Purple Flowers - A Guide to Purple Flowers

Purple flowers add a note of distinction and luxury when used in flower arrangements or bouquets. This purple flowers guide offers an overview of the most popular purple flowers, what is their meaning and how are they used in arrangements.

Purple is a magical color, it’s both hot and cold at the same time, emerging simultaneously the radiance of red and the calmness of blue. It is a natural color, most of its shades holding the names of the purple flowers, plants or fruit which characterize them: violet, lilac, lavender, pomegranate, mulberry, plum, orchid or eggplant.

Purple is traditionally attached to royalty, from the Roman Emperors which wore purple togas to the Elizabethan Age when the significance of the color purple was dictated by law and wearing this color was an index of social status.

In feng shui, purple should scarcely be used, since it is considered to be disturbing and cause blood diseases. However, it can be used in meditation rooms, since purple is said to stimulate peace of mind and boost creativity.

Purple Flower Meaning

Purple flowers are, by excellence, a token of nobility, ceremony and distinction. Highly encountered in nature, purple flowers are considered sacred in some Eastern cultures and were offered as tokens of worship to Gods and royalty figures. One example is Buddhism, where the purple lotus is considered a mystical flower. Recently, purple has been associated to gay pride.

Depending on the shade of the purple flower, different meanings can be associated to it. For instance:

• Deeper shades of purple flowers such as wine, plum or eggplant are a symbol of glory and power.
• Lighter shades of purple flower such as lilac, violet or mauve are related to youth and feminine beauty.

When offering purple flowers as gifts, one expresses deep admiration and respect.

Purple Flower Arrangements

As purple is correlated with spiritual fulfillment and good judgment, but moreover with luxury and power, purple flowers are widely used in realizing majestic flower arrangements. Deep bright purple flowers symbolize riches, while lighter lavender or lilac flowers are romantic and feminine, being a popular choice for bouquets.

The spatial effect achieved by purple when used in arrangements is that of lightness, since purple objects appear lighter than objects of other colors.

When combining purple flowers with other flowers, one needs to consider some basic color matching principles:

• Purple flowers go well with yellow flowers as complementary colors create a high-contrast, psychedelic effect, both colors being equally highlighted in this combination.
• Another expressionist mix is realized by putting together orange flowers with purple flowers, for an eye-catching arrangement.
• If one uses purple flowers as the attention grabber of an arrangement, the purple should be tempered with other colors such as: pink flowers, blue flowers and white flowers.
• A conservative, but classy color combination is achieved by combining deep eggplant purple flowers with beige or cream flowers.
• For a striking effect, purple flowers can be combined with green flowers or greenery in bright jewel tones.
• Light green flowers or greenery go well with lighter purple flowers, giving a sensation of freshness and spring.
• For a feminine, delicate touch, the best mix is to add pink flowers to a purple flower arrangement.
• Red purple flowers can be used to add warmth to a cooler arrangement, while bluish purple flowers are used to cool down a warmer one.

Purple Flowers for Weddings

Use purple flowers to add a royal allure to your wedding. Dark purple flowers with golden accents are best suited for a Christmas wedding, while soft lilac flowers combined with silver are a good choice for Easter or spring weddings. For a purple summer wedding, consider bright purple flowers in combination with complementary shades of yellow flowers.

Purple flowers are great both for bridal bouquets and centerpieces, since they offer a large variety of shades, textures and scents to work with.

Purple flowers often used for weddings are: purple lilac for a springtime scented centerpiece, purple lily and purple calla lily in dark shades for bridal bouquets, purple orchids used in tropical wedding themes and velvety deep purple roses.

Types of Purple Flowers

Here is a selection of the most known purple flowers:

• Purple Daisy

  Also called Western daisy, due to the fact that it originates in the lower Mississippi basin, the purple daisy comes in varieties of royal purple, han purple or orchid purple.

• Purple Hydrangea

  An unusual color for this species, the purple hydrangea originates in eastern Asia, especially China, Korea or Japan. This purple flower has varieties which once planted, stay evergreen.

• Purple Lilac

  Blooming in April, the purple lilac with its strong scent, brings a note of freshness and spring. This light purple flower suggests humility, confidence and youth.

• Purple Lily

  A hybrid between regal trumpet lilies and the more exotic Asiatic Lily, purple lilies come in a variety called Purple Prince. This purple flower has a leathery texture and a satin aspect, reaching a soft brown color at maturity.

• Purple Calla Lily

  Purple calla lilies come in different varieties, the most popular shades being lavender, amethyst and bright purple.

• Purple Rose

  The purple rose, a majestic and royal symbol, signifies enchantment and love at first sight or maternal/paternal love. Result of hybridization, this purple flower comes in a variety of purple shades and it is said to be the most fragrant species of roses.

• Purple Orchid

  Regarded as tropical and exotic flowers, the purple orchids come in a large variety of colors and shapes, the most common being Orchis mascula. Being used especially in Ikebana, these purple flowers stay in bloom for almost a month.

• Purple Hibiscus

  Ranging in color from lilac to violet and plum, the purple hibiscus with its large bright flowers is a perfect choice to lighten up your garden and home. This purple flower is considered one of the best looking type of hibiscus.

• Purple Carnation

  Purple carnations, a rare variety of carnations, are spontaneous and unpredictable. These purple flowers are traditionally associated to change and capriciousness.