Purple Flower Garden

The first thing that comes to my mind when I see the color purple is my mother and her obsession with purple Dendrobiums. You see, for as long as I remember, these purple orchids were always the focal point in my mom's garden. According to her, the purple orchids were the symbol of royalty. Though, I have to admit they did look royal. Some people even associate the color purple with spirituality. But for me purple symbolizes everything that is passionate and delicate: lavenders, lilacs, wisterias and of course, and orchids.

"I think it pisses God off when you walk by the color purple in a field and don't notice it." This is one of the memorable quotes of my favorite novel The Color Purple. In this story of a poor and uneducated black woman, the color purple stands for hope. Fields of purple tulips and delphiniums also awaken the feelings of romance and nostalgia. From the pale lilacs and wisterias to the deep velvety shades of clematis and petunias, the color purple creates a wonderful symphony with the warm and cool tones in the garden. Purple acts as a great neutral. For those passionate about gardening, this list of purple flowers will help you create a beautiful purple flower garden.

List of Purple Flowers

Aster: Asters will make a valuable addition to your purple flower garden. These perennial plants bloom in late summer till fall. They produce delicate daisy-like blooms in purple, lavender and pink. Asters grow well in average soils and they can also withstand dry spells. Smaller varieties of Asters will look good as border plants, while the larger varieties can be planted towards the back of the flowerbed.

Aubrieta Purple Cascade: A versatile, early flowering perennial, Purple Cascade is an excellent ground cover plant for your purple flower garden. Purple Cascades bloom between March and May and they look perfect on walls, gravel gardens and containers. When planted in groups, they form a beautiful mat of grey-green foliage. These plants grow well in full sun as well as partial shade. You can use Purple Cascades as a colorful and fragrant drape over your patio walls.

Creeping Phlox: Phlox are famous for their rich pastel shades and distinctive fragrance. These plants grow vigorously and form a dense green foliage covered in star-like clear purple flowers. Creeping Phlox also makes a spectacular ground cover, flowering from spring to autumn. These plants grow well in moist organic soil. These blooms will add a rich shade of purple to your purple flower garden. Watch the blooming Phlox announce the arrival of spring by creating intricate tapestries under shrubs and trees.

Dendrobium: Your purple flower garden will not look complete without my mom's favorite orchids. A native to Southeast Asia, Dendrobiums can stun you with their royal purple blooms. These orchids prefer shade and are excellent houseplants. You can plant the orchid in a pot filled with rocks, pebbles and charcoal.

Delphinium: A purple flower garden is incomplete without these dramatic purple Delphiniums. These plants bloom from early spring to late summer. Sometimes you will see blooms even in November! Dozens of delicate purple flowers covering each spire of the plant will make a beautiful addition to your garden. Some stunning varieties of Delphiniums are Black Knight, Chelsea Star, Mighty Atom and Bruce. Delphiniums are easy to grow. You can add a little wood ash, if the soil is acidic. For warmer climates, mulching keeps the roots cool and moist.

Geranium-Purple Haze: "...Even God could not imagine the redness of a red geranium..." This line from D.H. Lawrence's poem Red Geranium and Godly Mignonette came to my mind the first time I chanced upon blood red Geraniums in the Valley of Flowers. But did you know about the existence of purple Geraniums? Purple Haze are the new variety of geraniums that produce stunning blooms in bronze-purple hue. The foliage of these geraniums are as unique as the gorgeous violet-mauve blooms. These plants grow well in light, well drained soil. Purple Haze will surely be an exotic addition to your purple flower garden!

Iris: There's nothing more beautiful than blooms of purple Iris drenched in the morning dew. These perennials, producing a succession of delightful purple blooms from spring to fall, are very good garden plants. Though a native of the North temperate regions, they also grow in deserts and swamps. Bearded Iris and Siberian Iris are the most popular types.

Lavender: Lavenders are a must, if you want to add color as well as fragrance to your summer garden. Lavenders grow to a height of 2½ to 3 feet. These plants have silver-grey foliage, that are in sharp contrast to the stunning lavender spiked flowers. The flowers vary in shades of lavender to purple, though they are some species that produce pinkish white flowers. Lavenders are a native of the Mediterranean region, but they also thrive well in other conditions. For a beautiful purple flower garden, you can use lavenders as low border plants or even as foreground perennials.

Lilac: Considered a harbinger of spring, Lilacs are loved for their fragrant lavender flower clusters. These plants grow up to 8 to 15 feet tall and they make excellent hedges. Some dwarf varieties of Lilacs reach only 3 to 4 feet in height. Lilacs grow well in alkaline soil having proper drainage. After they are planted, you can mulch them with a layer of pine bark. Mulching helps the soil retain water.

Purple Roses: Though red roses symbolize love and passion, I have always had a certain fascination for the purple colored roses. There's some kind of mysticism associated with purple roses. Add a dramatic splash to your purple flower garden with these vivid purple roses. Blooming throughout the summer, these roses are excellent as shrubs and hedges.

Apart from the purple flower plants mentioned above, you can also cultivate ajuga, candytuft, crocus, honesty, hyacinth, morning glory and blue anemones for a burst of purple in early spring.

Purple Flower Bouquets

Purple wedding flowers have always been associated with royal weddings. Make a romantic statement on your wedding day with a lovely purple flower bouquet. Use maroon color flowers to deepen the overall look of your purple flower arrangement. How about using maroon roses and deep purple Gladiolas for an exquisite bridal flower bouquet? For an outdoor wedding, you can think of combining purple and yellow flowers. A blend of warm sunflowers and rich purple Lupines looks perfect on a sunny day. For a Christmas wedding, use silver or gold assents to highlight the richness of purple flowers like Lilacs and Clematis. Blue Vandas make beautiful and exotic bouquets clumped with Carnations, with Wisterias trailing over the edge.

Add passion to your purple flower garden with beds of wild Asters, Purple Roses, Lavender Lisianthus and Purple Tulips. The last line in the rainbow, the color purple acts as a bridge between heaven and earth. Let your garden burst into the song of purple summer with these wonderful purple blossoms.