Create a Wow Garden With the Colour Purple
Sophisticated, stylish and full of summer promise, purple can transform your outdoor space, and these insider tricks reveal how it's done
As warmer weather arrives, there’s one particular colour that speaks of long days and warm nights: purple. It’s the colour of an English summer, especially on those high summer days when verbena and lavender flowers are in bloom, and the late foliage of cotinus and actaea are on show. It’s a great foil for other colours, too, and especially works well in combination with the greens, whites and pinks of the plant world.
But not only is this colour often overlooked altogether, it’s also one that designers sometimes aren’t that adventurous with, defaulting to the same, safe plants in this hue, rather than exploring the multitude of subtle purples found in rarer – or less fashionable – species and varieties. And what a shame, as there are so many to enjoy! Let these simple ideas inspire you to seek out some lesser-spotted plants in this regal shade – and who cares about what’s fashionable with blooms as beautiful as these?
But not only is this colour often overlooked altogether, it’s also one that designers sometimes aren’t that adventurous with, defaulting to the same, safe plants in this hue, rather than exploring the multitude of subtle purples found in rarer – or less fashionable – species and varieties. And what a shame, as there are so many to enjoy! Let these simple ideas inspire you to seek out some lesser-spotted plants in this regal shade – and who cares about what’s fashionable with blooms as beautiful as these?
Think about fragrance
Mediterranean gardens are full of two particular colours: silver and purple. This is because silver and grey foliages tend to cope well with blazing heat, and these often have purple flowers. To get the look, plant lavender – like in this image – alongside rosemary and westringia. Best of all, they’ll provide a heady scent of summer that will transport you to sunnier climes.
Mediterranean gardens are full of two particular colours: silver and purple. This is because silver and grey foliages tend to cope well with blazing heat, and these often have purple flowers. To get the look, plant lavender – like in this image – alongside rosemary and westringia. Best of all, they’ll provide a heady scent of summer that will transport you to sunnier climes.
Repeat for impact
Taking a single colour and repeating it throughout the garden can help tie a planting scheme together. Here, purple has been used not just in the plants, such as the deep purple salvia and actaea to centre right, but also in the attractive purply gravel of the path. The backdrop boundary is made of panels of ash timber stained black, adding to the drama.
Taking a single colour and repeating it throughout the garden can help tie a planting scheme together. Here, purple has been used not just in the plants, such as the deep purple salvia and actaea to centre right, but also in the attractive purply gravel of the path. The backdrop boundary is made of panels of ash timber stained black, adding to the drama.
Use almost-black purples
Some purple plants, such as this Angelica archangelica variety, have an amazingly dark foliage and stem that allows you to use the plant as though it were black, giving structure and architecture to a border. Angelica archangelica looks stunning in a summer planting scheme and will attract lots of beneficial insects and birds, too.
Some purple plants, such as this Angelica archangelica variety, have an amazingly dark foliage and stem that allows you to use the plant as though it were black, giving structure and architecture to a border. Angelica archangelica looks stunning in a summer planting scheme and will attract lots of beneficial insects and birds, too.
Try subtle purple paving
There are lots of natural stone pavings available that have a deep purple-grey colour. They look especially good when it rains, and, well, we have a lot of that in the UK! Welsh slate is a great example, but you can also get deep blackish-purple granites, and Welsh sandstone with rich veins of black, purple and gold.
There are lots of natural stone pavings available that have a deep purple-grey colour. They look especially good when it rains, and, well, we have a lot of that in the UK! Welsh slate is a great example, but you can also get deep blackish-purple granites, and Welsh sandstone with rich veins of black, purple and gold.
Plant a favourite
Lilac shrubs are less popular with designers these days but just look at the rich purple of this standard Syringa vulgaris. There are lots of varieties to choose from, such as ‘Katherine Havemeyer’, but sometimes, for the richest scent, it’s worth going back to the species, and this one will reward you with fragrant blooms and multi-stemmed structure throughout the year.
Lilac shrubs are less popular with designers these days but just look at the rich purple of this standard Syringa vulgaris. There are lots of varieties to choose from, such as ‘Katherine Havemeyer’, but sometimes, for the richest scent, it’s worth going back to the species, and this one will reward you with fragrant blooms and multi-stemmed structure throughout the year.
Paint an accent wall
Just as you might change the colours inside your house, painting outdoor walls can instantly transform your space. Chalky paint colours, such as this lilac-y blue, are great not just as a colour hit, but also to reduce glare in sunny spots and to make a garden feel more spacious. Here, the purple upholstery on the bench adds to the outdoor room effect.
See more ideas on how to use paint to pep up your garden
Just as you might change the colours inside your house, painting outdoor walls can instantly transform your space. Chalky paint colours, such as this lilac-y blue, are great not just as a colour hit, but also to reduce glare in sunny spots and to make a garden feel more spacious. Here, the purple upholstery on the bench adds to the outdoor room effect.
See more ideas on how to use paint to pep up your garden
Incorporate a statement plant
Cercis siliquastrum, commonly known as the Judas Tree, is well-loved for its deep pink flowers. But it has another burst of colour when it fruits with flattened purple pods, giving it an impact that few other small garden trees can match. Plant it where you’ll see it every day – a front garden or driveway is a great location – and it’ll lighten your mood whenever you step out of your front door.
Cercis siliquastrum, commonly known as the Judas Tree, is well-loved for its deep pink flowers. But it has another burst of colour when it fruits with flattened purple pods, giving it an impact that few other small garden trees can match. Plant it where you’ll see it every day – a front garden or driveway is a great location – and it’ll lighten your mood whenever you step out of your front door.
Go for carpets of colour
A rich, deep carpet of colour is a clever way to plant up a large space, particularly handy if you don’t want a lawn. Here, the purple saxifrage is contrasted against a spiky grass that brings height to the garden and draws the eye along the whole length of the space.
Discover more ways to go grass-free
A rich, deep carpet of colour is a clever way to plant up a large space, particularly handy if you don’t want a lawn. Here, the purple saxifrage is contrasted against a spiky grass that brings height to the garden and draws the eye along the whole length of the space.
Discover more ways to go grass-free
Use it as a border
Hydrangeas always look fab in a mass planting. In some countries, such as France, they are often used as a hedge. To make the colour really pop, frame it against a simple palette of greens, like the grasses and hedges of box and myrtle either side of this large hydrangea.
Hydrangeas always look fab in a mass planting. In some countries, such as France, they are often used as a hedge. To make the colour really pop, frame it against a simple palette of greens, like the grasses and hedges of box and myrtle either side of this large hydrangea.
Add just a hint
Some plants, such as this fuchsia, have touches of purple in their flowers or foliage. Shrubs such as the smoke bush (Cotinus coggygria ‘Royal Purple’) are great for big bursts of colour, but for a subtler look, choose herbaceous plants – for example, hardy geraniums – that combine purple with other shades, including whites, reds and pinks.
Some plants, such as this fuchsia, have touches of purple in their flowers or foliage. Shrubs such as the smoke bush (Cotinus coggygria ‘Royal Purple’) are great for big bursts of colour, but for a subtler look, choose herbaceous plants – for example, hardy geraniums – that combine purple with other shades, including whites, reds and pinks.
Mix it up
Using one predominant colour brings harmony to a garden, but try using different tones for added interest, then add hits of a contrasting colour for a livelier look. In this planting scheme, the designer has chosen purple as an underlying theme but added small jewel-like sparks of white and cream to bring the scheme to life.
TELL US…
How have you used purple in your garden? Share your photos in the Comments below.
Using one predominant colour brings harmony to a garden, but try using different tones for added interest, then add hits of a contrasting colour for a livelier look. In this planting scheme, the designer has chosen purple as an underlying theme but added small jewel-like sparks of white and cream to bring the scheme to life.
TELL US…
How have you used purple in your garden? Share your photos in the Comments below.
This works well for any colour – choose plants in different tones of purple, and in different shapes, for an unstructured but still cohesive look. It’s great for a cottage-style garden like this one, where upright salvia and allium and relaxed nepeta have been used to keep the planting flowing through the border, but in a loose, laid-back style.