Purple-flowered plants work well in most colour schemes, pairing just as effectively with whites and pastels as they do with hot reds and orange flowers.Another benefit of growing purple-flowered plants is that they’re highly attractive to pollinators, with some showing an innate preference for purple flowers.
1. Teasel
The teasel (Dipsacus fullonum) is a UK native biennial, bearing tall spikes of brush-like flowerheads with purple blooms, popular with bees and butterflies. Goldfinches eat the seed in winter. Grow at the back of a border or in a wild part of the garden.
2. Sweet rocket
Sweet rocket, Hesperis matrionalis is a pretty, white- or purple-flowered biennial, with a fantastic evening fragrance. It looks good when allowed to drift, naturally, through an informal sunny or partially shaded border, especially in a cottage garden or wildlife garden scheme.
3. Alliums
Most ornamental alliums range in colour from white, through to pink and purple. They’re especially popular with pollinating insects and provide interest in borders with their drumstick-shaped blooms.
4. Salvias
Purple-flowered salvias like Salvia ‘Amistad’ and ‘Ostfriesland’ look fantastic growing in a mixed herbaceous border with other bright coloured flowers like kniphofias and rudbeckias.
5. Catmint
Catmints are attractive perennials with fragrant foliage, bearing masses of nectar-rich flowers in summer. There are lots of types of catmint available, from smaller bushy types suitable for growing in pots, to taller varieties, perfect for growing in the middle of a border. They thrive in a position of full sun, with light, well-drained soil.
6. Verbena bonariensis
Verbena bonariensis is a popular garden perennial, grown for its plate-like purple flowers, which are attractive to a wide range of pollinators. It’s perfect for providing both height and long-lasting colour in borders.
7. Clematis
There’s an abundance of purple-flowered clematis to grow, with blooms from pale mauves to deep, royal purples. For spring flowers try Clematis alpina, or for summer grow a variety of Clematis viticella.
8. Wisteria
Wisteria bears masses of purple flowers, and is traditionally trained against the front of houses or on garden walls. Japanese wisteria is less vigorous than Chinese wisteria, and has longer flowers.
9. Lavender
Lavender has become a garden stalwart due to its rich fragrance, gorgeous purple colour and ease of growing. It’s popular with pollinators, too. Grow it in full sun, in well-drained soil.
10. Buddleia
Buddleias are deciduous shrubs bearing masses of flowering panicles, which are popular with pollinators. They grow particularly well on chalky, lime-rich soils and are one of the best plants for attracting butterflies.
11. Mountain cornflower
Mountain cornflower, Centaurea montana is native to the mountain meadows and woodlands of continental Europe. It typically has grey-green, lance-shaped leaves and large, deep blue or violet flowers, borne in early summer. Bees love the flowers.
12. Lungwort
The lungwort, Pulmonaria spp., is named after its mottled leaves, which are supposed to resemble lungs. Funnel-shaped flowers are borne in shades of blue, violet, pink, purple, red and white. They’re extremely attractive to bees, particularly the hairy footed flower bee, Anthophora plumipes.
