Annual plants with purple flowers are an excellent option to witness vibrant colors every year when spring arrives. Many of these plants are hardy and only require a little maintenance and care.
This list will include purple flowering plants that you can grow and care for without much hassle. Keep on reading to learn more about these colorful flower-producing annuals.
Contents
Purple Annual Plants To Grow This Year
Annual plants are those that complete their growth and flowering within one season and then wither away. These plants are present in abundance and are a great way to welcome spring with vibrant hues every year.
1. Morning Glory
Morning glory is among the most well-known flowering climbers. These are toxic plants that should be kept away from humans and pets. This native Mexican plant climbs the support structures with its tendrils and grows to a considerable height rather quickly.
– Characteristics
This climbing plant can climb up to a height of 12 feet once it finds a good support structure, such as a trellis. The best time to plant it is right after the last frosts have passed. They produce vibrant purple trumpet-shaped flowers. These flowers are a source of attraction for butterflies, hummingbirds, and other pollinators.
– Flowering
It produces annual flowers and gets its name due to the unique interaction between its flowers and the sun.
The buds of the plants are closed tightly, but when the morning sun hits them, they unfold and spread into a vibrant flower, thus giving its name.
– Growth Requirements
This is one of the most beginner-friendly flowering climbers. It prefers moist and well-draining soil as the ideal growing environment for this plant. Morning glories require plenty of sunlight, and they will not fully bloom unless sunlight reaches them directly, which is the only way to witness their full beauty. They are also quite relaxed in terms of water requirements.
2. Impatiens
Impatiens are tropical and circum-northern plants. They are also known as touch-me-not, snap weed, and patience in America. Impatiens are often grown as annuals, with flowers that bloom between spring and fall. Their purple petals offer a splash of color to their surroundings, making them a great addition to any flower garden.
– Life Cycle
Although Impatiens are typically grown as annuals, they can also be grown as perennials if planted in tropical zones. Impatiens are rapid-growing plants, and they can bloom throughout the summer season.
– Characteristics
Impatiens are among the most prominent bedding flowers due to their range of vibrant colors and their ability to survive in partial shade. Their flowers can have red, pink, violet, yellow, or purple colors.
– Planting Options
Impatiens have been the dominant bedding flowers due to their tolerance to shade and adaptability.
They are an excellent option for hanging baskets, window boxes, and container gardens. They can be grown directly from seeds, but often they are grown from nursery plants.
– Growth Requirements
Impatiens do not cause much hassle and thrive in hardiness zones 10-11. But if you provide them with ideal conditions, they will grow healthy and produce the best blooms. They like to grow in acidic, moist, but well-draining soil and can grow in partially sunny areas with sufficient watering. Their most significant selling point is their ability to thrive in complete shade.
Not many plants can do that, but impatiens will bloom and thrive in full shade. They are also among the plants that need regular and consistent water, and you may need to water them daily.
3. Bellflowers
Bellflowers, also known as the Canterbury bells, are common in European and North American landscapes. Not to be confused with bluebells like the Texas Bluebell, these plants have upright stems with numerous flowers growing at their ends. Bellflowers produce sweet-smelling blue or purple perennials.
– Life Cycle
This plant can produce annual and perennial flowers and has over 300 species, so you have more than enough options to choose from to suit your ideal aesthetic. These varieties range from small ground covers to taller ones that are excellent for border gardens.
– Characteristics
Being native to the Mediterranean climate, these plants do not do well in humid areas. These flowers are also relatively short-lived.
They can grow quickly, but after maturing, they only bloom for two years before withering away. However, they are among the purple annuals that bloom all summer.
– Planting Options
Due to their short lifespan, many gardeners plant new seeds yearly to keep their garden alive and fresh with new plants. These are commonly grown in flower beds and may sometimes be vulnerable to insects and diseases, but they are easily treated.
– Growth Requirements
Canterbury bells’ preferred soil conditions are loamy or sandy soil that is evenly moist but drains quickly. The ideal pH for the soil is neutral, but they can easily thrive in either acidic or alkaline soil without any major drawbacks. Bellflowers grow best when they are kept under full sun, which means they need four to six hours of sunlight every day.
They can survive in partial shade, but their growth and blooms would be less impressive. They need evenly moist soil but only need a little water.
4. Alyssum
Sweet alyssum, or sweet alison (Lobularia maritima), is a beautiful flowering plant that carpets the ground with its vibrant blooms. These blooms appear in large numbers, and they can easily stretch across the entire scene.
– Growing Season
These plants can quickly grow from a plant or seeds. They are cool-season plants and prefer a cooler climate. They are planted after the last frost has cleared in early spring. These plants are not frost-hardy, but in the areas that do not have ice, these plants can bloom during fall and even winter.
– Characteristics
The plant produces four-petalled flowers that are a beautiful sight to behold. Their foliage is like tiny lances and has a slightly hairy texture with gray-green color. Most varieties wither away during the cold months and return when the weather turns pleasant. As mentioned, it is a very fast-growing plant, so much so that it is considered an invasive species in California.
They are one of the easiest plants to grow, with flowers that have a honey-like aroma and are also deer resistant.
– Growth Requirements
Alyssum is a well-loved species because it is very low maintenance and easy to grow. It is a cool-temperature plant that will slow down flowering as the weather gets warmer. The plant is tolerant of many different growing mediums, but ideally, they prefer moist soils that drain quickly.
It also prefers to grow under the full sun, but extended exposure without watering will cause dryness. They need one inch of water per week and some supplementary watering during dry spells.
5. Lavender
Lavender plants are famous for their sweet fragrance. Their strong aroma is pleasant for humans and is a great way to keep pests away. You can plant this flowering shrub in early spring when there is no threat of snowfall and the soil has warmed up.
– Life Cycle
These small plants grow in the form of shrubs and come back to life every year to bless us with their signature fragrance and vibrant flowers. This is the reason why many think that this is an annual plant, when in fact, it’s a perennial plant, just like the purple coneflower. However, since the plant dies during the winter in colder climates, some people like to think of it as an annual.
– Characteristics
Your experience with growing this sweet-smelling shrub will depend on the conditions you provide and the variety you choose.
They mature when they reach a height of about 3 feet and a spread of 4 feet. They produce vibrant spiky purple flowers and have gray-green foliage.
– Growth Requirements
Lean soil that is moist but drains well is the best option for growing lavender plants. You can add some sand to the soil mixture to increase drainage. Alkaline soil will encourage more fragrance in your plants, while acidic soils may result in short lives for the plants. It is also best to avoid using a lot of fertilizers and organic matter.
– Light and Water Needs
Lavender plants enjoy their time under the full sun. This exposure will result in abundant flowers that are big and lush. They are drought-resistant plants, but they need water during their early growth.
6. Hydrangea
Hydrangeas produce an array of flowers that bloom in many different shades. These shades include pink, violet, purple, and other deep shades that depend on the type of soil your garden has and the variety of the plant.
– Life Cycle
You can choose a variety that can bloom with the rest of your plants, or you may opt for a hydrangea that will produce flowers while the others have withered away. These plants are actually perennial, but in colder climates, they won’t survive the winter, so many people treat them as annuals, just like coral bells.
– Characteristics
Hydrangea can grow very tall, which can sometimes result in them blocking the view of other plants in their vicinity. These low-maintenance plants have a rounded growth habit, making them an ideal choice as a centerpiece for many different landscape designs.
These fast-growing plants can be planted during the fall or early spring. Keep in mind that these plants are toxic to children and pets.
– Benefits
All the different types of hydrangeas produce flowers with their unique fragrances. Their scent is a great tool for attracting bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. Thus, they are quite independent in their propagation.
– Growth Requirements
These flowering shrubs have an excellent ability to adapt to any environment and growth medium. They can thrive on sandy coasts, in shady woodlands, and everything in between. But to achieve the best results, they should be planted in fertile, humus-rich soil that should be kept evenly moist.
7. Sage Plants
Common sage (Salvia officinalis) and woodland sage (Salvia nemorosa) are a couple of varieties with purple to purplish-blue flowers. Also known as garden sage, this herb is a native plant in the Mediterranean region.
– Benefits
These herbaceous shrubs are grown because their leaves are used in many different culinary dishes. These leaves can be used fresh or can be dried up before use. These leaves are the reason for the slightly peppery flavor in many dishes. The edible leaves are not the only attraction of these plants, as in the summertime, the herb also produces flowers of bright colors.
– Characteristics
Sage plants can be annual and perennial and produce wooly, gray-green foliage that gives off their signature scent. When the blooming season arrives, the herb also produces vibrant blue-purple flowers, adding further interest to their surroundings.
The plant grows up to two feet in height and has a spread of about three feet. The colorful flowers they produce are a great way to attract pollinators such as bees and birds.
– Growth Requirements
Sage plants grow best during the pleasant seasons of spring and fall. You can plant them indoors before the last frost and move outside once the snow has disappeared. Sage plants prefer sandy or loamy soil that is evenly moist but drains quickly. It is important that the soil does not retain a lot of moisture as it can cause damage to the roots.
– Light Requirements
If you want the best flavors and most vibrant flowers, grow your sage at a location that receives plenty of sunlight. This will help the herb grow to its full potential. However, in hotter regions, it may be a good idea to provide them with some afternoon shade.
8. Rocket Larkspur
Consolida ajacis is an annual plant in the buttercup flower. It is often confused with Delphinium, which is another plant that has the same common name, larkspur. These plants are almost identical and produce beautiful vibrant blossoms on top of extravagant spikey stems. The plant is a staple pick for cottage gardens.
– Characteristics
Larkspur generally has purple, blue, or white flowers, and you will sometimes see lavender as well. In addition to these, there are some very rare colors, like pink, but they are hard to come by.
The plant is a source of great attraction for pollinators such as hummingbirds and butterflies. However, they are toxic to pets and children.
– Growth Requirements
Giant larkspurs can easily adapt to many flowering gardens without much hassle. They like areas that receive plenty of sunlight as that will allow them to produce a lot of flowers. They prefer cool, moist, and well-draining soil, as it is important to avoid water logging at all costs. If you water them once or twice a week, the plants will thrive easily.
9. Bluemink
Also known as floss flowers (Ageratum houstonianum), blueminks are hardy annual flowering plants that produce blooms in the form of clumps. The plant does not grow to a tall height and is a great choice for garden borders, plant containers, and rock gardens. Blue mink also doesn’t suffer from a lot of problems like diseases and pests.
– Characteristics
These plants produce beautiful fluffy flowers that are generally powdery blue or purple. These low-standing flowers hang above their ovate green foliage, producing a beautiful contrast.
The flowers are put on display from late spring all the way till the frost arrives. The plant grows 12 inches in height.
– Growth Requirements
Bluemink has similar growth requirements as many other plants in this category. They prefer sunny areas that receive plenty of sunlight. This exposure will help them produce more flowers. They like rich, moist soil that has good drainage as it helps avoid water logging. The plant will require constant moisture during the growing season to encourage growth.
10. Sweet Pea
Lathyrus odoratus, or Everlasting pea, is an annual flowering vine that is a favorite in many cottage gardens. It is a climbing vine that is often trained to climb up trellis and other fences. The plant produces beautiful flowers that give off a sweet aroma. These plants bloom profusely during spring and late summer.
– Characteristics
The plants produce an abundance of deep purple, red, pink, white, and blue flowers. These unique flowers appear like butterflies, and their stems look like they are folded. Their interesting appearance is enough to make them the center of attention in your garden.
They are planted during late winter or early spring, but you will have to be careful when handling them as they are toxic to humans.
– Growth Requirements
They prefer complete exposure to sunlight as it will help the plant to grow healthily and produce the most blossoms. Plant them in cool, moist soil that has excellent drainage to make sure the plants can meet their moisture requirements without the dangers of soggy soil. They require weekly watering sessions as well.
11. African Daisy
Dimorphotheca ecklonis or Cape daisies look like regular daisies with their signature shape and characteristics. They also belong to the Asteraceae family, but the uniqueness of these daisies is their vivid colors. When compared to classic daisies, these flowers can look like they have been artificially dyed.
– Characteristics
The appearance of these plants resembles the common daisies, but they have some unique features. Their centerpieces sometimes seem like they have metallic dyes applied to them.
The shape of their leaves can vary, ranging from lance-shaped leaves to broadly ovate leaves that can be smooth or have rough edges.
– Growth Requirements
These plants grow perfectly fine in gardens and plant containers. They produce the best bloom when kept under the full sun but can also tolerate partial shade. They prefer organically rich soils that have excellent drainage to avoid waterlogging. They require a moderate amount of water regularly but have little drought tolerance.
12. Wisteria
Wisteria is a vine that is famous for producing long racemes of flowers that bloom during the spring season and have a unique fragrance. Once the flowers live through the spring season, they wither away during fall. This makes way for bean-shaped pods to take their place. This also makes people think that it’s an annual plant, when in fact, it’s a perennial woody vine that will last for many years, just like the butterfly bush.
– Types
Wisteria vines can be categorized into three main types. Two of these are Asian varieties, and one is American. From the outside, they look the same, but you can distinguish them based on the textures of their pods. The pods of Asian wisteria have a fuzzy texture, while American wisteria produces pods with a smooth texture.
– Characteristics
Wisteria vines produce flower racemes that can grow up to 18 inches and have different shades. The most common colors are blue and purple, but sometimes these flowers can have pink or white shades.
The leaves of this climbing vine also have a unique feather-like shape, which distinguishes it from other plants.
– Special Care
Wisteria can grow very large and requires very sturdy support. The foremost requirement for growing wisteria is sturdy support, such as an arbor or a large trellis fence that can withstand its weight.
Once established with the proper support, it looks like a mature tree. The flowers of wisteria are also toxic for humans and pets, so you must be careful if you have children and pets around.
– Growth Requirements
Avoid soggy soil at all costs, as it will severely damage its root system. Wisteria benefits from its time under full sun, as this will help the plant to grow healthily and produce vibrant flowers. However, it benefits from afternoon shade in hotter areas of the world. It is a low-maintenance plant that does not require regular watering once it has established itself.
Conclusion
These plants will bless your garden every year with their purple annual flowers and unique foliage. These plants are a great investment for any flower garden, if you decide to plant them:
- Many can survive without problems if their basic growth requirements are met. Some that are easy to care for include bluemink, giant larkspur, and bellflowers.
- Others, such as the morning glory, sweet pea, and rocket larkspur, are highly toxic, so be careful, especially if you have pets!
- Many of these aromatic plants are great at repelling harmful insects from your garden, thus protecting other plants nearby.
- Some plants have a honey-like fragrance, such as sweet alyssum.
Which annual plant will you add to your garden next? Choose the one that’s suited to the soil type and existing plants, and take care of it to enjoy its flowers.
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