Bushes with purple flowers are among the best possible options if you are one of those gardeners who feel good in an environment that is brightly-colored.
Did you know that purple is one of the royal colors? So, if you want to create a royal feel around your place, you will never go wrong with purple bushes.
This article is a direct guide for the various bushes that are characterized by purple flowering.
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Bushes With Purple Flowers Varieties
You can easily brighten up dull spaces using purple flowering shrubs. These plants can also do well in combination with other plants that produce other colors of flowers. The options that you have when it comes to such plants are plenty and they include the rhododendron, hebe, or chaste tree.
1. Butterfly Bush
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Please note that the butterfly bush is not edible. However, it is not toxic so your kids and pets are safe around it.
Normally butterflies require plants where they can not only lay their eggs but the ones that their caterpillars can also feed on.
An interesting fact about the butterfly bush is that even though it attracts butterflies, the caterpillars can’t feed on it. There are plenty of Butterfly bush varieties to choose from!
2. Golden Dewdrops
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The botanical name of the golden dewdrops is Duranta erecta and other common names include pigeon berry, skyflower, golden eardrops, creeping skin flower, forget-me-not flower, and angel whisper. This plant is a member of the Verbenaceae family of plants.
The leaves and fruits of this plant are reported to be poisonous to animals and human beings. Therefore, be sure to practice caution if you decide to include the plant in your home garden. Keep it in such a way that animals and small children do not have access to it.
3. Crape Myrtle
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Did you know that the crape myrtle is also referred to as the “tree of 100 days”? The reason for this nickname is that the plant’s blooming season stretches from June to September, not necessarily that it produces flowers for exactly a 100 days.
Please note that this plant is one of the purple flowering shrubs whose height is around 3 feet though there are some varieties that grow beyond 30 feet. Here is an interesting fact about the crape myrtle一its seed pod is capable of staining concrete. Check out a few landscaping ideas with Crepe Myrtles for your garden.
4. Calluna Vulgaris
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The common name of the Calluna vulgaris is “common heather.” The term “calluna” emanates from a Greek word that is interesting as to “to brush” or “to clean.”
This meaning relates well to the fact that the plant was historically used for making brooms. Please note that the common heather is believed to be highly associated with luck.
5. Syringa Vulgaris
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If you have ever heard of the common lilac or the lilac bush, then you might have an idea of what the Syringa vulgaris is. This plant belongs to the Oleaceae family of plants, together with the olive tree, and it is one of the best purple shrubs that you can come across.
While different lilac plants have varying meanings, the purple one is believed to symbolize spirituality. These plants are known for their long life spans, with most of them sticking around for more than 1000 years.
6. Hibiscus Syriacus
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The Hibiscus syriacus is also known as the rose of Sharon or the hardy hibiscus. The bright and beautiful flowers of this plant attract hummingbirds and butterflies.
When you are caring for flowering bushes such as the rose of Sharon, be on the lookout for pests like spider mites, aphids, Japanese beetles, and whiteflies.
7. Purple Hydrangea
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The purple hydrangea, which is also called the Hydrangea macrophylla, belongs to the Hydrangeaceae family of plants. These plants are believed to have an interesting meaning that is people-oriented.
This plant is symbolic of the zeal to have a deeper understanding of other people. Some also associate the plant with beauty, gratitude, and grace.
8. Buddleia Davidii
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The Buddleia davidii is also referred to as the butterfly plant. This plant is unique for its ability to tolerate the pollution that takes place in urban areas. It is also relatively resistant to pests, though you still have to regularly check it for a possible attack by spider mites.
It might also interest you to know that the butterfly plant is nontoxic so you should not worry about the burden of having to exercise extra care, especially if you have pets and kids.
9. Russian Sage
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This plant has its origins in Central Asia. If you have been wondering how best you can use the Russian sage to decorate your spaces, you can never go wrong by combining it with plants that have yellow flowers.
Such possible companion plants include the yellow Iris flower or yellow impatiens. Please, keep in mind that the Russian sage is a drought-hardy plant so it demands minimal levels of maintenance.
10. Blue Mist Spiraea
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The blue mist spiraea has a couple of other names and these include blue spiraea, bluebeard, blue mist, or the Caryopteris x clandonensis. This plant is a member of the Lamiaceae family.
E sure not to over fertilize this plant because doing so distorts its appearance by making it appear disorderly. You can cut back the shrub during the spring as part of the maintenance routines. Remember to disinfect the tools that you use to avoid transmitting bacterial infections to your plants.
11. Chaste Tree
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The geographic origins of this plant are in North Africa, South Europe, and Asia. This plant has multiple stems. It produces purple berries as fruits, with each containing four seeds.
More medicinal roles that are associated with this plant include its use in the treatment of arthritis, coughing, and Parkinson’s disease.
12. Hebe
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This evergreen shrub with purple flowers is regarded as the goddess of youth in Greek mythology.
This partly explains why the plant is referred to as the hebe. The term “hebe” is usually used as a girl’s name in Greek, meaning “youth.”
13. Paperflower
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You can think of this plant as the Bougainvillea glabra. It is a member of the sunflower family of plants, which is also called the Nyctagenaceae or “four o’clock” family. The paperflower plant is native to South America.
14. Rhododendron
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The Rhododendron is native to Australia, Asia, Europe, and North America. Please note that the flower of this plant is potentially toxic so we recommend that you avoid placing it in the kitchen or anywhere close to your food.
If you prefer to grow this plant indoors, the bathroom can be the best place to put it.
Conclusion
Purple flowering bush identification, alongside a description of the care needs and uses, is crucial for informing your decisions with regard to which purple shrubs and bushes to grow in your garden.
Here is just a reminder of some of the “take-home’” points that were highlighted in this article:
- There is a great variety of bushes that produce purple flowers and these include the rhododendron, blue mist spiraea, paperflower, and chaste tree.
- Apart from their common use as ornamental plants, these beauties also have various medicinal properties.
- Most plants love exposure to the full sun and thrive best when grown in soils that are well-draining and well-aerated.
- Some of the plants have other symbolic meanings associated with their existence; the purple hydrangea is symbolic of beauty, gratitude, and grace.
- Be careful to provide the water needs of the plant, but most of them are quite sensitive to waterlogged conditions.
Apart from the spectacular ornamental and medicinal properties that the plants with purple flowers might have, some of the plants provide excellent ground cover as well. Make your choice today and enjoy the accompanying benefits!
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