Purple is one of those colors that always makes a bouquet better—kind of like orange—and it goes with pretty much everything. I had an art teacher who used to say, ‘If you’re stuck and don’t know what’s wrong, crank the purple!’
And, lo and behold, he was right!
Speaking of colour trends, I really wish lavender would have its moment. It’s so romantic in bouquets, and it would look stunning with Pantone’s colour of the year: Mocha Mousse! I’m waiting for the day when lavender, peach, and white become the vibe so I can arrange all the bridal bouquets!
With that said, if you want to ensure you always have something purple in your arrangements, these are some of my favourite purple blooms for the cutting garden!
Want a rainbow of blooms? Start with my favourite blue flowers here!
Disclaimer #1: This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you purchase something, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. You can read more about it in my privacy policy. Thanks for supporting Shifting Roots!
Disclaimer #2: I’ve chosen photos that best represent each flower variety, but they may not always be an exact match. I apologize for any mix-ups, as I don’t always perfectly keep track of what I grow year to year.
The Best Purple Flowers for Your Flower Garden
Ageratum
Ageratum, or floss flower, has a striking purple hue and works best as a filler in fresh bouquets. While it’s not my favorite for cutting gardens, it shines in dried arrangements.
Allium
I don’t personally grow a lot of allium, but it is an excellent choice for purple lovers, so it had to make this list!
Amazing Grey Poppy
Poppies have a short vase life, but their delicate, papery petals make them worth growing. The Amazing Grey variety is a gorgeous soft lavender, perfect for pastel palettes. For best results, direct sow poppies as soon as the ground is workable!
Related: How to Grow Poppies in Zone 3
Anise Hyssop
Anise Hyssop is a hardy, easy-to-grow perennial that thrives in full sun or partial shade, even in poor soil. Its lovely spiky blooms make a great addition to summer bouquets!
Benary’s Giant Purple Zinnia
It’s no secret that I love zinnias, and the Benary’s Giant is the perfect punchy purple for vibrant and unforgettable arrangements.
Clumping Bell Flower
Not to be confused with creeping bell flower, the deep purple blossoms of clumping bell flower look beautiful in bouquets!
Corn Cockle
Corn cockle is a vibrant purple flower with easy-to-save seeds. As the flower fades, a pod forms—once it turns beige, remove the skin and collect the seeds. Timing is key, as the larger seed pods can drop if left too long!
Delphinium
Delphiniums are a classic favorite that bloom yearly but take about five years to fully establish. Their tall, striking flowers need staking, as they’re prone to breaking in summer storms. The Pacific Giant series offers stunning shades of blue, white, pink, and purple!
Earl Grey Larkspur
Larkspur, or consolida, is a shade-tolerant Zone 3 annual. I love the soft colour of the Earl Grey variety!
Gladiolus
I love growing glads and will always have them in my garden! While they’re easy to grow with plenty of water and sun, they’re susceptible to thrips, so be prepared with blue sticky paper if you’re growing them for the first time.
Related: How to Start Gladiolus Bulbs Indoors
Gomphrena
While gomphrena is good for dried flowers for boutonnieres, I haven’t had a lot of success in the past with this plant. I’m trying again this year, but if I needed long stems for fresh bouquert, I wouldn’t grow it.
High Scent Sweet Peas
High-scent sweet peas are known for their heavenly fragrance, making them a perfect addition to any bouquet. They thrive in cooler soil and can be planted as soon as the ground is workable. I love adding one or two just for their classic scent!
Related: How to Grow Sweet Peas in a Cold Climate
Honeywort
Honeywort was a pleasant surprise in my cut flower garden when I first grew it a couple of years ago. It’s an early bloomer, which is great for a cold-climate flower farmer like me. It’s cut-and-come-again and easy to save seeds from, which is an added bonus!
Lavender Potomic Snapdragon
The purple-pink snapdragons at the back of this photo are my favourite purple snaps. (Can you tell I like the soft purple shades?) Snapdragons are a core crop for me, so I love to grow them in a wide variety of colours and styles.
Related: How to Grow Snapdragons in a Cold Climate
Lemon Bergamot
Lemon bergamot is a pollinator-friendly flower that bees love. I use it in bouquets both in full bloom and when only the unique ball shape remains.
Liatris
Liatris is an easy-to-grow, pollinator-friendly perennial that thrives in full sun and hot weather. It’s perfect for both flower beds and as a spiked cut flower in bouquets. Available in white and purple, it’s a bee favourite and great for low-maintenance gardens!
Lilac
Lilacs are spring-blooming shrubs known for their classic scent. I love using the older varieties in bouquets—they come in white, pink, and purple, and really capture the essence of spring! Lilacs are one of my all-time favourite fragrances.
Megan Dean Dahlia
Megan Dean dahlias are a stunning lavender colour. Dahlias are often called the queens of the cutting garden and are always a fan favourite in floral arrangements.
Related: Swoon-Worthy Dahlia Varieties for your Cut Flower Garden
Ornamental Kale
Ornamental kale can be tricky to grow here on the Canadian prairies due to flea beetles, but it’s worth the effort for its stunning look in fall arrangements, especially pumpkin centrepieces!
Pansy
Pansies are hardy, beautiful bedding plants that can survive light frosts. I always have a few in my garden, as their vibrant colours are hard to resist. I love pressing them to decorate pumpkins in the fall, and they’re also delicious in summer salads!
Related: How to Make The Most Aesthetic Pressed Flower Pumpkin Decor
Purple Prince Tulip
A good, reliable tulip variety.
Related: How to Plant Tulips like a Flower Farmer
Purple Red Strawflower
Strawflowers are another core crop on my flower farm, and I always grow them in as many colours as I possibly can.
Statice
Like strawflowers, I grow a lot of statice each gardening season. It’s a beautiful option for both fresh and dried bouquets, and, like strawflowers, it retains its colour for a long time when dried.
Related: 25+ Best Flowers to Grow for Dried Flower Arrangements
Are there any purple flowers I missed? Let me know in the comments!
If you liked this blog post, find me on Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram to follow more of my farmer florist journey and join in the cut flower conversation! I also make weekly videos on my YouTube channel. You can also sign up for bouquet-making events and buy my flowers at my sister site Shifting Blooms. I hope to see you there!
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