Create a violet wonderland in your garden with these flowers
Nena Farrell
1 /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.
2 /18
‘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.
3 /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.
4 /18Photo by Proven Winners; written by Sharon Cohoon
Heliotrope
(Heliotropium arborescens)
The purple varieties of this flower are more common than others.
5 /18
‘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.
6 /18
'Fanny' aster
(Symphyotrichum oblongifolium ‘Fanny Aster’)
Fluffy and full, this low-growing, bushy showstopper makes a gorgeous groundcover when in bloom.
7 /18
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.
8 /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.
9 /18
'Purple Queen' bougainvillea
(Bougainvillea ‘Purple Queen’)
These deep-plum flowers make a striking statement in planter boxes, along fences, and atop arbors.
10 /18
'Silhouette' bougainvillea
(Bougainvillea ‘Silhouette’)
A more compact, bushy bougainvillea, this violet variety pairs nicely with ‘White Stripe.’
11 /18
'Showy' penstemon
(Penstemon spectabilis)
The best choice for coastal California, sporting iridescent lavender blue flowers.
12 /18
‘Rocky Mountain’ penstemon
(Penstemon strictus)
This Wyoming cold-hardy penstemon has stunning purple-blue blooms.
13 /18
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.
14 /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.
15 /18
'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.
16 /18
‘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.
17 /18
Iris chrysographes
(Iris chrysographes)
Add a touch of velvet to the garden with this sweetly-scented deciduous perennial.
18 /18
Siberian iris
(Iris ‘Caesar’s Brother’)
This beardless, deep-purple perennial stands upright and thrives in moist soils where most irises will not.