Purple wildflowers add a pop of color and beauty to meadows, prairies, and woodlands across North America. Ranging from vivid royal purple to soft pastel lavender, these flowers attract pollinators like bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Some purple wildflowers are native while others were introduced from Europe or Asia.
In this article, we’ll highlight 73 of the most common purple wildflowers found across the United States and Canada.
Native Purple Wildflowers
Many gorgeous purple wildflowers are native to North America. Here are some of the most popular native species:
1. Common Milkweed
The Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) blooms in pink, purple, white, or cream clusters from June to August. This tall wildflower thrives in meadows and prairies and is a vital food source for Monarch butterflies.
2. Common Blue Violet
This short-stemmed Violet sororia blooms in moist woods and thickets from April to June, The deep purple flowers have a white center and heart-shaped leaves,
3. Wild Bergamot
Also called Bee Balm Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa) grows up to 4 feet tall in clumps of tubular purple flowers that attract butterflies hummingbirds, and bees.
4. New England Aster
In late summer, this Symphyotrichum novae-angliae bursts into colorful clusters of bright purple petals and yellow centers. It thrives in meadows and wetlands.
5. Sharp-Lobed Hepatica
One of the first spring ephemerals, Hepatica acutiloba opens its lavender blooms on fuzzy stems when sunny days arrive in March and April.
6. Round-Lobed Hepatica
Similar to Sharp-lobed Hepatica, this Hepatica americana blooms in March and April with pastel purple flowers on hairy stems. It thrives in moist woodlands.
7. Allegheny Monkeyflower
Found in wetlands and streambanks, this Mimulus ringens has snapdragon-like purple or pink flowers that provide nectar for hummingbirds and bees.
8. Smooth Blue Aster
In late summer and fall, this Symphyotrichum laeve lights up meadows and prairies with clusters of bright purple flowers with yellow centers atop its hairy stems.
9. Showy Orchid
This spring ephemeral Galearis spectabilis produces stunning blooms in shades of purple, pink, and white with contrasting purple stripes on the leaves.
10. Purple Coneflower
A classic wildflower, Echinacea purpurea thrives in prairies and roadsides. Its pink-purple blooms have spiky centers that attract butterflies.
Introduced Purple Wildflowers
Many common purple wildflowers actually originated in Europe or Asia before becoming naturalized in North America:
11. Dame’s Rocket
This Hesperis matronalis blooms from May to June with sweetly scented phlox-like flowers in purple-pink clusters up to 3 feet tall.
12. Purple Loosestrife
A highly invasive wetland species, Lythrum salicaria can quickly take over marshes and ponds with its tall purple flower spikes.
13. Creeping Bellflower
Campanula rapunculoides spreads aggressively with its long stems of bell-shaped lavender-purple flowers. It’s considered a noxious weed in many areas.
14. Butterfly Bush
Buddleja davidii blooms from summer to fall with long panicles of fragrant purple flowers that attract butterflies. However, it spreads rapidly and outcompetes native species.
15. Purple Deadnettle
Lamium purpureum earned its name from its purple blooms that resemble nettle flowers. This low-growing wildflower thrives in moist disturbed areas.
Wildflowers by Region
Different purple wildflowers thrive in certain regions and habitats across North America:
Eastern United States
- Cardinal flower
- Great blue lobelia
- Blueflag iris
- Garden phlox
- Spiderwort
Western United States
- Purple owl’s clover
- Chinese houses
- Sky lupine
- Desert onion
Midwest and Great Plains
- Purple prairie clover
- Wild petunia
- Blazing star
- Yellow coneflower
Southwestern Deserts
- Desert marigold
- Parry’s penstemon
- Mojave aster
- Desert lavender
Pacific Northwest
- Fireweed
- Large-flowered collomia
- Western columbine
- Broad-leaved shooting star
Uses for Purple Wildflowers
Beyond their natural beauty, many purple wildflowers have traditional uses:
- Provide nectar for native pollinators like bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds
- Attract insect predators to control pests naturally through habitat planting
- Create natural dyes from their vivid purple petals
- Make herbal teas and tinctures from their leaves and roots
- Produce edible shoots, leaves, seeds, and roots when harvested sustainably
- Cultivate in gardens and landscaping for pops of color
Purple wildflowers add a gorgeous pop of color across the meadows, prairies, woodlands, and backyards of North America. Some of the most popular include milkweeds, asters, bergamots, violets, phlox, and irises. Take time to appreciate their beauty and support native pollinators by allowing these wildflowers to bloom and thrive.
Foothill Shooting Star
Bloom: FebruaryMarch Description: Perennial herb, 224″. Nodding flowers; 5 petals are pink to lavender with yellow and white bands. Special: Native. BACK
Bloom: MarchMay Description: ½1½. Annual herb. Small pink-purple flower head with elongated spur, two red dots. Leaves narrow, clasping. Special: Native. BACK
Purple Wildflowers
FAQ
What are the purple wildflowers called?
- Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea): A daisy-like perennial known for attracting pollinators.
- Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa): Celebrated for its fragrant blooms.
- Lavender (Lavandula): Aromatic purple flowers, with many species.
- Iris: Known for their vibrant purple, pink, or white blooms.
- Phlox: Stunning summer garden favorites with long-lasting fragrant flowers.
- Anemone: A genus of the buttercup family, available in a range of shades, including vibrant purple.
- Columbine (Aquilegia): Showcasing stunning purple petals and yellow stamen.
- Verbena: Lilac-purple flower heads, part of the Verbenaceae family.
- Catmint (Nepeta): Intense purple-blue flowers.
- Alliums: Large, pom-pom like flowered alliums such as ‘Purple Sensation’, giganteum and ‘Globemaster’.
- Aster: A daisy with a wildflower-like appearance that represents devotion, faith, wisdom, and even royalty with its purple hues.
- Clematis: A graceful, woody vine with pendant bluish or purple flowers.
- Wild Hyacinth: A native wildflower of California, grows easily in meadows.
- Lupine: A member of the pea family, known for its tall spikes of purple flowers.
- Crocus: A popular spring bulb known for its vibrant purple, pink, or white blooms.
- Salvia: Purple-flowered salvias like Salvia ‘Amistad’ and ‘Ostfriesland’
- Purple deadnettle and henbit: Common lawn weeds with purple flowers
What are these tiny purple flowers in my yard?
Common lawn weeds with purple flowers include:
Purple deadnettle (Lamium purpureum) Henbit (Lamium amplexicaule) Ground ivy/creeping Charlie (Glechoma hederacea) Creeping bellflower (Campanula rapunculoides)
What are the tall purple wildflowers in August?
Aster cordifolius, is a perennial native to eastern North America, found along woodland verges and in open areas. The pale blue to purple flowers bloom from mid-August through fall in our area. Flowers have 10 to 15 rays with a yellow to red center and can grow to four foot tall.
What purple flowers bloom all summer?
Violet Knight® Lobularia (Sweet Alyssum)
The dainty clusters of bright purple flowers bloom prolifically through summer and into fall.
What are purple wildflowers?
Purple wildflowers are a vibrant and beautiful addition to any garden or natural landscape. They add a pop of color and attract a variety of wildlife, making them a popular choice among avid gardeners and nature enthusiasts. In this comprehensive guide, we will explore different types of purple wildflowers found in the United States.
What are purple flowers?
Purple flowers are a type of wildflower that are highly specific to the purple color, regardless of their shape. They have a long flowering season from spring to the end of August and are rich in pollen, attracting bees throughout the summer. These wildflowers are unpretentious and can be grown in gardens.
Why are purple wildflowers important?
Purple wildflowers bring a touch of elegance and vibrancy to gardens and natural landscapes. These flowers are not only beautiful but also play a crucial role in supporting local ecosystems by attracting pollinators such as bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.
Are purple wildflowers a hybrid?
Various wildflowers with purple flowers are neither a hybrid nor selected cultivars. These species, such as those listed in ’30 Purple Wildflowers’, grow naturally in the wild and attract wildlife like bees and caterpillars. They are commonly used to decorate parks and gardens.
Do any purple wildflowers bloom all year?
One purple wildflower, an annual herb that grows 1-2 feet tall, blooms all year with loose flower clusters and beak-like style tips that are purple. Another annual herb or vine blooms in the summer, reaching heights of 3-4 feet, with colors ranging from white to purple.
Do purple wildflowers attract wildlife?
Various wildflowers with purple flowers grow naturally in the wild and are neither a hybrid nor selected cultivars. These species attract wildlife, such as bees and caterpillars, and are commonly used to decorate parks and gardens.