A List of Purple Flowering Plants

The United States is blessed with an abundance of native wildflowers. Some grow across most of the nation, while others have limited ranges. Many of the most eye-catching varieties have bold purple blossoms that readily stand out against their foliage.

As it begins to blossom in mid-September, New England aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae) is one of the more easily identified native purple flowering plants. The head of the plant may be covered with as many as several hundred small purple flowers, each with a bright yellow center. Growing to a maximum height of 7 feet, this plant grows best in full sun and dry to medium-moist soils. Look for this showy harbinger of autumn along roadsides, the edges of cultivated farmland or open meadows.

Agueweed, (Gentianella quinquefolia) also known as stiff gentian, is a somewhat rare purple wildflower native to the north central and northeastern states. The plant is best identified by its small upright tubular flowers. A slow growing perrenial, this plant grows best in moist humus-rich soils such as those found in mature stands of hardwoods. The plants have been listed as endangered or threatened in Conneticut, Maryland and Michigan.

Slender blue flag (Iris prismatica), also known as slender blue iris, is a native wildflower that grows in the coastal U.S. states from Maine to Georgia. A member of the orchid family, the three flower petals range in color from a bold Prussian blue to deep violet. The plant grows best in marshes or along the banks of slow moving streams. The flowers emerge in mid-spring atop stalks which may grow to 3 feet.

Common Blue Violet (Viola sororia) is a low-growing native plant which can be found across the eastern two-thirds of the United States. Sometimes called meadow violet, the plant is equally at home growing in moist woodlands or sunny open fields. The small 5-petaled blossoms range in color from a purplish-blue to bluish-purple. In cooler shady conditions, the flowers emerge with a deep blue color, while in sunny warm open locations, the blossoms take on a deep purple hue.

One of the smallest native purple wildflowers is Virginia spiderwort (Tradescantia virginiana). Unlike the gigantic stature of New England aster, this plant is low-growing and is commonly found in moist wooded thickets or other partially shaded areas. Each tiny purple blossom has only three petals. With the exception of Florida, these plants grow across the eastern-half of both the U.S. and Canada.

Dwarf Larkspur (Delphinium tricorne) is a native wildflower which prefers the more moderate climate of the eastern central United States. It does not fare well in either the colder northeast or the intense heat of Florida. The plant can be identified by its medium-green cleft leaves and small flowers that emerge along the top of its central stalk. Dwarf larkspur is an erect growing plant 12 to 30 inches in height. It is typically found on moist but well-drained woodland slopes or other partially shaded areas.