Bloom Time: Late spring to frost Height: 12-20 inches Spread: 24 inches Zones: 4-8
This award-winning hardy geranium produces an incredible display of violet-blue flowers with darker veining from spring until frost. ‘Rozanne’ spreads to form dense mats of attractive foliage covered in blooms, making it one of the best ground-covering perennials available.
Key Features:
- Flowers continuously without deadheading
- Sterile hybrid that won’t self-seed
- Excellent heat and humidity tolerance
- Beautiful fall foliage color
Growing Tips: Plant in full sun to partial shade in moist, well-draining soil. ‘Rozanne’ appreciates consistent moisture but tolerates some drought once established. It requires no deadheading and will spread to fill spaces naturally. Cut back in late fall or early spring if desired.
Design Uses: Use ‘Rozanne’ as groundcover under trees, in mixed borders, or spilling over walls and containers. It pairs beautifully with roses, providing color at their feet throughout the season. Plant in large drifts for maximum impact, or use as a living mulch around taller perennials.
6. Veronica (Speedwell): The Compact Performer
Bloom Time: Early summer to fall Height: 12-18 inches Spread: 12-15 inches Zones: 3-8
Veronica produces dense spikes of tiny purple flowers that rise above neat mounds of dark green foliage. This compact perennial blooms reliably from early summer through fall, requiring minimal maintenance while providing consistent color and form.
Top Varieties:
- ‘Royal Candles’: Deep purple spikes, very upright
- ‘Sunny Border Blue’: Violet-blue flowers, heat tolerant
- ‘Red Fox’: Rose-pink flowers for color variation
Growing Tips: Grow veronica in full sun to light shade in average, well-draining soil. It tolerates a wide range of conditions but performs best with consistent moisture. Deadhead spent flower spikes to encourage continued blooming. Divide every 3-4 years to maintain vigor.
Design Uses: Veronica works beautifully in formal borders, rock gardens, or as edging plants. Its compact, upright form provides structure while the flower spikes add vertical interest. Plant in groups for mass effect, or use as a transition between taller background plants and lower groundcovers.
7. Coneflower ‘Purple Emperor’ (Echinacea): The Pollinator Magnet
Bloom Time: Summer to fall Height: 24-30 inches Spread: 18-24 inches Zones: 3-9
This stunning coneflower variety produces rich purple daisy-like blooms with prominent orange centers that attract butterflies, bees, and goldfinches. The flowers are excellent for cutting, while the seed heads provide winter interest and bird food.
Key Features:
- Exceptional drought tolerance
- Outstanding pollinator plant
- Long-lasting cut flowers
- Attractive seed heads for winter interest
Growing Tips: Plant in full sun in well-draining soil. Coneflowers are extremely drought tolerant once established but benefit from occasional deep watering during extended dry periods. Deadhead for continuous blooms, or leave seed heads for birds and winter interest.
Design Uses: Use coneflowers in prairie gardens, mixed borders, or naturalized areas. They combine beautifully with ornamental grasses and other native plants. Plant in masses for greatest impact, or scatter throughout borders for a naturalistic look.
8. Campanula (Bellflower): The Charming Bloomer
Bloom Time: Early summer to early fall Height: 6-36 inches (varies by species) Spread: 12-18 inches Zones: 3-8
Bellflowers offer distinctive bell-shaped blooms in shades ranging from light lavender to deep purple. These charming perennials work in various garden situations, from rock gardens to formal borders, providing reliable color throughout the summer months.
Top Varieties:
- Campanula persicifolia: Tall spikes of large bells
- Campanula carpatica: Low-growing for rock gardens
- Campanula glomerata: Clustered flowers, very hardy
Growing Tips: Most campanulas prefer full sun to partial shade and moist, well-draining soil. They generally appreciate consistent moisture but avoid waterlogged conditions. Deadhead regularly to prolong blooming, and divide every 3-4 years to prevent overcrowding.
Design Uses: Use tall varieties in mixed borders or cottage gardens, while compact types work well in rock gardens, alpine areas, or as edging plants. Campanulas naturalize easily and can be used in woodland gardens or informal meadow plantings.
9. Scabiosa ‘Butterfly Blue’ (Pincushion Flower): The Butterfly Favorite
Bloom Time: Spring to frost Height: 12-15 inches Spread: 15-18 inches Zones: 3-9
This award-winning perennial produces an abundance of soft lavender-blue, pincushion-style flowers on sturdy stems from spring until frost. True to its name, ‘Butterfly Blue’ attracts numerous butterflies and other pollinators while providing excellent cut flowers.
Key Features:
- Blooms continuously without deadheading
- Exceptional butterfly attractor
- Long-lasting cut flowers
- Heat and humidity tolerant
Growing Tips: Plant in full sun to light shade in well-draining soil. Scabiosa tolerates drought but performs best with consistent moisture. It requires no deadheading for continuous bloom but benefits from light fertilization monthly during the growing season.
Design Uses: Use ‘Butterfly Blue’ in cottage gardens, mixed borders, or butterfly gardens. It works well as a groundcover or in containers. The compact size makes it perfect for front-of-border placement, while the continuous blooms provide reliable color throughout the season.
Creating Combinations with Purple Perennials
Purple perennials offer endless possibilities for stunning garden combinations. Create a monochromatic purple garden by combining different heights and textures of purple-flowering plants, from low-growing catmint to tall Russian sage. Add silver-foliaged plants like artemisia or lamb’s ear to enhance the purple blooms and create sophisticated color schemes.
For complementary color schemes, pair purple perennials with yellow flowers like coreopsis, rudbeckia, or helenium. This classic combination creates vibrant, eye-catching displays that work in both formal and informal settings. Orange marigolds, nasturtiums, or butterfly weed also create striking contrasts with purple blooms.
Analogous color schemes using purple, pink, and blue flowers create harmonious, soothing combinations. Combine purple salvia with pink roses and blue delphiniums, or use lavender with pink peonies and blue catmint for cottage garden charm.
Seasonal Care and Maintenance
Spring Care (March-May)
- Begin watering as new growth emerges
- Apply balanced fertilizer to heavy feeders
- Divide overcrowded clumps
- Plant new perennials after frost danger passes
- Mulch around plants to conserve moisture
Summer Care (June-August)
- Maintain consistent watering during hot periods
- Deadhead spent blooms to encourage reblooming
- Monitor for pest and disease issues
- Provide supplemental water during drought periods
- Harvest flowers for bouquets regularly
Fall Care (September-November)
- Reduce watering as temperatures cool
- Allow seed heads to remain for winter interest
- Plant new perennials 6-8 weeks before hard frost
- Begin collecting seeds from favorite varieties
- Start planning next year’s garden additions
Winter Care (December-February)
- Cut back dead foliage or leave for winter interest
- Apply winter mulch in cold climates
- Order seeds and plants for spring
- Plan garden modifications and new plantings
- Maintain tools and prepare for spring work
Soil Preparation and Planting Tips
Most purple perennials thrive in well-draining soil with average fertility. Before planting, test soil pH and amend if necessary. Most prefer neutral to slightly alkaline conditions (pH 6.5-7.5), though some like lavender and catmint tolerate more alkaline soils.
Improve heavy clay soils by adding compost, coarse sand, or perlite to increase drainage. In sandy soils, add compost or aged manure to improve water retention and nutrient availability. Avoid over-fertilizing, as many purple perennials perform better in lean soils.
When planting, dig holes twice as wide as the root ball but no deeper. Position plants at the same depth they were growing in containers. Water thoroughly after planting and apply 2-3 inches of organic mulch around plants, keeping mulch away from plant stems.
Extending the Blooming Season
Maximize the blooming period of your purple perennials by implementing smart gardening practices. Deadhead spent flowers regularly to encourage continued bloom production. For plants that benefit from cutting back mid-season, like catmint and salvia, prune by one-third after the first flush of blooms.
Plant varieties with staggered bloom times to ensure continuous color. Early bloomers like some campanulas can be followed by mid-season performers like coneflowers, with late-season bloomers like asters extending color into fall.
Consider succession planting of shorter-lived perennials or annual varieties to fill gaps between bloom periods. Strategic fertilization can also extend blooming, with phosphorus-rich fertilizers applied during bud formation to promote flower development.
Troubleshooting Common Problems
Poor flowering often results from too much shade, overfertilization with nitrogen, or overcrowded conditions. Ensure plants receive adequate sunlight, avoid high-nitrogen fertilizers during blooming season, and divide overcrowded perennials every 3-4 years.
Disease issues like powdery mildew or root rot typically stem from poor air circulation or overwatering. Improve spacing between plants, ensure good drainage, and water at soil level rather than overhead. Remove affected plant parts promptly and dispose of them in trash rather than compost.
Pest problems including aphids, spider mites, or thrips can usually be managed with beneficial insects, insecticidal soaps, or horticultural oils. Encourage beneficial insects by planting diverse flowers and avoiding broad-spectrum pesticides.
Winter damage occurs when plants aren’t properly hardened off or are planted in unsuitable zones. Choose varieties appropriate for your climate zone, avoid late-season fertilization that encourages soft growth, and provide winter protection in marginal areas.
These nine beautiful purple perennials offer gardeners the perfect combination of beauty, reliability, and low maintenance. By selecting varieties that bloom throughout the season, you can create a garden that provides continuous color from spring through fall while supporting pollinators and wildlife. Whether you choose the fragrant spikes of lavender, the delicate clouds of Russian sage, or the reliable blooms of ‘Rozanne’ geranium, these purple perennials will reward you with years of stunning garden performance.
The key to success lies in proper plant selection for your climate zone, adequate soil preparation, and understanding each plant’s specific needs. With these foundations in place, your purple perennial garden will provide endless enjoyment and serve as a testament to the enduring beauty of well-chosen, long-blooming plants.
