Did you know purple is the color of royalty? Among all the flowering plants in Michigan, purple blooms are a fan favorite. Bright purple flowers create beautiful curb appeal and uniqueness to any landscape design. Here are our favorite purple perennials of all time.

1.  Nepeta- A good choice for rock gardens or edging, Nepeta is drought-resistant and durable to pests like rabbit and deer. Also known as “Catmint” this flower blooms from early spring through summertime, requires little maintenance, and attracts pollinators of all kinds.

2.  Salvia- Known for its long bloom time during the summer months, Salvia is a dependable perennial. There are hundreds of varieties of Salvia, the most common to Michigan being “Woodland Sage” which produces violet blooms through September. Also, Salvia is a favorite snack for butterflies.

3.  Caesar’s Brother Iris- Irises do well around water features and are known for their tall foliage. Caesar’s Brother is known for dark purple blooms with light yellow and black veining on the inside of the flower. Blooms last for a few weeks in the early summer and their leaves remain a beautiful green color until first frost. 

4.  Penstemon- These purple beauties, also known as Beardtongue, bloom in early summer. There are over 250 varieties of Penstemon, growing anywhere in the range of a few inches to a few feet tall. Penstemon have small bell-shaped flowers that remain a vibrant purple color until high temperatures take over in mid-summer.

5.  Cone Flower- Otherwise known as Echinacea, cone flowers are part of the daisy family. They are extremely draught-tolerant, maintain their blooms for about 8 weeks during the summer months and can grow upwards of about 4 feet tall. The name "cone flower" comes from the characteristic "cone" at the center of the flower head, attracting pollinators of all kinds.