This page provides a list of purple things in nature, including flowers, fruits and vegetables, gemstones and anything else that occurs or is created in the natural world.
Purple is a color that is commonly associated with mystery, creativity, magic and intuition. It was once the color of royalty and the wealthy due to the expense of the production of the pigment.
Purple Things in Nature
Plants/Flowers
Lilac Flower
Its true or scientific name is Syringa, which includes 12 known species. Lilac as a color is a light tint of purple.
Foxglove
The foxglove or Digitalis is a hanging cone or tube shaped flower. Its color can range from a strong purple or violet, to a pale pinkish color.
Fuchsia
The fuchsia plant grows unique looking hanging flowers which includes a mixture of different colors.
Hellebore
There are many different species of hellebores, and they can be found in a wide variety of colors. They look attractive, and they are easy to grow, which contributes to making them very popular.
Violet
The violet family of plants consists of over 500 species. These range in color from purple, to a lighter blue to violet color.
Lavender
The lavender plant is scientifically known as the Lavandula. It grows multiple but small flowers along a stalk. They have been commonly used for display purposes, and also because of their scent.
Sea Lavender
These are actually not connected to the above lavender plant. They are part of a different family of flowers. However, visually they seem very similar.
Purple Pansy
Ranging from a darker purple to a lighter violet color. The pansy is another popular and attractive flower.
Butterfly Bush
The butterfly bush (buddleia davidii) is a common flowering shrub. They can reach heights of 5 – 10 feet tall.
Supertunia Blue Skies Petunia
These are easy to grow flowers that are often grown in containers. Despite these hybrids being called blue skies, they appear more purple or violet.
Milk Thistle
Milk Thistle is a herb and it was originally found in Europe, and was later introduced into North America. It has been used historically to treat various disorders and health issues.
Purple Loosestrife
Purple loosestrife is known as a wetland plant. It produces spikey flowers that bloom late in the summer. Its scientific name is Lythrum salicaria.
Hosta Capitata
Hosta capitata is a relatively long living plant (perennial). It produces light purple flowers, and it’s believed to have originally been native to Japan.
Allium ‘Ambassador‘
The allium ‘ambassador’ grows a large spherical head that’s made of small purple flower heads. It can grow to over one meter in height. It’s actually classed as an onion, but treated and grown more like a flower.
Purple Coral Pea
The purple coral pea, also called the false sarsaparilla. It’s a flowering plant commonly found in Australia.
Orchid
Their full scientific name is Orchidaceae, and there are many different species which grow all over the world.
Bell flower
Bell flowers come in a range of colors. They tend to hang down and have the resemblance of a bell.
Tulip
The Tulip, or its full scientific name, (Tulipa) are often bright yellow, pink and red colors. However, they can also grow into attractive purple flowers.
Canterbury Bells
Canterbury bells do resemble the shape of bells. They range in color from a dark purple, to a lighter lilac tint.
Sea Holly
With the scientific name, Erynigium Maritimum, we are best just calling them Sea Holly’s. These range in color from a light blue, to a violet or purple color.
Purple Basil
These herbs are generally green in color, but a purple variety does also grow (Purple Basil). This plant requires warm to hot environments and regions to grow.
Purple Things – Fruit & Vegetables
Elderberry
The Elderberry, or sometimes just Elder, is a very nutritional and a powerful antioxidant. These berries can range in color from almost black to dark red, to lighter blue tints, and anything in-between.
Eggplant
The eggplant is a fruit due to the seeds within it. However, it’s often cooked like a vegetable. It’s commonly grown and eaten worldwide.
Cabbage
The coloration of cabbages changes based on the soil in which it’s grown. Red and purple cabbages also have great antioxidant properties.
Blueberries
Blueberries, as the name suggest are generally blue. However, their coloration can also resemble an indigo to purple color.
Peppers
Peppers are often red, green and yellow, but they can also be found with a purple coloration.
Grapes
Grapes can be black, dark red and dark purple shades. The darker the grape, the greater antioxidant properties they have.
Corn
Purple corn is high in anthocyanins, this is what creates the purple coloration. Due to its high nutritional properties it’s considered a superfood.
Plum
Plums can be found with a dark red or purple coloration. There are as many as 30 plus species of plum, and they are highly nutritious fruits.
Purple Cherry Tomatoes
Purple cherry tomatoes are, as the name suggests, purple cherry tomato-looking things.
Gemstones
Amethyst
Beginning with purple things and gemstones, we have the Amethyst crystal. It’s a purple to violet quartz crystal. The Amethyst crystal is very well known and popular because of its beautiful appearance, and its many spiritual meanings.
Sapphire
This gemstone is generally a strong attractive blue hue. However, turquoise and purple stones can also be found.
Topaz
The topaz mineral is clear is its pure form. However, they are often found with different colors due to the inclusion of other elements.
Garnet
This gemstone is usually known to be red, but purple varieties have also been discovered. Their color varies due to mineral and chemical mixtures.
Jade
Jade stones are known for being green. However, they can be found with different colors, including orange/red, and purple/violet.
Tanzanite
The tanzanite crystals are only found in one known location on the planet, Tanzania. They are found with a dark purple to bright blue color.
Other Purple Things in Nature
Costa’s Hummingbird
The Costa’s hummingbird is a small bird that has an attractive looking purple coloration on its head and neck.
