Create a violet wonderland in your garden with these flowers
Written byNena FarrellDecember 9, 2016
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Saxon Holt / Photo Botanic
1 of 18Saxon Holt / Photo Botanic
'Amistad' salvia
(Salvia 'Amistad' PP23578)
Dark purple flowers with nearly black calyx bloom from early spring until frost, no pruning needed. These flowers are a magnet for butterflies, hummingbirds, and other pollinators.
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‘Love and Wishes’ salvia
(Salvia 'Love and Wishes' PPAF)
Deep purple flowers cover these tough plants from early spring to frost, forming a ball of color in your yard.
Photo by Doreen L. Wynja; written by Kathleen N. Brenzel
3 of 18Photo by Doreen L. Wynja; written by Kathleen N. Brenzel
Lilac
(Syringa x 'Declaration')
Star-shaped reddish purple flowers appear in large dramatic clusters in early spring. The scent is spicy sweet—the essence of spring. Most lilacs bloom best in regions with winter chill.
Photo by Proven Winners; written by Sharon Cohoon
4 of 18Photo by Proven Winners; written by Sharon Cohoon
Heliotrope
(Heliotropium arborescens)
The purple varieties of this flower are more common than others.
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‘Carolina Climbing’ aster
(Aster carolinianus)
Bring on the trellis for this ten-foot beauty. Both deer-tolerant and butterfly-friendly, these asters bloom high from September through November.
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'Fanny' aster
(Symphyotrichum oblongifolium ‘Fanny Aster’)
Fluffy and full, this low-growing, bushy showstopper makes a gorgeous groundcover when in bloom.
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Aromatic aster
(Symphyotrichum oblongifolius)
Fitting for a range of conditions, this fall-blooming, scented perennial tolerates clay, dry, rocky, or sandy soil and coastal conditions.
Photo courtesy of High Country Gardens
8 of 18Photo courtesy of High Country Gardens
Lavender
(Lavandula)
English lavender is the most fragrant, but Spanish lavender’s deep purple “rabbit ears” stand out in garden beds.
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'Purple Queen' bougainvillea
(Bougainvillea ‘Purple Queen’)
These deep-plum flowers make a striking statement in planter boxes, along fences, and atop arbors.
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'Silhouette' bougainvillea
(Bougainvillea ‘Silhouette’)
A more compact, bushy bougainvillea, this violet variety pairs nicely with ‘White Stripe.’
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'Showy' penstemon
(Penstemon spectabilis)
The best choice for coastal California, sporting iridescent lavender blue flowers.
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‘Rocky Mountain’ penstemon
(Penstemon strictus)
This Wyoming cold-hardy penstemon has stunning purple-blue blooms.
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Whopping Purple Whiskers pansy
(Viola x wittrockiana ‘Whopping Purple Whiskers’)
Pairing short stems with large, edible flowers, these pansies stretch up to 2.5 inches wide, offering big, bold color.
Photo by Linda Lamb Peters
14 of 18Photo by Linda Lamb Peters
Cool Wave pansy
(Viola x wittrockiana ‘Cool Wave’)
Plant these annuals in full sun and they will grow vigorously up to eight inches tall and thirty inches wide.
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'Bowles Black' pansy
(Viola nigra ‘Bowles Black’)
These dark purple pansies grow well in containers or as charming accents creeping off of rocks and pavers.
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‘On the Edge’ iris
(Iris douglasiana ‘On the Edge’)
Native to Oregon and California’s central coast, these easy-to-grow irises tolerate less-than-perfect conditions and are easy on the eyes.
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Iris chrysographes
(Iris chrysographes)
Add a touch of velvet to the garden with this sweetly-scented deciduous perennial.
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Siberian iris
(Iris ‘Caesar’s Brother’)
This beardless, deep-purple perennial stands upright and thrives in moist soils where most irises will not.