From Lavender to Lilac: Must-See Pictures of Purple Flowers and How to Grow Them

Purple flowers have long been a favorite among gardeners, florists, and flower enthusiasts alike. Symbolizing elegance, mystery, and creativity, the color purple holds a regal place in nature. Whether you're designing a peaceful backyard retreat or building an eye-catching floral display, pictures of purple flowers can be a powerful source of inspiration.

What makes purple flowers so intriguing is their wide variety. From the faintest lavender to the deepest plum, purple flowers can range in shape, size, and mood. Their shades evoke serenity and richness simultaneously, which makes them perfect for everything from wild meadows to urban container gardens.

In this guide, we've gathered a curated collection of the most stunning pictures of purple flowers, highlighting not only their beauty but also the best ways to grow them. Whether you’re planning a garden makeover or a seasonal bouquet, these purple blooms will help you bring life and visual poetry to your space.

15 Breathtaking Blooms to Brighten Your Garden

From bold climbers to dainty ground covers, here are some of the most stunning pictures of purple flowers that you’ll want to bookmark and come back to as your garden evolves.

1. Twilight Verbena (Verbena bonariensis)

Tall and slender, twilight verbena is a favorite in pollinator gardens for its airy clusters of tiny violet blossoms. This sun-loving plant thrives in hot, dry conditions and produces a delicate, ethereal look that brings movement to flowerbeds.

• Color Varieties: Lavender to soft purple

• Sun Exposure: Full sun

• Soil Needs: Dry, well-drained

  
  

2. Midnight Bells (Campanula medium)

With cup-shaped blooms in velvety deep purple, midnight bells are a striking addition to cottage gardens and floral arrangements. These biennials flourish in cooler climates and bloom prolifically from late spring into midsummer.

• Color Varieties: Deep violet, purple-blue

• Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade

• Soil Needs: Moist, loamy, well-drained

  
  

3. Violet Crown Anemone (Anemone coronaria)

Known for its silky petals and jewel-like tones, the violet crown anemone offers a picture-perfect bloom for spring containers or flower beds. Its dark eye adds drama and contrast to garden compositions.

• Color Varieties: Violet, purple, indigo

• Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade

• Soil Needs: Well-drained, enriched

  
  

4. Lavender Lace Plectranthus

Not only do the tiny lavender-purple flowers attract bees, but the fuzzy leaves are aromatic and deer-resistant. This plant performs well in containers and adds soft texture to shade gardens.

• Color Varieties: Lavender

• Sun Exposure: Part sun to shade

• Soil Needs: Rich, moist, well-drained

  
  

5 Mystic Spires Sage (Salvia longispicata x farinacea)

An eye-catching plant for garden borders, mystic spires sage is beloved for its continuous bloom and upright spikes of deep violet-blue flowers. It attracts hummingbirds and thrives with minimal care.

• Color Varieties: Indigo, violet

• Sun Exposure: Full sun

• Soil Needs: Loamy, well-drained

  
  

6. Evening Sky Petunia

With petals speckled like a galaxy, this petunia stands out in hanging baskets and planters. Its colors range from pale lilac to dark purple with white flecks resembling stars—perfect for a dreamy floral aesthetic.

• Color Varieties: Purple with white speckles

• Sun Exposure: Full sun

• Soil Needs: Moist, fertile

7. Anise Hyssop (Agastache foeniculum)

This upright perennial with aromatic leaves and spiky purple flowers is not just visually attractive but also beloved by bees and butterflies. Its strong licorice scent and extended blooming period make it an ideal addition to pollinator gardens.

• USDA Zones: 4–9

• Sun: Full sun

• Soil: Well-drained

• Color: Lavender-purple spikes

  
  

8. Balloon Flower (Platycodon grandiflorus)

Before blooming, the flower buds swell up like little balloons—making it a fun addition to any garden. Once opened, the star-shaped flowers offer a rich violet hue that lasts from mid to late summer.

• USDA Zones: 3–8

• Sun: Full sun to partial shade

• Soil: Loamy, well-drained

• Color: Violet-blue to purple

  
  

9. Bluebeard (Caryopteris × clandonensis)

A compact shrub that brings late-season interest with deep bluish-purple flowers. Perfect for edging or as a low hedge, it attracts pollinators and thrives with minimal attention.

• USDA Zones: 5–9

• Sun: Full sun

• Soil: Average, well-drained

• Color: Bluish-purple clusters

  
  

10. Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata)

A showy and unique climbing vine with striking, alien-like purple blooms. Not just beautiful—some varieties even bear edible fruit!

• USDA Zones: 6–10

• Sun: Full sun

• Soil: Moist, well-drained

• Color: Purple petals with white filaments

  
  

11. Toad Lily (Tricyrtis hirta)

These spotted, orchid-like flowers thrive in shady spots, making them a wonderful surprise in woodland gardens. They bloom in late summer when most other perennials are winding down.

• USDA Zones: 4–9

• Sun: Partial to full shade

• Soil: Moist, well-drained

• Color: Light purple with dark speckles

  
  

12. Prairie Blazing Star (Liatris pycnostachya)

Its tall purple spikes provide architectural height and texture in native gardens or prairie landscapes. It also draws butterflies like a magnet.

• USDA Zones: 3–9

• Sun: Full sun

• Soil: Well-drained

• Color: Purple spikes

13. African Daisy (Osteospermum spp.)

These striking flowers often feature purple centers with lavender petals and are ideal for container gardens or borders. They bloom from early summer through fall.

• USDA Zones: 9–11

• Sun: Full sun

• Soil: Sandy, well-drained

• Color: Purple, lavender, violet

  
  

14. Catmint (Nepeta spp.)

A hardy, drought-tolerant perennial with soft gray-green foliage and small purple-blue blooms. Great for edging pathways or planting en masse.

• USDA Zones: 3–8

• Sun: Full sun

• Soil: Dry to average

• Color: Blue to purple

15. Scabiosa (Scabiosa columbaria)

Also called pincushion flower, this charming bloom has a frilly edge and a unique center. It flowers all summer and is especially attractive to pollinators.

• USDA Zones: 3–7

• Sun: Full sun

• Soil: Well-drained

• Color: Lavender, violet

How to Use Them in Your Garden Design

Purple flowers can be calming or dramatic, depending on how they’re used. For a serene space, pair pale lavenders and mauves with greens and whites. If you're going for drama, combine deep violets with fiery oranges and scarlets. Use taller purple plants like sage or verbena as backdrops and lower-growing ones like coral bells as edging.

Layering textures is another way to add depth. Use velvet-like petals from anemones or pansies beside feathery blooms like lavender or ornamental grasses. This contrast draws attention and creates visual rhythm in your garden.

Finally, consider blooming schedules. Mix early bloomers like crocus or anemone with summer stars like petunias or salvia, and finish with fall bloomers like asters. This ensures your garden always has a touch of purple through the seasons.

FAQ

Q: Can I grow purple flowers in containers?Yes! Many purple flowers like petunias, lavender, and coral bells grow beautifully in pots. Make sure the container has good drainage and is sized appropriately for the plant.

Q: What purple flowers attract pollinators?Salvia, lavender, verbena, and bee balm are all purple blooms known to attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.

Q: Are there purple flowers for shady spots?Yes—consider plants like lamium, heuchera, and plectranthus, which perform well in partial shade.

Q: Can I mix purple flowers with other colored blooms?Absolutely. Purple pairs well with yellows, pinks, whites, and silvers for a balanced and visually appealing garden.

Inspired by these breathtaking pictures of purple flowers? Whether you’re planning a new garden, a custom home exterior, or a full-scale renovation, BY Design And Viz brings artistic vision and technical expertise together. Our team of experienced landscape architects and 3D visualization artists will help you imagine and build beautiful, functional spaces—inside and out.

Contact us today to schedule a consultation and let us bring your ideas to life with elegance and precision.