Purple is an interesting color in the garden because it can be used to create both warm and cool effects in beds. It is both  energetic and calming at the same time depending on what it is placed next to.

In one of my veggies beds, the lavender sage flowers contrast against the deep purple of the eggplant leaves & stems

Nearby this new fuchsia salvia adds some hot action, not to mention all the hummingbird action it will attract!

Praying hands banana flower

Banana flowers give us the best of both worlds with the deep frosty purple outside of the bract and the deep red fuchsia of its inside where the actual flowers are housed. I like finding the dropped bracts in the garden beds for color and because it means bananas are growing!

This is the common “red sister” variety. Common, but beautiful! For those in more temperate climates, ti can be grown in a pot indoors.

Cordyline plants, commonly known as Ti plants, come in varying shades and variegation of green to hot pink. This  plant can add a lot of energy to a shadier area. And, the little flowers on the bloom spike are light purple!

These look like clover, but they are actually a variety of oxalis

While many in this area would call these wild purple beauties growing in my “grass” (weeds) a weed themselves, they are actually a native wildflower. I was really surprised to even see pots of them for sale at a plant festival last weekend! I think they are great for adding a little spontaneous cheer to any area in which they choose to grow. I especially like the contrast between them and the yellow dandelions as well as the way they give you eye a cool spot to rest on as it scans the warm yellow-green of the grass.

What’s your favorite purple plant?

Seeds to Sprout:

Learn more about the Ti plant. Because of its striking color, this would be a fun one to grow in a classroom’s sunny window!

Here’s a little info on growing bananas. While they won’t make fruit indoors in a pot, I have grown them as a house plant in a sunny window- even in 6 inch pots! Very fun!

Growing salvias (or sages) as ornamentals or edibles is really rewarding because they are easy, grow almost anywhere, smell good, have flowers, and attract wildlife. Find out which salvias are right for your garden.

Did you know oxalis is edible? Learn more!