ‘Kashmir Purple’ and G. pretense) that outnumbered its parents. There were dark blue and very large flowers. . The electric purple veins guide insects to the central white disc, which, even though the plant is sterile, produces a lot of nectar as bees are drawn to their flowers. It does not produce seeds so the flowering season is long. AGMHeight 60-75 cm. Original hybrid bred in the Netherlands. Growing Conditions Suitable soil in sun or partial shade. Hardiness RHS H7, USDA 5a-9b. The season of interest is from late spring to fall.
Recommended by plant woman and ecologist Marina Christopher.
Looking for more hardy geraniums?
- Baptisia ‘Purple Smoke’
Baptisia species are promiscuous and the late Rob Gardner of the North Carolina Botanical Garden introduced Baptisia ‘Purple Smoke’ in 1996, a hybrid between B. australis var. aberrans and B. albescens with black stems and purple-blue flowers.Height 1.2 m. Native to eastern North America. Growing Conditions: Full sun to well-drained soil. Hardiness RHS H7, USDA 3a-9b. Season of interest from spring to summer.
Recommended by plant woman and ecologist Marina Christopher.
- Linum narbonensis
To me, this is the best blue flax I have ever grown. It is not often seen in commerce and inferior plants, possibly Linum perenne, are often sold under its name. It is distinct in bearing clusters of upright flower buds, while other species have drooping buds. It also has an irregular habit, as many of its branches are placed at 45-degree angles to the trunk, giving it a very angular shape. Large, blue flowers bloom in the sun with dark blue guidelines to lure insects to the funnel-shaped opening to its clear white eye.Height 45-60 cm. Native to western and central Mediterranean, northern Spain, northeastern Portugal. The season of interest is from late spring to summer.
Recommended by plant woman and ecologist Marina Christopher.
- Tibouchina urvillean’
This conservatory plant does particularly well if aired during the warmer months. In our exotic garden it produces a continuous display of poppy purple flowers, arranged in loose panicles, from velvety buds. Prune to keep compact and manageable and regenerate new plants from semi-ripe cuttings every three to four years. Cuttings can be taken at any time of the year, although summer is best. Bring back indoors before the first frost and pot in a good loam-based compost. A good cut flower, but be careful, fallen petals can stain.Height 2 meters. Originally from Brazil. Full sun in the summer garden; Winter in the conservatory. Hardiness RHS H2, USDA 9a-11. Seasons year round.
Recommended by head gardener Matt Rees
- Ipomoea ‘Caprice’
I tried several morning glories last year and they were surprisingly variable in their performance, but this was one of the best blues. Strong growth has covered my 2m high obelisk in foliage and the plant has bloomed pale blue flowers. It was quite a spectacle, especially with some of the less flowery forms. Avoid over-feeding or you’ll end up with lots of leaves and only a few flowers, but otherwise, in a sunny position, ipomias will provide lots of color and interest in summer and some of the less attractive hedges. will cover .Height 1.5-2.5m. Original garden origin (breed from Mexico). Conditions Moist and well-drained soil; full sun. Hardiness RHS H1C, USDA 9a-11. Season of interest July to October.
Recommended by head gardener Tom Brown.
- Iris unguicularis ‘Mary Barnard’
I am always amazed at how tolerant this species can be of the incredibly poor and sun-baked positions of the iris. Often, they hug walls and enjoy roasting in summer and then in winter they reward us with large, violet flowers with contrasting yellow signals. Planting flowers in December is not without its challenges, but by planting against a sunny wall, you minimize the effects of hard frosts, which can damage newly emerged flowers. Flowers appear early if exposed to frost. AGM Height 50 cm. Original garden origin (Eastern Mediterranean and North African species). conditions free-draining soil; A shelter in full sun. Hardness RHS H5. Season of interest December – February.
Recommended by Head Gardener Tom Brown.
- Rosa ‘Welchen Blau’
I love this rose not only for its unusual violet-purple hues and its fruity-scented flowers, but also for its graceful, elegant habit trained on a wall or fence. Classified as a rambler, this rose is well behaved and not too vigorous, like some rambling roses. Height 2.5 meters. Origin of the original garden. Conditions Moist, free-draining soil; full sun. Hardiness RHS H7, USDA 5a-9b. Season of interest May – June.Recommended by head gardener Tom Brown.Here’s to more roses to grow.
- Campanula ‘Kent Belle’
This Campanula inspires me on many levels. The sheer size of its blooms and the deep intensity of its midnight-blue, bell-shaped flowers are just the thing for beginners. As with most campanulas, ‘Kent Belle’ enjoys fertile, moisture-retentive soil in summer and also needs adequate light levels for best results. Flower clusters can be heavy for a plant, so help with a bit of birch or hazel to maximize the effect of the flowers. Trusted perennial and deserving of its Award of Garden Merit. AGMHeight 1m Original hybrid of C. takesimana and C. latifolia. Moist but well-drained soil in summer; full sun. Hardiness RHS H7, USDA 5a-9b. Season of interest June – July.Recommended by head gardener Tom Brown.Looking for more about Campanula?
- Pneumonia ‘Blue Ensign’
Pulmonaria ‘Blue Ensign’ is one of the best lungs, producing mounds of smart, spring-green leaves topped by spikes of rich, violet-blue flowers. It thrives in shady conditions and performs at times of the year when color options are lacking. Use it under the skirt of a deciduous shrub or in bushes between summer-growing perennials. It will be quite happy under the summer umbrella, and although it may look tired by this time of year, it will re-emerge with vigor in the spring. AGMHeight 10-30 cm. Spread 40 cm. Origin of the original garden. Conditions Best garden soil; Can take dry summer shade once established. Hardiness RHS H6, USDA 3a-8b. spring Recommended by head gardener Matt Reese.
- Camassia leichtlinii subsp. suksdorfii Caerulea group
A genus of bulbous plants in the asparagus family, including five species from North America and one from South America. In the Pacific Northwest they were a staple food for Native Americans. Roasted bulbs have a sweet taste. This camasia has beautiful, star-shaped, dark blue flowers on tall stems and is one of the first to flower. It works well in hedgerows and borders but is best in grasslands. In the garden it goes perfectly with the apple blossoms.Height and spread 1-1.5m x 30cm. Native to British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, California and parts of Nevada. Conditions Prefer moist soil; Full sun to partial shade. Hardiness RHS H4, USDA 5a-9b. The season of interest is April to May.Recommended by head gardener Tom Coward.
- Salvia ‘Felix’ Fancy’
Versatile sage can grow in almost any garden microclimate and with over 900 species and several hundred cultivars, the choice is staggering. . Incredibly vigorous, it easily outcompetes tall grasses and herbaceous perennials, with late-season blooms of faint, white, yellow-lavender flowers from deep purple calyces. Height 1.5-2 m. Possibly the original spontaneous hybrid of S. leucantha x S. chapalensis. Growing Conditions Moisture-retentive soil; Sun or partial shade. Hardiness RHS H3, USDA 7a-9b. Recommended by plant woman and ecologist Marina Christopher.Succisa pratensi. Striking with tall ornamental grasses, such as Panicum, add small dots of color.Height 60cm-1.2m. Native to Europe, Western Asia. Growing Conditions Mostly soil; Sun or partial shade. Hardiness RHS H7, USDA 5a-9b. Recommended by plant woman and ecologist Marina Christopher.
- Crocus ‘Lady Killer’
Some flowers that you can enjoy in abundance. Others should be eaten individually. An example is this exquisitely detailed crocus with pure white flowers that have a rich, deep purple sheen on the underside. The vibrant orange stamens of each flower add to its intensity. I usually grow these bulbs in pots, topped with gravel, that open up from the ground so you can enjoy them. Plant them densely to ensure a full display and once they flower, let them go dormant or plant them in your garden for years to come.
Height 10 cm. Origin Garden. Conditions Well-drained, loamy soil; Sun Hardness RHS H6. The season of interest is late winter to early spring.Recommended by head gardener Tom Brown.This beautiful summer-flowering perennial is native to Yunnan, China and is only slowly becoming commercially available. It has fine leaves after a spray of lavender flowers on tall stems during the summer months. It is a much more suitable plant for most gardens than tall forms, such as T. ‘Elin’. I propagate it from fresh seed sown in the fall, as I do with all the Ranunculaceae family. Plants are slow to grow, but worth the wait. Height 1-1.5m. Origin Greece, China. Hardness RHS H7. June to July is the season of interest for flowers.Recommended by Jimmy Black, the plantsman and owner of Huntingbrook Gardens.
Don’t miss our guide to Thalectrum.
- Corydalis ‘Korn’s Purple’
I have become a fanatic for Corydalis. It is a cross between C. flexuosa and C. capitata. It grows upright for me and has purple flowers with a white center. I am planting my Corydalis collection in my new woodland beds with Snowdrops, Epimedium, Trillium and Podophyllum. Keep the soil moist, otherwise it will stop blooming and eventually disappear. I propagate it by dividing it in autumn.Height 35 cm. Original garden (species China). Conditions Moisture-retentive, humus-rich soil; Shaded Shade Hardness RHS H5. The season of interest for flowers is from spring to early summer.Recommended by Jimmy Black, planter and owner of Huntingbrook Gardens.Here are other perfect Corydales.
- Agapanthus ‘New Blue’
It may not be reliably hardy, but I love this agapanthus for its large, flat flowers that are widely spaced in the flower head, creating a distinctive flower shape that Looks reminiscent of the blue-flowered Nerain. This is one of the last blooms for me, adding to the resemblance to the autumn-flowering Nerin. Not surprisingly, I grow mine with early flowering Nerines such as the Nerine undulata flexosa group.Height 60 cm. Origin Garden (species South Africa). Conditions Well-drained, moisture-retentive soil; full sun. Hardiness RHS H4, USDA 7a-9b. Season of Interest Early Fall.Recommended by Keith Wiley, owner of Plants Man and Wildside. Looking for more about agapanthus?
- Allium senescence subsp. Glaucoma
I must admit that I haven’t experimented with alliums as much as I should. This is partly because many of the ones I like are bulbs and because I think of them, perhaps illogically, as the plants least likely to be in a crowded border. Growing successfully with maintenance is difficult. However, this allium is small and perennial, and is great for growing in a rock garden or among low-growing, widely spaced neighbors. Its grey-blue leaves are slightly curled, and its flowers are an absolute magnet for tortoiseshell butterflies – we once counted 14 on a 20cm plant. Height 20 cm. Native to Mongolia, Siberia. Conditions Well-drained soil; full sun. Hardiness RHS H6, USDA 4a-9b. A summer of interest. Recommended by Keith Wiley, owner of Plants Man and Wildside.
- Aster x frikartii ‘Mönch’
With large, beautiful lilac-blue flowers and a central boss of yellow stamens, it is one of the first to bloom in late summer and stays in flower for several weeks – much longer than other varieties. A wonderful color combination and still one of the best. AGMHeight 90cm-1.2m. Origin of the original garden. conditions any soil; Full sun to partial shade. Hardiness RHS H7, USDA 5a-10b. Season of interest Summer to Fall.Recommended by Keith Wiley, owner of Plants Man and Wildside conditions any soil; Sun or partial shad.e. Hardiness RHS H6, USDA 3a-8b. Late winter to early spring.
