Using Purple in the Garden + My Top Ten Purple Flowers

There is a reason why purple is the color of royals. It’s a powerful hue. From sparkling lavender to sultry eggplant this color is pure luxury.

In the garden you can use the various shades of purple to add dimension to a flower border or container combination. Pale purples reflect light and will jump forward while darks absorb light and recede. If you have a flat composition adding lilac or perhaps a deep violet will create a feeling of undulation.

In addition to occupying both ends of the light spectrum purple can be either warm or cool. Add more red to get wine, burgundy and plum. Blooms such as Supertina® Bordeaux and tulip ‘Queen of the Night’ will heat up a color combination. Amethyst, indigo, and mulberry result when blue predominates. Clematis ‘Marie Louise Jensen’ and ‘New Wonder’ Scaevola are good examples of cool purple.

A little purple goes a long way, especially when it comes to the medium to deep hues. An excess of any dark color will make a garden somber. A good rule of thumb is to limit saturated colors to 20% of a border.

Top Ten Purple Flowers from Proven Winners®

  • 1. Supertunia® Royal Velvet Petunia

    P. Allen Smith Platinum Pick
    Annual except in zones 9 – 10, full sun, great fall flower

  • 2. Supertunia® Bordeaux Petunia

    P. Allen Smith Platinum Pick
    Annual except in zones 9 – 10, full sun, prolific bloomer

  • 3. Superbena® Royal Chambray Verbena

    P. Allen Smith Platinum Pick
    Annual except in zones 8 – 11, full sun, extra-large blooms

  • 4. Lucia™ Lavender Blush Lobelia

    P. Allen Smith Platinum Pick
    Annual except in zones 9 – 11, full sun to partial shade, heat tolerant

  • 5. Superbells® Plum Calibrachoa

    P. Allen Smith Platinum Pick
    Annual except in zones 9 – 10, full sun, great for containers

  • 6. Angelface® Blue Angelonia

    P. Allen Smith Platinum Pick
    Annual except in zones 9 – 10, full sun to partial shade, good cut flower

  • 7. Lo and Behold™ Blue Chip Buddleia

    P. Allen Smith Platinum Pick
    Perennial in zones 5 – 9, full sun, miniature butterfly bush

  • 8. Soprano® Purple Osteospermum

    Annual except in zones 9 – 10, full sun, heat tolerant

  • 9. Rockapulco™ Purple Impatiens

    P. Allen Smith Platinum Pick
    Annual except in zones 9 – 10, full to partial shade, rose-like blooms

  • 10. Bloomerang® Purple Lilac

    Shrub hardy to zone 5, full sun to partial shade, repeat blooms

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