Purple flowers add a beautiful splash of colour to any garden, and several herbs with stunning violet or plum hues look great and are also quite helpful in the kitchen and medicine cabinet. These fragrant herbs, with their aromatic flowers and leaves, thrive in raised beds or perennial gardens. They bloom from spring to fall, offering multiple harvests of their blooms and stems for cutting and culinary use. Their varied heights and growth forms allow them to fit nicely into different spaces. At the same time, their soil preferences make them easy to grow for most home gardeners.
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Stunning Purple Flowering Trees
Lavender is a perfect example of a purple flowering herb that thrives in a garden. Its aromatic purple flowers attract bees and butterflies. At the same time, its fragrant leaves can be used in the kitchen for seasoning or in a medicine cabinet for their calming properties. Another beautiful herb with purple flowers is rosemary, whose fragrant stems and violet blooms complement ornamental and culinary settings. Both herbs offer a beautiful display in any garden, thriving in well-drained soil and enjoying full sun, making them a staple in any raised bed or perennial setting. In this article, I will reveal 23 purple flowering herbs, so continue reading!
21 Best Herbs with Purple Flowers
Chives (Allium schoenoprasum)
Chives are a delightful addition to any garden, especially with purple flowers that bloom in the summer. These tiny, pink-purple orbs sit delicately atop each green strand, creating a visually appealing and edible display. I once left a chive plant unattended, and when I returned, the flowers had appeared by accident, adding a nice touch to the garden. Chives grow well in nearly any condition, making them an easy choice for beginners.
Catnip (Nepeta cataria)
Catnip brings more than just joy to cats; its tall stems and tiny, deep purple and white flowers add elegance to the garden. They thrive in full sun and sheltered spots with well-drained soil and catnip blooms from summer to autumn. Humans can also use the catnip leaves, often steeped into tea, for a mellow, calming effect. This herb is a perfect blend of visual charm and functional use, with the ability to make both cats and humans feel relaxed.
Pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium)
Pennyroyal is the perfect herb for areas with poorly drained soil and partial sunlight exposure. The plant thrives in moist conditions and produces purple flowers throughout the summer. In addition to adding colour to your garden, pennyroyal flowers help repel insects, keeping your garden vibrant and pest-free.
Saffron (Crocus sativus)
Perhaps the most well-known purple-flowered herb is saffron, a spice herb harvested from the red-orange stigmas of Crocus sativus. Growing best in full sun, this plant reaches a height of 4-10 inches and is hardy in zones 5-8. Saffron blooms in early spring, producing delicate, short purple flowers that are a stunning addition to any garden. Not only is saffron a beautiful member of the Crocus genus, but it also holds immense culinary value as the world’s most expensive spice.
Blue False Indigo (Baptisia australis)
One of the most captivating plants for your garden is blue false indigo. This herb thrives in full sun and well-drained soil, making it an excellent choice for those seeking minimal upkeep. Its unique flowers bloom in the summer, offering a rich display of blue and purple hues. I’ve found that blue false indigo adds beauty to the garden and stands up to harsh weather conditions, making it ideal for exposed spaces. Whether you’re looking for ornamental beauty or practical resilience, this herb brings both.
Basil (Ocimum basilicum)
When it comes to versatile herbs, basil is a must-have, especially if you’re into cooking. Growing Thai basil in sheltered, full sun spots with well-drained soil will reward you with a plant that has a strong anise flavour perfect for Southeast Asian dishes. For Italian cooking, sweet basil is the ideal choice. Its aroma is fantastic, and I’ve even used it to create herbal syrups for cocktails and sparkling water. During summer, both varieties thrive and offer flavour and beauty with their flowers.
Spearmint (Mentha spicata)
Spearmint is a fantastic herb for shady corners of the garden that don’t get much light. It loves part shade and can handle poorly drained soil, making it an easy choice for tough spaces. In summer, it blooms with small yet striking flowers, adding a fresh, green element to the garden. I’ve found spearmint incredibly useful in everything from teas to desserts, and it is also a resilient, low-maintenance plant.
Rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus)
Rosemary is another garden staple ranging from small annual herbs to large statement shrubs. It flourishes in full sun and tolerates most soils well, making it versatile. The needle-like leaves give off an earthy fragrance. During spring and summer, the plant produces beautiful flowers in shades of light violet and deep periwinkle. I always recommend rosemary for its delightful scent and as a great addition to the kitchen and the garden.
Sage (Salvia officinalis)
Sage is a beautiful herb to grow in any garden, especially if you’re looking for a hearty plant that thrives in full sun and part shade. This versatile herb flourishes in moist, well-drained soil, making it an easy choice for most gardeners. I enjoy using sage sprigs, especially in warming winter foods. But beyond its culinary use, sage puts on a lively purple bloom in the summer, a real treat to behold in the garden. It’s perfect for gardeners who want a practical yet beautiful herb.
Anise Hyssop (Agastache foeniculum)
Anise hyssop is an excellent choice for attracting pollinators like bees and hoverflies. This herb produces upright clusters of tiny lavender and purple flowers in summer and autumn. It thrives in full sun and well-drained soil, making it ideal for any garden. The blooms are always abuzz with bees and other beneficial insects, such as parasitic wasps. Anise hyssop is also great as a companion to other flowering perennials like Rudbeckia and bee balm, adding beauty and function to your garden.
Summer Savory (Satureja hortensis)
Summer savory is an annual herb that adds delicate charm to your garden. It grows in full sun and reaches a height of 12-18 inches. It thrives in well-draining spots and produces small flowers in white and light purple shades. Though you’ll need to replant it each year, its slender green leaves and soft flowers make it worthwhile. I love using summer savory in the kitchen, which adds a peppery flavour to dishes.
Thyme (Thymus vulgaris)
Thyme is a beautiful addition to any garden, especially if you have a rock or dry area. It flourishes in well-drained soil and full sun, making it perfect for challenging spaces. Thyme plants create a green carpet that blooms with a sea of purple flowers during the summer. It’s a hardy herb that thrives even in adverse conditions, which makes it an excellent choice for gardeners looking for low-maintenance plants that still offer colourful beauty.
Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)
The purple coneflower is a striking plant that adds height and colour to any garden. It grows up to 3-4 feet tall and thrives in full sun or partial shade. Coneflowers are a popular, widespread variety of native perennials that thrive in well-draining soil. With access to at least six hours of sun, this plant’s purple blooms will reward you with vibrant colour from summer through fall.
Borage (Borago officinalis)
Borage is a unique herb with beautiful blue-violet flowers that bloom in a star-shaped pattern. This plant thrives in both full sun and partial shade, growing to a height of 1-3 feet. I’ve always loved adding the refreshing flavour of borage to my salads, as its taste is similar to cucumber, making it a tasty addition to any meal. Be aware that borage produces new blooms daily, giving your garden a fresh look every morning. It’s easy to grow, and its flowers are a true attraction in any yard.
Common Verbena (Verbena officinalis)
Verbena is a hardy biennial plant grown in full sun or partial shade. Reaching 1-3 feet in height, its branching flower stalks resemble the arms of a candelabra, and the flowers bloom in light pink and purple shades. This variety of verbena adds a graceful touch to any garden, with blooms that start at the bottom of the stalks and work their way up. It’s a beautiful choice if you’re looking for a specific plant that brings beauty and structure to your garden.
Lavender (Lavandula)
Lavender is one of the most popular herbs, known for its beloved fragrance and soothing effects. Grown best in sheltered, full sun conditions with well-drained soil, lavender brings a sense of calm to any space. Whether growing it in French fields or as a potted plant on your porch, it’s perfect for relaxing your nerves and brightening your mood. The light purple flowers of lavender are as delightful fresh as they are dried, making it a versatile herb for indoor and outdoor settings.
To learn about the Best Lavender Companion Plants, check out my guide
24 Surprising Companion Plants to Pair with Lavender
Motherwort (Leonurus cardiac)
A member of the mint family, motherwort is a perennial herb native to Western Europe and Eastern Asia. It grows in partial shade, reaching a height of 2-4 feet, and features square stems with oppositely arranged leaves. The small, light purple flowers of motherwort grow at the leaf nodes, adding a subtle beauty to its robust frame. Its distinctive three to five-pointed lobes make it easy to recognize, and it’s a hardy herb that adds a touch of elegance to any garden.
Blue Skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora)
Blue skullcap is another member of the mint family that spreads through rhizomes and features upright stems. This herb grows in full sun or partial shade and can reach 2-3 feet tall. Its blue-violet flowers resemble military helmets, which is how the plant earned its common name. Skullcap is a striking addition to my garden, as its branching stems and bold flowers make it stand out. At the same time, its resilience ensures it thrives in various conditions.
Oregano (Origanum vulgare)
Oregano is a hardy perennial that thrives in any conditions, especially in well-draining soil. It grows in short rosettes with fuzzy leaves, and its stems can reach up to three feet tall. In summer and autumn, it produces clusters of tiny light purple and pink flowers, adding a delicate touch to the garden. This plant looks great and enhances airflow around other plants, making it a practical choice for any herb garden.
Sweet Marjoram (Origanum majorana)
Sweet marjoram is a delightful herb that grows in full sun, reaching a height of 8-24 inches. You’ll see tiny pinkish-purple flowers bloom in late spring to early summer, adding a pop of colour to your garden. Sweet marjoram leaves bring a mild, popping flavour to dishes, making it a perfect herb to sprinkle over salads or other meals. As the flowers continue into fall, they provide beauty and flavour for months.
Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa)
Wild bergamot is a taller herb that grows in full sun or partial shade, reaching heights of 2-5 feet. Its light purple flowers bloom during the summer, with round centres and delicate, two-lipped petals attracting pollinators like butterflies, bees, and hummingbird moths. Even in intense heat, wild bergamot thrives, making it a robust and beautiful addition to any garden.
Final observations
Purple flowers bring vibrant color and utility to any garden, especially when choosing herbs that bloom in beautiful violet and plum hues. From lavender’s calming effects to rosemary’s culinary benefits, these herbs are as versatile as they are stunning, providing both aesthetic appeal and functional use in the kitchen and beyond. With minimal care, these herbs thrive in various growing conditions, making them ideal for raised beds and perennial gardens. Embrace the beauty and usefulness of purple-flowered herbs to add a lasting splash of color and flavor to your outdoor space.
