Purple flowers, outdoor plants with purple hues: climbing, perennial, exotic and many others
The purple-hued flowers are beautiful to look at and throughout history have often been associated with the concepts of prestige and refinement for their uniqueness. They are therefore perfect specimens to be included in a special bouquet dedicated to a person we care a lot about! Today we will discover the names of the plants with the most suggestive purple flowers, also discovering their meaning in symbolism; but first review the language of flowers with our video!
Purple flowers: the 5 most common creepers and annuals
Purple is a truly magnetic color: it symbolizes elegance, sophistication and spiritual calm. It is also a symbol of respect and anyone should have a plant of this color to decorate the outdoors. The purple flowers are also ideal to give to those who have not been seen for a long time or to be included in original bridal bouquets. Any shade of purple you choose. will therefore be able to bring a touch of class to the green areas of the house, but without exceeding!
What are the best known purple flower names and their characteristics? Let's start by discovering the 5 most common plants with purple flowers: viola, wisteria, iris, clematis and bellflower.
Viola (Violet)
A very cute garden plant, extremely widespread and belonging to the violaceae family, the viola is native to South America, although some varieties are more typical of New Zealand.
In cultivation it is used in gardens for ornamental purposes and is very easy to keep alive; recommended when you are new to gardening.
It adapts well to small spaces because its height usually does not exceed 20cm, so it is the ideal plant to choose for embellishing terraces and balconies, as well as small green areas in the garden. The violet takes its name from the typical color that distinguishes it and the most common varieties are identified by having slightly lanceolate heart-shaped pedunculated leaves. The shades of the purple flower differ from species to species and range from dark purple to white, but there are also yellow and blue specimens. To grow well it needs to be placed in sunny contexts, but being a resistant plant it lives well even in semi-shade; obviously in this case the blooms are less luxuriant. The viola should be placed in areas sheltered from the wind and needs regular watering in summer, while in winter rainwater is enough. Planting: beginning of December.
Wisteria
Famous climber of oriental origin, the Wisteria chinensis it is chosen to embellish walls, gardens and pergolas. Wisteria is among the best plants to decorate any type of fence, thanks to the beauty of its lilac-colored cluster flowers and the intense and sweet scent that emanate during the flowering period. Not only that, this climber is also easy to cultivate because nature has endowed it with great resistance and therefore proves to be excellent even for those who do not have a green thumb. The only care is the pruning that must be performed both in autumn and in winter. It is in fact a shrub that if left to grow can reach up to 30mt.
The wisteria flowers are extremely showy and enchant anyone who looks at them in the spring season; they are very large, about 30cm, and vary in color from blue to delicate purple or pink. Flowering occurs from March to May but it is not uncommon to see some flowers appear in June and July as well.
Iris (iris)
We already talked about this in our article on yellow flowers, which you can read here. These are the irises, or flowers characterized by radially symmetrical petals. The botanical family to which they belong is so vast that experts have decided to divide it into 6 different subgenres but in common gardening two groups are sufficient, that of bulbous and that of rhizomatous. In both categories the flowers can appear purple, of different gradation depending on the species, but not all are perennial varieties such as the Florence lily or the iris pallida; others are more seasonal and appear around rivers of water. If you decide to grow irises in the garden or in pots, you need to dig a nice hole and insert the bulb into the earth in early autumn, do a few watering and wait for growth!
Clematis
Another very common rustic plant, climbing like wisteria. Clematis (clematis) has a purple-toned bloom that is usually very lush, easy to notice. It is therefore suitable for decorating pergolas, canopies and gazebos, but unlike wisteria it needs abundant watering.
It is not a difficult plant to grow at home but it is necessary to follow some rules to make it develop, such as placing it about 15cm from the wall and spreading it with the rods towards the wall and at an angle.
The clematis plant contains several varieties and each has different flowering periods and more or less different flowers.
Campanula
The bellflower is a perennial herbaceous plant belonging to the family of Campanulaceae. Often present in the borders, it is a very popular vegetable for the purplish or white color of its flowers. Native to Asia, North America and Europe, the bluebell can grow spontaneously both in mountain forests and in meadows and is therefore extremely easy to find in nature.
The species of this plant are about 300 and some are annuals, others biennials. It can be grown in the garden, but it tends to grow very quickly and therefore requires a lot of pruning.
To keep it in pots or in the green areas of the house, it is good to remember that it prefers full sun.
Purple garden flowers
The plants with the most common purple flowers are all cultivable in the garden, but some are very large shrubs that need large spaces to grow and not everyone has this possibility.
If you are looking for a strain that is easy to keep in your garden and at the same time makes a bit of a show, we recommend these four names: Allium, Nepitella, Ortensia and Iris dwarf.
Allium is perfect as a flowering plant to be placed in small gardens because with little effort you have a beautiful scenographic effect. It is a very simple plant to grow and you can choose between different types, with blooms ranging from spring to autumn. Allium is also called ornamental garlic and is a very resistant plant. The inflorescences are of various shapes (spherical, fan-shaped or umbrella), but all have small star-shaped flowers. The colors of the petals are mainly lilac and pink.
Another very simple purple flower to grow is Nepitella, also called catnip. You recognize it for its sharp points of purple flowers that marry well or in large gardens or in those of medium size where you want to create height differences with other plant species, since the flowers of Nepitella reach up to 2 meters of height. height.
Hydrangeas hardly need explanations as they are widespread as ornamental garden plants. A classic color for these flowers is purple, designed for those who love bright shades. The particularly strong color of the petals is given by the particular presence of acidophilic soils where the ph is 4.5-5. Growing hydrangeas is very easy: you will only need a few attentions and some targeted advice.
In very small gardens we advise you instead to try with the dwarf Iris that always makes its scene in shades of indigo-blue in just 12cm in height. The dwarf irises among other things are very resistant even in winter and give a beautiful flowering. in the spring period from March to June.
Purple-flowered perennials
Hellebore is a valid option when you have plots of land, or balconies, facing north or in any case where the sun comes in for a few hours a day. The plant is a very dark purple (purple) flower perennial that blooms in winter. , between December and February and that is why it is also called "Christmas Rose". It does not belong to the family of roses, but the shape vaguely reminds them. The colors of hellebore are generally white and purple, but there are cream varieties and pink. In nature you can see it growing in hillside woods or in humid and shady areas.
Another perennial plant recommended especially for home cultivation is the Periwinkle, a species of minute size that crawls into the ground as it grows, even on rocky soils. Of European origin, the periwinkle finds its ideal habitat in the undergrowth and in areas shady, where it forms dense flowering cushions. It usually keeps the leaves even during the winter that grow along the entire stem. The most common species in nature are the vinca major and the vinca minor. The flowers of this evergreen plant are tubular with 5 elongated and rounded lobes and are generally purple-blue, the so-called periwinkle color. A "last perennial plant that we could not fail to mention is the pansy, widespread in spring in nurseries, but the result of hybridizations with violets. Pansy is an annual or perennial flower with a short life, not because it does not survive winters, but because it often tends to be replaced annually since flowering is more beautiful on young plants. These violets bloom from late summer until spring, producing small bushes of leaves 15-30 cm high. The colors of pansies are many, from red to yellow, but certainly purple is one of the most present.
Purple mountain flowers
The mountain is one of the ideal habitats for the growth of various species of plants and shrubs characterized by purple blooms, probably because this typically "cold" color goes well with the cooler and shady high-altitude climate.
However, not all species that grow wild in the mountains are suitable for growing in home gardens: some plants with purple flowers typical of cool areas are protected, others still toxic. Let's discover the best known ones that can be admired during an excursion or a pleasant walk immersed in the green of the woods:
- Aconito napello. Bell-shaped flower of an intense purple color. It is found in the high ground and is toxic if ingested.We must pay particular attention to the roots that can be deadly even at low doses, both for us and for animals. In case of contact, the advice is to always use gloves and wash your hands. On the other hand, the upper parts, which are also used in homeopathy, do not give problems. Cultivation in gardens with children is not recommended;
- Aster. Also called margherita di S. Michele or September. It is a very simple flower, similar in appearance to the daisy, with the difference in the petals and in the flower head: the first are lilac and the second is yellow or orange. The aster can be grown easily in gardens and in particular the Novi Belgii variety is suitable for creating colorful borders and flower beds.
In the mountains, the alpine aster grows spontaneously and is found in rocky contexts up to 3,100 meters, a low flower (maximum 15cm) with rosette leaves and light purple flowers;
See also: Bridal bouquet: flowers for your wedding
- Trinity grass. Very early flowering woody plant: it starts in February with small petals of a very pale purple. L"Hepatica nobilis it is among the first plants to bloom in winter;
- Marine wallflower. It is dying out so it is considered one of the endangered plant species with purple flowers. It loves rocky contexts, in fact it grows on the coasts or in all those high ground environments with boulders and rocks. The flowers of the marine wallflower are small but of a beautiful deep purple, sometimes streaked with white, which appear in spring when the plant blooms The leaves are green, small and fleshy;
- Annual widow. This flower is characterized by a lively indigo color, turning towards blue. Its corolla is round and can also be called "buttons" precisely because of its shape.
The widow is very similar to the scabiosa and the globulosa, but closely you can see that its inflorescence is different from the other two plants because it is made up of a multitude of small open bluebells; - Rocky Raponzolo. Native species of the alpine areas, difficult to cultivate at home. The raponzolor it belongs to the bluebells family and is a perennial plant, with taproot roots and claw-shaped petals of a particular deep blue-violet color;
- Brunella. Very common plant throughout Italy that prefers rocks and dry places. It is found throughout Europe and Asia, and is characterized by having inflorescences in opposite pairs on purple tones, sometimes marked with white. It can grow both in full light and in semi-shade and is used in Chinese medicine as an antipyretic and antispasmodic. Among its properties we find that anti-inflammatory, antiseptic and antiviral.
Exotic purple flowers
Not all varieties of plants with purple flowers can be found naturally in Italy or at least in Europe. There are some plant species that live in much warmer environments than ours and that stand out for their purple hues. This is the case of the passionflower, with violet and white petals, and the African violet.
The first plant is also called passion flower, from which the fruits of the same name are obtained. It can also be grown in our climates, in pots, especially in those areas where temperatures are higher since it is of South American origins. Passionflower is a rustic climbing plant and is characterized by having white sunburst petals surrounded by dark purple filaments.
Growing it develops for several meters with thin and tapered shoots, covered with trilobate leaves. Most varieties of passionflower do not withstand the cold, so it should be protected from the cold inside the house.
Passion flower is also a medicinal species that produces anxiolytic and sedative effects, so it is often prescribed in phytotherapy to treat the most common sleep and anxiety disorders. You can also find passionflower as an ingredient in some relaxing herbal teas.
The African violet, on the other hand, is native to "another area with a torrid climate: Africa." Specifically, it was born in Tanzania and Kenya where it proliferates in all mountain areas. African violets are succulent, evergreen and small in size; in the gardens you can find it with the name Saintpaulia (mostly hybrid species) and remotely resembles our primroses. The flowers are small and rosette-shaped, of a beautiful dark purple color, while the leaves are fleshy and of a deep green tone.
For completeness we also mention these other plants of exotic origin with purple flowers: purple orchid, brevipes, surinamensis, capense, procera, gigantea, javanica, floribunda, linearis, fairchildiana, callistegioides, scandens, grandiflora, longa or Indian saffron.
Aromatic plants with purple flowers
Aromatic plants are fantastic allies in the kitchen and for health. Keeping bunches at home is really useful and they also perfume the outside in a natural and extremely pleasant way.
In particular, there are two varieties that produce purple inflorescences: rosemary and sage.
Both aromatic herbs can be used to embellish the terrace or the corners of the garden and have medicinal properties.
Rosemary is a perennial that can be left outdoors even in the coldest months of the year. Even if its origin is Mediterranean, it has the ability to grow well almost everywhere, except in alpine contexts where cold winds tend to ruin it. The leaves are very characteristic: long and thin needles that grow very dense a little. all year round. The flowers of the rosemary plant appear only in spring, but they are very decorative and pretty to look at.
Sage is an evergreen shrub that we are sure you have had at least once at home or on the balcony as a spice to use on dishes. Very used in the kitchen, not everyone knows that sage, in the flowering period, resembles lavender: the lanceolate leaves are always green-gray but the flowers, when they appear (usually between June and July), are tubular and purple in color. tending towards blue.
Meaning of purple flowers
Purple flowers carry many meanings and can be interpreted in two ways: as energetic plants or as spiritual flowers. It depends on the flower you want to give or receive as a gift.
More generally, purple flowers are a symbol of:
- refinement and elegance;
- luxury and royalty; particularly in ancient times when purple hues were difficult to obtain and therefore given as a gift only to the powerful of society. The Roman Emperors were known for making this symbolism their own, so much so that they coined the expression 'born in purple', or blue blood;
- spiritual calm; purple is one of the most suitable colors to express religiosity or in any case spirituality;
- femininity; in modern society, light purple is synonymous with grace and is easily associated with women. Then give a purple flower to a friend or partner to make her an original gift;
- maturity; the purple color is also called 'the pink of maturity', due to its refined and elegant shades. A special idea for an 18th birthday is precisely to give a bouquet composed of purple, light purple or lilac flowers.
