Flowers by colour

Purple flowers, from violet to nearly black

Purple covers more ground than any other colour word. It is used for violet, for mauve, for magenta and for flowers so dark they read black. Four of those will not sit together. Here is which purple you are actually buying.

Aubergine Deep iris Clematis Lilac Aster Catmint Wisteria Pale mauve
The flowers

Every purple flower in the library

49 of the 82 flowers here carry this colour, ordered by how much of it the photograph actually shows. The library keeps one picture per flower and most of these come in several colours.

Balloon FlowerTrue purple Balloon FlowerPlatycodon grandiflorusSummer bloomer
8 photos of Balloon Flower
Balloon Flower Balloon Flower Balloon Flower Balloon Flower Balloon Flower (Platycodon grandiflorus) Balloon Flower Balloon Flower (Platycodon grandiflorus) Balloon Flower (Platycodon grandiflorus)
ClematisTrue purple ClematisClematisSpring bloomer
8 photos of Clematis
Clematis Clematis (Clematis hybrids) Flower Clematis Clematis (Clematis hybrids) Flower Clematis (Clematis hybrids) Flower Clematis (Clematis hybrids) Flower Clematis (Clematis hybrids) Flower Clematis (Clematis hybrids) Flower
Bearded IrisTrue purple Bearded IrisIris germanicaSpring bloomer
8 photos of Bearded Iris
Bearded Iris Bearded Iris Bearded Iris Bearded Iris (Iris germanica) Flower Bearded Iris Bearded Iris (Iris germanica) Flower Bearded Iris (Iris germanica) Flower Bearded Iris
IrisTrue purple IrisIrisSpring bloomer
AsterTrue purple AsterAster amellusSummer bloomer
8 photos of Aster
Aster Aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae, S. oblongifolium) Aster Aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae, S. oblongifolium) Aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae, S. oblongifolium) Aster Aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae, S. oblongifolium) Aster
GeraniumMauve and magenta GeraniumPelargonium x hortorumSummer bloomer
LilacTrue purple LilacSyringa vulgarisSpring bloomer
8 photos of Lilac
Lilac (Syringa vulgaris) Flower plant Lilac (Syringa vulgaris) Flower plant Lilac Lilac (Syringa vulgaris) Flower plant Lilac (Syringa vulgaris) Flower plant Lilac (Syringa vulgaris) Flower plant Lilac Lilac
BellflowerViolet BellflowerCampanula persicifoliaSummer bloomer
BellflowerViolet BellflowerCampanula spp.Spring bloomer
8 photos of Bellflower
Campanula (Campanula spp.) Flower Campanula (Campanula spp.) Flower Bellflower Bellflower Campanula (Campanula spp.) Flower Campanula (Campanula spp.) Flower Campanula (Campanula spp.) Flower Bellflower
CatmintViolet CatmintNepeta x faasseniiSpring bloomer
8 photos of Catmint
Catmint (Nepeta × faassenii) Flower Catmint Catmint (Nepeta × faassenii) Flower Catmint (Nepeta × faassenii) Flower Catmint Catmint (Nepeta × faassenii) Flower Catmint (Nepeta × faassenii) Flower Catmint
Garden PhloxMauve and magenta Garden PhloxPhlox paniculataSummer bloomer
LavenderViolet LavenderLavandula angustifoliaSummer bloomer
8 photos of Lavender
Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) Purple Flower Lavender Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) Purple Flower Lavender Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) Purple Flower Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) Purple Flower Lavender Lavender
Candle larkspurViolet Candle larkspurDelphinium elatumSummer bloomer
Morning GloryViolet Morning GloryIpomoea purpurea / Ipomoea tricolorSummer bloomer
Cornflower (Bachelor's Button)Violet Cornflower (Bachelor's Button)Centaurea cyanusSpring bloomer
African Lily (Lily of the Nile)Mauve and magenta African Lily (Lily of the Nile)Agapanthus praecoxSummer bloomer
Russian SageViolet Russian SageSalvia yangii (syn. Perovskia atriplicifolia)Summer bloomer
8 photos of Russian Sage
Russian Sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia Salvia yangii) Flower Russian Sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia Salvia yangii) Flower Russian Sage Russian Sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia Salvia yangii) Flower Russian Sage Russian Sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia Salvia yangii) Flower Russian Sage Russian Sage
Love-in-a-MistViolet Love-in-a-MistNigella damascenaSpring bloomer
Garden VerbenaMauve and magenta Garden VerbenaVerbena x hybridaSpring bloomer
DahliaTrue purple DahliaDahlia pinnataSummer bloomer
Virginia BluebellsViolet Virginia BluebellsMertensia virginicaSpring bloomer
Busy Lizzie (Garden Impatiens)Mauve and magenta Busy Lizzie (Garden Impatiens)Impatiens wallerianaSpring bloomer
AnemoneTrue purple AnemoneAnemone coronariaSpring bloomer
Sweet AlyssumMauve and magenta Sweet AlyssumLobularia maritimaSpring bloomer
MagnoliaMauve and magenta MagnoliaMagnolia grandifloraSpring bloomer
LupineMauve and magenta LupineLupinus polyphyllus (and Russell hybrids, Lupinus × hybridus)Spring bloomer
8 photos of Lupine
Lupine Lupine (Lupinus polyphyllus hybrids) Flower Lupine Lupine Lupine (Lupinus polyphyllus hybrids) Flower Lupine (Lupinus polyphyllus hybrids) Flower Lupine (Lupinus polyphyllus hybrids) Flower Lupine
Great Blue LobeliaViolet Great Blue LobeliaLobelia siphiliticaSummer bloomer
Blue Salvia (Mealycup Sage)Violet Blue Salvia (Mealycup Sage)Salvia farinaceaSpring bloomer
PetuniaTrue purple PetuniaPetunia x hybridaSpring bloomer
AzaleaMauve and magenta AzaleaRhododendron spp.Spring bloomer
ZinniaMauve and magenta ZinniaZinnia elegansSummer bloomer
ConeflowerMauve and magenta ConeflowerEchinacea purpureaSummer bloomer
8 photos of Coneflower
Coneflower Coneflower Coneflower ‘Magnus’ and purple types (Echinacea purpurea) Coneflower Coneflower Coneflower ‘Magnus’ and purple types (Echinacea purpurea) Purple Flowers Coneflower ‘Magnus’ and purple types (Echinacea purpurea)
SnapdragonMauve and magenta SnapdragonAntirrhinum majusSpring bloomer
GentianViolet GentianGentiana acaulis (Stemless/Trumpet Gentian); genus GentianaSpring bloomer
Calla LilyTrue purple Calla LilyZantedeschia aethiopicaSummer bloomer
YarrowMauve and magenta YarrowAchillea millefoliumSummer bloomer
TulipTrue purple TulipTulipa spp. (incl. Tulipa gesneriana hybrids)Spring bloomer
Moth OrchidTrue purple Moth OrchidPhalaenopsisCool-season bloomer
Globe ThistleViolet Globe ThistleEchinops ritroSummer bloomer
CarnationMauve and magenta CarnationDianthus caryophyllusSummer bloomer
AnthuriumMauve and magenta AnthuriumAnthurium andraeanumCool-season bloomer
RoseMauve and magenta RoseRosaSummer bloomer
RanunculusMauve and magenta RanunculusRanunculus asiaticusSpring bloomer
DaylilyMauve and magenta DaylilyHemerocallisSummer bloomer
Dancing Lady OrchidMauve and magenta Dancing Lady OrchidOncidiumFall bloomer
Lenten Rose (Hellebore)Mauve and magenta Lenten Rose (Hellebore)Helleborus × hybridus (syn. H. orientalis hybrids)Cool-season bloomer
8 photos of Lenten Rose (Hellebore)
Hellebore (Helleborus hybridus) Flower Hellebore (Helleborus hybridus) Flower Lenten Rose (Hellebore) Lenten Rose (Hellebore) Hellebore (Helleborus hybridus) Flower Lenten Rose (Hellebore) Lenten Rose (Hellebore) Hellebore (Helleborus hybridus) Flower
LantanaMauve and magenta LantanaLantana camaraSummer bloomer
ChrysanthemumMauve and magenta ChrysanthemumChrysanthemum × morifoliumFall bloomer
Bigleaf HydrangeaDecided by your soil Bigleaf HydrangeaHydrangea macrophyllaSummer bloomer
8 photos of Bigleaf Hydrangea
Bigleaf Hydrangea Hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla) Flower Bigleaf Hydrangea Hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla) Flower Hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla) Flower Bigleaf Hydrangea Hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla) Flower Bigleaf Hydrangea
Salvia ‘May Night’ Salvia ‘May Night’Salvia sylvestris
7 photos of Salvia ‘May Night’
Salvia ‘May Night’ Salvia ‘May Night’ (Salvia × sylvestris) Flower Salvia ‘May Night’ (Salvia × sylvestris) Flower Salvia ‘May Night’ (Salvia × sylvestris) Flower Salvia ‘May Night’ (Salvia × sylvestris) Flower Salvia ‘May Night’ (Salvia × sylvestris) Flower Salvia ‘May Night’
Allium (Allium aflatunense, A. giganteum) Flower AlliumAllium aflatunense
7 photos of Allium
Allium Allium Allium Allium (Allium aflatunense, A. giganteum) Flower Allium Allium (Allium aflatunense, A. giganteum) Flower Allium (Allium aflatunense, A. giganteum) Flower
Wisteria WisteriaWisteria floribunda
7 photos of Wisteria
Wisteria Wisteria Wisteria (Wisteria floribunda, W. sinensis) Flower Wisteria Wisteria (Wisteria floribunda, W. sinensis) Flower Wisteria Wisteria (Wisteria floribunda, W. sinensis) Flower
Verbena (Verbena rigida, V. bonariensis) Flower VerbenaVerbena rigida
7 photos of Verbena
Verbena (Verbena rigida, V. bonariensis) Flower Verbena Verbena Verbena (Verbena rigida, V. bonariensis) Flower Verbena (Verbena rigida, V. bonariensis) Flower Verbena (Verbena rigida, V. bonariensis) Flower Verbena
Why

Why purple is the colour it is

Purple sits in the middle of the same pigment family that makes both red and blue. Delphinidin and cyanidin are the raw material, and where the colour lands is decided by the acidity inside the cell and by co-pigments stacked alongside the anthocyanin. That balance is delicate enough to shift within a single flower's life: many purples open bluer and age pinker as the sap acidifies. It is also why purple is the easiest colour for a breeder to reach and the hardest for a label to describe.

Purple in shade disappears

Deep purple absorbs almost everything that falls on it, so in a shady corner it reads as an absence rather than a flower. Keep the darkest purples where the light hits them, or put silver, chartreuse or white directly behind.

The honest sort

How purple each one really is

The same flowers again, this time grouped by how much of the colour is actually there in ordinary daylight rather than on a label.

True purple12Equal parts red and blue. What most people picture at the word.
ClematisClematis Bearded IrisBearded Iris IrisIris Lilac (Syringa vulgaris) Flower plantLilac AsterAster Balloon FlowerBalloon Flower
Also here Petunia Calla Lily Anemone Moth Orchid Dahlia Tulip
Violet, leaning blue13Cool. Reads almost blue at dusk and in photographs.
Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) Purple FlowerLavender Catmint (Nepeta × faassenii) FlowerCatmint Russian Sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia Salvia yangii) FlowerRussian Sage
Also here Blue Salvia (Mealycup Sage) Globe Thistle Great Blue Lobelia Gentian Virginia Bluebells Candle larkspur Love-in-a-Mist Cornflower (Bachelor's Button) Bellflower Morning Glory
Mauve and magenta, leaning pink22Warm. Sits with pink, fights with true violet.
ConeflowerConeflower LupineLupine Hellebore (Helleborus hybridus) FlowerLenten Rose (Hellebore)
Also here Sweet Alyssum Garden Phlox Chrysanthemum Zinnia Carnation Azalea Magnolia Busy Lizzie (Garden Impatiens) Geranium Lantana Garden Verbena Rose Ranunculus Snapdragon Daylily Yarrow Dancing Lady Orchid Anthurium African Lily (Lily of the Nile)
Decided by your soil1Purple in the middle ground, blue in sour, pink in limey.
Bigleaf HydrangeaBigleaf Hydrangea
Putting it together

What purple sits well with

Purple and chartreuseLady's mantle or euphorbia; the single liveliest pairing in the border.
Violet and silverCool on cool, and it keeps working after the sun goes down.
Deep purple and apricotUnexpected and expensive-looking. Avoid adding pink.
Meaning

What purple says

Purple carries dignity, ceremony and a certain distance, from the days when the dye cost more than the cloth. In a bouquet it reads as admiration for someone you do not know intimately, which is why it turns up at graduations.