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10 Purple Flowers For Your FULL SUN Garden!

Y’all ready to add a splash of purple to your sunny Southern garden? These ten purple plants not only soak up the sun but bring a royal touch to your landscape with their gorgeous purple blooms. Here’s a little rundown on each, with a few tips to help ’em flourish:

Lavender (Lavandula spp.)

Lavender brings a touch of Provence to your garden, along with its calming fragrance. It thrives in full sun and well-draining, even sandy soil. Water young plants regularly until they’re established, but then you can ease off, as lavender prefers things on the drier side. Pruning in early spring encourages fresh growth and helps maintain its shape, ensuring years of beautiful blooms.

Salvia (Salvia spp.)

Salvia is a powerhouse of vibrant purple spikes that are a magnet for pollinators. This plant loves basking in the sun with well-drained soil beneath its roots. It’s quite drought-tolerant once established, making it perfect for Southern gardens. Deadheading spent blooms can encourage a second flowering in the same season, extending its display of color and vitality.

Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea):

A true Southern belle, the Purple Coneflower is as tough as she is beautiful, with her bold purple petals and golden center. Plant it in a sunny spot with soil that drains well, and it’ll take care of the rest, tolerating heat, drought, and poor soil. Deadhead to prolong blooming, but consider leaving some late-season flowers to form seed heads, providing food for birds and self-seeding opportunities.

Verbena (Verbena spp.)

Verbena is your go-to for ground cover or cascading beauty in hanging baskets. It loves the sun and isn’t fussy about soil, provided it drains well. Keep the soil consistently moist but not soggy, and feed with a general-purpose fertilizer during the growing season to support its continuous blooms. Trimming back mid-season can rejuvenate the plant and encourage fuller growth and more flowers.

Catmint (Nepeta spp.)

Catmint offers a more relaxed, sprawling habit with aromatic foliage and lavender-blue flowers. It prefers full sun but can tolerate a bit of shade. Plant in well-drained soil and water regularly until established. It’s pretty low-maintenance but benefits from a good shearing after the first bloom to encourage a second wave of flowers.

Purple Heart (Tradescantia pallida):

The striking Purple Heart is as tough as it is vibrant, with succulent-like purple leaves and delicate pink flowers. It thrives in full sun to partial shade and prefers moist, well-drained soil. It’s fairly drought-tolerant once established but will look its best with regular watering. Pinch back the tips to encourage bushier growth.

Aster (Aster spp.)

For a late-season show, Asters are your go-to. Asters bring a splash of color to the fall garden with their daisy-like purple blooms. They love the sun and need well-drained soil to prevent root rot. Water regularly, especially during dry spells, and consider dividing every few years in spring to maintain vigor and prevent overcrowding.

Allium (Allium spp.)

Alliums are a standout with their spherical blooms on tall stems. Plant the bulbs in the fall in full sun and well-drained soil. They’re pretty low-maintenance, requiring little care once established. Allow the foliage to die back naturally after blooming to replenish the bulb for next year’s show.

Lantana (Lantana camara ‘Purple’)

Lantana is a resilient shrub with clusters of purple flowers that thrive in heat and drought. Plant in well-drained soil and full sun to encourage the most vibrant blooms. Water regularly until established, then reduce frequency, as Lantana prefers to stay on the drier side. Pruning in early spring helps maintain shape and encourages more blooms.

Agapanthus (Agapanthus africanus)

Known for its elegant, globe-shaped flower clusters, Agapanthus thrives in full sun and well-drained soil. It prefers regular watering, especially during the growing season, but be sure not to overwater. Feeding with a balanced fertilizer in early spring and again in midsummer supports its lush foliage and dramatic blooms. In colder areas, mulch in winter or consider planting in pots to move indoors.