The perfect flower for your favourite creative or spiritual friend, purple florals are one of the most meaningful shades to gift. Filled with symbolism and unique beauty, it’s not hard to see why purple has become one of our most popular palettes at FLOWERBX. From bold stems to daintier options, we’ve got something special in purple to suit every season of the year.
The Meaning and Symbolism of Purple Flowers
Purple flowers hold meaning of royalty, opulence, honour, and wealth, while also representing mysticism and spirituality. Their luxurious symbolism makes purple florals a popular choice for formal events, occasions, and celebrations of all kinds.
In many cultures, purple coloured florals are believed to represent intuition and higher consciousness, as well as being associated with gods and goddesses of Greek and Roman history. They also make the perfect colour of flower to gift, as they hold extra meanings of gratitude and appreciation.
The 19 Most Popular Types of Purple Flowers
We’ve rounded up the most-shopped purple flowers, available at FLOWERBX to order right now and throughout the seasons.
About: A unique alternative to traditional red or pink roses, purple roses are popular to give as a gift all year around, from anniversaries to Mother’s Day. With specific varieties known for their sweet and delicate scent – such as our Memory Lane rose – purple roses are the perfect gesture for those that love fragrant flowers.
Soil and sunlight needs: Roses thrive in well-draining soil between PH6 and PH7 in full sun or dappled shade.
Symbolise: enchantment, mystical love.
Seasonality: Roses can be found in florists all year round, but when home-grown in gardens, are at their fragrant best during early summer’s British flower season.
About: A quintessential spring-blooming perennial flower, the hyacinth is synonymous with the first signs of bright and bold colour after winter. With a fragrant scent and unique blousy flower head, purple hyacinths are one of the most popular and classic shades to add to arrangements or grow from bulbs.
Soil and sunlight needs: Hyacinths love well-drained, fertile soil and full sun.
Symbolise: sorrow, regret, and forgiveness.
Seasonality: A classic early-spring flower, hyacinths are available at the start of the season, much like other bulbs including daffodils.
About: Big, bold, and blousy – hydrangeas are another flower with a cult following. Native to Japan, purple hydrangea flowers are some of the most popular in bouquets, whether you’re growing outside or buying cut-to-order from FLOWERBX.
Soil and sunlight needs: Hydrangeas have an interesting relationship with soil. Available in a range of shades, their colour is dependent on the pH of the soil they are grown in. Purple hydrangeas grow best in soil with a PH of between 5.5 and 6.6, and are at their happiest in a spot with full sun or partial shade in well-drained soil.
Symbolise: grace, abundance, and prosperity
Seasonality: Purple hydrangeas start their season in summer, being seen in paler shades of plum that later become deeper and more jewel-like.
About: The ultimate floral show-off, purple dahlias come in a range of shapes and sizes, from little and dainty to the size of a dinner plate. An English garden favourite, they can be grown in containers or in cottage-style borders, but look best of all in a Flowerbx vase.
Soil and sunlight needs: Dahlia’s love fertile, well-drained soil, with a spot in the sunshine.
Symbolise: dignity, elegance, admiration.
Seasonality: Purple dahlias are in season from summer to the end of autumn.
About: Also known as an arum lily, the purple calla lily is a striking, tall bloom, native to South Africa, and is a herbaceous perennial evergreen variety when grown in its natural habitat. Most famous in a white palette, we have popular purple calla lilies from Mauve to Midnight at FLOWERBX
Soil and sunlight needs: Calla lilies can be grown in rich, well-draining soil in partial shade or full sun and must be kept sheltered from the wind.
Symbolise: appreciation, love, romance
Seasonality: Calla lilies are grown as perennials in warm climates, and naturally flower at the start of summer.
About: Alliums are striking tall stems with ball-like floral structures, made up of lots of delicate flowers – perfect for flower fans that love to wow. Being so elegant and dazzling, you’ll be surprised to hear that the allium is closely related to onions, garlic, and chives!
Soil and sunlight needs: Alliums love well-drained soil and full sun to dappled shade.
Symbolise: unity, humility, and patience.
Seasonality: Alliums are in bloom from late spring to early summer.
About: You’ll find them in your garden as a flowering bush, but lilacs – also known as the Queen of the Shrubs – also make a majestic cut flower. Known for their strong fragrance – so popular that it’s used frequently in perfumery – lilacs are a classic English country garden flower that has become even more popular in recent years.
Soil and sunlight needs: Plant lilacs in well-drained soil with full sun or partial shade.
Symbolise: youth, innocence, purity
Seasonality: You’ll find fragrant lilacs in season in spring.
About: Derived from the same flower family as the buttercup, purple anemones are one of our favourite flowers for the colder seasons. The word anemone itself means daughter of the wind, giving them the common name of windflower. Interestingly, anemones close their petals during the night to offer themselves protection, while opening again in the morning to reveal their beauty.
Soil and sunlight needs: Anemones grow best in well-draining soil with a pH between 6 and 7, with full sun or dappled shade.
Symbolise: excitement, protection
Seasonality: Anemones are in season during the spring months.
About: One of the most popular purple cut flowers, freesias are exotic-looking, funnel-shaped perennial florals, popular in a range of bright shades of purple. Flowering best in garden borders, they bring beauty to any Flowerbx vase, along with a spicy yet sweet fragrance.
Soil and sunlight needs: Freesias are at their happiest in well-draining soil, in either full sunshine or partial shade.
Symbolise: elegance, grace, and trust.
Seasonality: Freesias bring beauty to spring and early summer seasons
About: A bright and bold favourite at Flowerbx, we like to think of the chrysanthemum as a dahlia’s sister. At their best just as summer’s kaleidoscope of floral colour begins to fade, purple chrysanthemums bring beauty to the later seasons and are perfect for gifting thanks to their unique meanings.
Soil and sunlight needs: Chrysanthemums enjoy a warm yet sheltered spot, with well-drained and fertile soil.
Symbolise: loyalty, devotion, and long-lasting friendship.
Seasonality: Traditionally, chrysanthemums flower from late summer to early winter, with early bloom in September and late November.
About: Not to be underestimated, purple carnations are full of frilled beauty. Naturally native to the Mediterranean, carnations are herbaceous perennial flowers, both sweetly scented and dainty in size.
Soil and sunlight needs: Well-drained, neutral to slightly alkaline soil is the carnation’s home of choice, and due to their origins in warmer climates, they love to be placed in full sun.
Symbolise: unpredictability, whimsy
Seasonality: Carnations are popular year-round with florists, and are grown from late spring up until early summer.
About: A variety with a long history dating back centuries, the purple delphinium is a more unusual shade for this garden-favourite flower, usually found in pink and blue. There are over 300 species of towering delphinium, but at FLOWERBX, we promise to only ever pick the most beautiful!
Soil and sunlight needs: Well-draining soil with access to full sunshine or partial shade.
Symbolise: dignity, grace, beauty
Seasonality: Sun-loving delphiniums are at their best during high summer months.
About: The official flower of August, the purple gladioli is also often referred to as the sword lily, due to its striking appearance. In fact, their name directly translates from Latin to ‘little sword.’! Recognisable for their tall stems and trumpet-like flowers, they’re always found in bright and mood-boosting shades – including purple.
Soil and sunlight needs: Gladioli love well-draining soil while basking in full sun.
Symbolise: strength, honour.
Seasonality: You’ll find gladioli in nature in the summer months.
About: With a name meaning ‘little bell’ in Latin, it’s not hard to see why Campanula flowers are a spring/summer favourite. Instantly recognisable for their delicate stems adorned with bell-shaped flowers, they’re loved by bees when planted in garden borders, and FLOWERBX customers in vases alike.
Soil and sunlight needs: Campanula love well-draining soil, in full sun to partial shade.
Symbolise: gratitude, humility, and everlasting love.
Seasonality: Enjoy the beauty of campanula from late spring to early summer.
About: Ruffled summertime beauty doesn’t come much better than the stock. Closely related to the cabbage, stocks are full of texture and in a palette of sweet shades – including purple. They’re popular for their fresh scent and work perfectly in a single-stem bouquet.
Soil and sunlight needs: Plant your purple stocks in well-draining soil, in full sunshine or dappled shade.
Symbolise: lasting beauty, happiness, and contentment.
Seasonality: Stocks are in season through the summer, and sometimes into the autumn!
About: One of nature’s most delicate florals, the purple sweet pea is elegance in flower form. Famous for their uniquely sweet aroma, sweet peas are well known in gardens as a climbing plant, growing to heights of up to two metres. Even better, the more you pick, the more they grow!
Soil and sunlight needs: Sweet peas thrive in well-draining soil, with full sun to partial shade.
Symbolise: pleasure, happiness.
Seasonality: Sweet peas are signature fragrant early spring flowers
About: Ideal for lovers of colour, purple tulips come in shades from lilac to deep plum. From double to dutch and fringed to parrot, a purple tulip palette spans bright to pared-back.
Soil and sunlight needs: Tulips are sun-lovers, but can also grow in partial shade. They prefer well-drained, fertile soil to flower at their best.
Symbolise: Purple parrot tulips represent extravagance, showiness, and frivolity. Purple fringed tulips symbolise luxury, glamour, and refinement, while purple double tulips symbolise elegance, sophistication, and grace.
Seasonality: You’ll find spring tulips in bloom in nature from early April through May.
About: With long stems decorated with multiple floral heads, lisianthus are a popular choice when sending a gift or decorating a tablescape. They’re found in a rainbow of shades, with purple being one of the most popular! With frilly layers of petals and a delicate look, lisianthus make a pretty seasonal alternative to peonies and roses.
Soil and sunlight needs: Lisianthus enjoy dappled shade or full sun, planted in well-draining soil.
Symbolise: appreciation, admiration, and charisma.
Seasonality: Enjoy the regal beauty of lisianthus throughout the summer months.
About: Part of the honeysuckle family, scabiosa is one of the most delicate and pretty flowers around. Also known as pin cushions, they’re at their most iconic in shades of purple – from soft lilac to deep plum. Scabiosa are nectar-rich, making them not only beautiful but an earth-friendly choice attracting butterflies and bees.
Soil and sunlight needs: Plant scabiosa in full sun or partial shade, and ensure they are in well-drained soil.
Symbolise: love, admiration, understanding
Seasonality: Scabiosa flower in the warmer months, and sometimes into autumn.
About: Ideal for lovers of colour, purple tulips come in shades from lilac to deep plum. From double to dutch and fringed to parrot, a purple tulip palette spans bright to pared-back.
Soil and sunlight needs: Tulips are sun-lovers, but can also grow in partial shade. They prefer well-drained, fertile soil to flower at their best.
Symbolise: Purple parrot tulips represent extravagance, showiness, and frivolity. Purple fringed tulips symbolise luxury, glamour, and refinement, while purple double tulips symbolise elegance, sophistication, and grace.
Seasonality: You’ll find spring tulips in bloom in nature from early April through May.
About: With long stems decorated with multiple floral heads, lisianthus are a popular choice when sending a gift or decorating a tablescape. They’re found in a rainbow of shades, with purple being one of the most popular! With frilly layers of petals and a delicate look, lisianthus make a pretty seasonal alternative to peonies and roses.
Soil and sunlight needs: Lisianthus enjoy dappled shade or full sun, planted in well-draining soil.
Symbolise: appreciation, admiration, and charisma.
Seasonality: Enjoy the regal beauty of lisianthus throughout the summer months.
