Tall Purple Flowering Plants: Your Guide To Majestic Vertical Color
Have you ever stood back and looked at your garden, feeling like something is missing? You have beautiful colors and lovely textures, but the overall picture feels a little… flat. It’s a common challenge for many gardeners, but the solution is simpler and more stunning than you might think.
Imagine adding dramatic spires of deep violet, soft lavender, and rich amethyst that draw the eye upward, creating a sense of depth and grandeur. This is the magic of using tall purple flowering plants. They don’t just fill a space; they transform it into a dynamic, three-dimensional masterpiece that buzzes with life.
The color purple has long been associated with royalty, creativity, and calm. By adding these vertical accents, you’re not just planting flowers—you’re crafting an atmosphere of serene elegance. You’re creating a garden that feels both exciting and peaceful.
In this complete guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know. From our top plant picks to expert care tips, get ready to unlock the secrets to creating a breathtaking garden with incredible height and unforgettable color. Let’s start growing!
Why Choose Tall Purple Flowering Plants? The Unspoken Benefits
Beyond their obvious beauty, incorporating tall purple flowering plants offers a wealth of advantages for your garden’s design and ecosystem. This is one of the best tall purple flowering plants tips I can give you: think about their function, not just their form. Understanding these benefits will help you design a more intentional and rewarding garden.
Here are just a few reasons why these vertical wonders are a must-have:
- Creates Vertical Interest: Tall plants break up the horizontal lines of a garden bed, adding structure and a “wow” factor. They act as exclamation points, guiding the eye through the landscape and making smaller spaces feel larger.
- Provides a Living Backdrop: Use them at the back of a border to create a lush, colorful wall. This makes shorter, brightly colored flowers in front of them pop, creating beautiful layers of color and texture.
- Acts as a Pollinator Magnet: Many purple flowers are irresistible to bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Plants like Salvia and Liatris become buzzing hubs of activity, which is a core part of creating eco-friendly tall purple flowering plants and a healthy garden.
- Enhances Garden Atmosphere: The color purple is known for its calming and spiritual qualities. A garden filled with shades of lavender, violet, and plum can become a true sanctuary for relaxation and reflection.
Our Top 10 Tall Purple Flowering Plants for Every Garden
Ready for some inspiration? Here is our curated list of standout tall purple flowering plants. This guide includes a mix of sun-lovers, shade-tolerant options, and choices for different climates. Don’t worry—many of these are perfect for beginners!
1. Delphinium (Delphinium elatum)
Often called the “Queen of the Border,” Delphiniums produce majestic, densely packed spires of flowers. Their shades of blue-purple are simply breathtaking. They require a bit of care but reward you with one of the most spectacular shows in the garden world.
Height: 3-6 feet
Sun: Full sun (6+ hours)
Soil: Rich, well-drained
Zones: 3-7
Greeny Gardener Pro Tip: Delphiniums are heavy feeders and susceptible to wind damage. Plant them with a dose of compost and be prepared to stake them early before they get too tall.
2. ‘Amistad’ Salvia (Salvia ‘Amistad’)
This is a superstar in the garden. ‘Amistad’ Salvia blooms non-stop from late spring until the first frost, producing velvety, deep purple flowers that hummingbirds can’t resist. It’s fast-growing and incredibly low-maintenance.
Height: 4-5 feet
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Soil: Average, well-drained
Zones: 8-10 (often grown as an annual in colder climates)
Greeny Gardener Pro Tip: Don’t be afraid to prune it back by a third in mid-summer if it starts looking leggy. It will reward you with a fresh flush of dense growth and even more flowers.
3. Russian Sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia)
For a tough, drought-tolerant option, look no further than Russian Sage. Its airy, lavender-purple spires sit atop silvery foliage, creating a soft, hazy effect. It thrives on neglect and loves hot, dry conditions.
Height: 3-4 feet
Sun: Full sun
Soil: Well-drained (even poor soil)
Zones: 4-9
Greeny Gardener Pro Tip: Wait to prune Russian Sage back until early spring, after the worst of the winter cold has passed. Cut it down to about 6-8 inches from the ground to encourage strong new growth.
4. Allium ‘Globemaster’ (Allium ‘Globemaster’)
Alliums add a touch of modern whimsy to the garden. ‘Globemaster’ produces enormous, globe-shaped purple flower heads on tall, sturdy stems. They are fantastic for adding a strong architectural element and are deer-resistant!
Height: 3-4 feet
Sun: Full sun
Soil: Well-drained
Zones: 4-8
Greeny Gardener Pro Tip: Allium foliage tends to yellow and die back before the flowers are finished. Plant them among other perennials like hostas or daylilies to hide the fading leaves.
5. Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea)
A classic cottage garden plant, Foxglove offers elegant, bell-shaped flowers along a tall spike. The speckled throats of the flowers add intricate detail. Most are biennial, meaning they grow foliage the first year and flower the second.
Height: 2-5 feet
Sun: Part shade to full sun
Soil: Moist, well-drained
Zones: 4-9
Greeny Gardener Pro Tip: Be aware that all parts of the foxglove plant are toxic if ingested. Plant them at the back of borders where children and pets are less likely to access them.
6. Blazing Star (Liatris spicata)
Uniquely, Liatris flowers open from the top down! These fuzzy, bottlebrush-like spikes are native to North American prairies, making them a fantastic, hardy choice for a sustainable tall purple flowering plants garden that supports local wildlife.
Height: 2-4 feet
Sun: Full sun
Soil: Average, well-drained (tolerates poor soil)
Zones: 3-8
Greeny Gardener Pro Tip: Liatris grows from a corm. For the best visual impact, plant them in drifts of 5 or 7 rather than as single specimens.
7. Verbena bonariensis (Verbena bonariensis)
This plant is an absolute see-through wonder. It has an open, airy structure with long, wiry stems topped by clusters of small purple flowers. You can plant it in the front or middle of a border, and it won’t block the view of plants behind it. Butterflies adore it.
Height: 3-6 feet
Sun: Full sun
Soil: Average, well-drained
Zones: 7-11 (often self-seeds and acts as an annual in colder zones)
Greeny Gardener Pro Tip: Don’t “deadhead” or remove spent flowers if you want it to self-seed for next year. It’s a polite self-sower and rarely becomes a nuisance.
8. Hollyhock (Alcea rosea)
The quintessential cottage garden giant, Hollyhocks can grow towering stalks laden with large, hibiscus-like flowers. Look for deep purple and near-black varieties like ‘Nigra’ for incredible drama.
Height: 5-8 feet
Sun: Full sun
Soil: Rich, well-drained
Zones: 3-8
Greeny Gardener Pro Tip: Hollyhocks are prone to a fungal disease called rust. To prevent it, ensure good air circulation by not overcrowding plants and watering at the base to keep leaves dry.
9. Monkshood (Aconitum napellus)
For a shady spot, Monkshood is an excellent choice. It produces beautiful hooded, deep blue-purple flowers in late summer and fall, extending the season of color. Its foliage is dark green and finely cut, adding lovely texture.
Height: 3-5 feet
Sun: Part shade
Soil: Moist, well-drained
Zones: 3-7
Greeny Gardener Pro Tip: Like Foxglove, Monkshood is highly toxic. Handle with gloves and plant it thoughtfully in a location away from play areas.
10. Catmint ‘Six Hills Giant’ (Nepeta ‘Six Hills Giant’)
While often used as a sprawling groundcover, ‘Six Hills Giant’ can reach impressive heights, creating a beautiful, mounding wave of lavender-blue flowers. It’s incredibly tough, drought-tolerant, and blooms for months on end.
Height: 3 feet
Sun: Full sun
Soil: Well-drained
Zones: 3-8
Greeny Gardener Pro Tip: After the first major flush of flowers, shear the entire plant back by half. This will keep it compact and encourage a second, equally impressive bloom cycle.
Your Complete Tall Purple Flowering Plants Care Guide
Knowing how to grow tall purple flowering plants successfully comes down to a few key principles. Following these best practices will ensure your purple giants stay healthy, strong, and beautiful all season long. This is your go-to tall purple flowering plants care guide.
Getting the Soil Right
Great gardens start with great soil. Most tall perennials thrive in soil that is rich in organic matter and, most importantly, well-drained. Waterlogged roots are a quick way to kill a plant. Before planting, amend your garden beds with a few inches of compost. This improves soil structure, drainage, and provides a slow release of nutrients.
Planting and Spacing
Pay close attention to the plant tag! It’s easy to plant small perennials too close together, but you must account for their mature size. Good spacing ensures proper air circulation, which is the number one defense against fungal diseases like powdery mildew. Give your tall plants the room they need to shine.
Watering Wisdom
For established perennials, it’s better to water deeply and infrequently rather than giving them a shallow sprinkle every day. Deep watering encourages roots to grow further down into the soil, making the plant more resilient during dry spells. Water at the base of the plant to keep the foliage dry and reduce disease risk.
Staking and Support: The Secret to Success
One of the biggest challenges with tall plants is “flopping,” where stems bend or break under the weight of their flowers or in heavy wind and rain. The key is to provide support before they need it. Use stakes, peony rings, or twiggy branches placed early in the season. The plant will grow up and through the support, hiding it from view while staying upright.
Solving Common Problems with Tall Purple Flowering Plants
Even the most experienced gardeners run into issues. Don’t be discouraged! Here’s how to troubleshoot some common problems with tall purple flowering plants and keep your garden looking its best.
Pesky Pests
Aphids and spider mites can sometimes be an issue. Often, a strong blast of water from the hose is enough to dislodge them. For more persistent infestations, insecticidal soap or neem oil are great eco-friendly options. Also, attracting beneficial insects like ladybugs by planting dill or yarrow can create a natural pest control system.
Battling Diseases
Powdery mildew, a white, dusty-looking fungus, is the most common disease. The best defense is prevention: give plants enough space for air to circulate, water the soil instead of the leaves, and choose disease-resistant varieties when possible. If it appears, remove affected leaves immediately.
Leggy Growth and Flopping
If your plants are tall and spindly with few flowers, it’s a sign they might not be getting enough sun. They are literally “stretching” to find light. If flopping is an issue even with staking, you may be over-fertilizing with nitrogen, which promotes leafy growth at the expense of strong stems. A balanced, low-nitrogen fertilizer is best.
Frequently Asked Questions About Tall Purple Flowering Plants
What are the best tall purple flowering plants for full sun?
You have so many great options! For hot, sunny spots, I highly recommend Russian Sage (Perovskia), Blazing Star (Liatris spicata), ‘Amistad’ Salvia, and Verbena bonariensis. They are all tough, drought-tolerant, and absolutely love to bake in the sun.
Can I grow tall purple flowering plants in containers?
Yes, absolutely! Just choose a large, heavy pot to prevent it from tipping over. A pot at least 18-24 inches in diameter is a good start. ‘Amistad’ Salvia does wonderfully in a container, as do some of the more compact Delphinium varieties and Alliums. Remember that container plants need more frequent watering and feeding.
How do I stop my delphiniums from falling over?
This is the classic Delphinium challenge! The key is staking them early and well. Place a sturdy bamboo cane or metal stake a few inches from the main stem when the plant is about a foot tall. As the flower stalk grows, use soft garden twine to loosely tie it to the stake in a figure-eight loop every 8-12 inches.
Your Vertical Garden Awaits
You now have a complete tall purple flowering plants guide to help you transform your garden from flat to fabulous. We’ve covered the amazing benefits, explored a list of stunning and reliable plants, and learned the best practices for care and troubleshooting.
Remember that gardening is a journey of learning and experimentation. Don’t be afraid to try something new. Start with one or two of the plants from this list that caught your eye and see how they bring a new dimension of color and life to your space.
Go ahead and reach for the sky. Your majestic, purple-hued garden is waiting for you to bring it to life. Happy gardening!
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