Early Spring Purple Flowers To Brighten Any Yard

Purple is a bold, distinct shade that can elevate the look of any home garden. 

Planting some purple spring flowers can add contrast to the greenery in your backyard. They can also look great against your other flowers, particularly yellow or orange ones. 

Purple flowers will bring your garden to life in spring, particularly after the bare, colder season. 

There are lots of different early-season purple blossoms to choose from, but to make it a little easier, we’ve listed some of the most stunning early-spring purple flowers in this post. 

Whether you prefer elegant floral arrangements that are on the smaller side, or larger displays full of bold, brilliant blossoms, you’re sure to find a purple spring flower that suits your tastes below. 

If you’re ready to transform your spring home garden with brilliant purple shades, keep reading! 

1. Glory of the Snow

Glory of the Snow is a name that’s given to the flower Chionodoxa forbesii. This has star-shaped, lilac-blue blooms with a white ‘eye’ at their core.

These flowers grow in clusters which makes them easy to spot in gardens. Their leaves and stems have a slightly reddish hue, adding some contrast along the green, strap-like foliage. 

Glory of the Snow does best in Zones 3 – 8. Its optimum conditions are partial shade to full sunlight, along with lightly acidic, well-draining soil. 

This flower can reach between six and twelve inches in height. As they grow in groups, it’s a good choice to use in rock gardens, along with any different early spring bulbs. 

Glory of the Snow is also critter and deer resistant, in addition to withstanding disease very well. If you do want to plant this flower in your garden, plant a minimum of 15 bulbs for maximum impact.

2. Crocus

The crocus is known for being a traditional spring flower. This variety comes from bulbs and needs to be planted in the fall so they bloom in spring. 

Crocuses thrive between USDA Hardiness Zones 3 and 8, though some fall types grow best in Zones 6 -10. They produce thin, grass-like foliage and though many are purple, they can also come in shades of yellow, white, orange, and pink. 

Crocuses need to be kept in space that receives both full sunlight and partial shade. It does best in lightly acidic, well-draining soil. Keep the soil moist, but avoid it becoming soggy and waterlogged. 

These purple flowers reach anywhere between three and six inches in height. Though they are early spring flowers, they resist frost well, so you may notice your first crocus growing around the end of winter. 

Crocuses look best in borders, containers, window boxes, and beds. 

3. Dwarf Iris

Iris reticulata, known less formally as Dwarf Iris, is a small plant that produces lots of fragrance. This plant begins to bloom in Zones 5 to 9 during the early growing season. 

Dwarf Iris flowers produce purple-blue petals that both gross straight upwards and droop downwards. The petals that dangle have hints of white and a distinct gold line running through them, while the ones that grow upright are completely purple-blue. 

Dwarf Iris plants do well in partial shade and full sunlight. Make sure that you use well-draining soil, lightly acidic soil for the best results. 

This flower can reach between six and eight inches in height. Dwarf Irises look very good in window boxes and containers, as this lets people enjoy their gorgeous features at eye level. 

4. Hyacinth

Hyacinths are loved for their many blooms and distinct, sweet aroma. These purple perennials can also grow in shades of apricot, wine red, white, and pink. 

Hyacinths are hardy between Zones 4 and 8, so they can withstand cool winters and moderate spring conditions. They thrive best in cool to medium temperatures and temperate summers.

They do best in conditions from full sunlight to partial shade, but make sure they receive a minimum of six hours of direct sunlight each day. 

Hyacinths can grow in several soil types, but they do best in well-draining lightly acidic soil. Aim for a pH from 5.5 to 7.5. They will also need regular watering, particularly during dry periods. Keep the soil damp, but not soggy. 

These beautiful plants usually resist disease well, but certain conditions, like tulip fire, bulb rot, and botrytis can influence the plant. These are usually the result of late planting, poorly draining soil, and overwatering, but proper care can help avoid these problems. 

Some pests can also affect the plant like tulip bulb flies and bulb mites. Taking time to examine your hyacinths regularly and applying suitable control methods can prevent this. 

5. Grape Hyacinth

This fragrant plant produces points with small, little flowers that, as the name suggests, look like grape bunches. Despite their name, grape hyacinths are different from true hyacinths, as they are part of the Lily family. 

Grape hyacinths are known for their purple-blue flowers, but they can also grow in shades of yellow, white, and pink. They also produce bright green foliage that resembles limp grass.

This flower prefers partial sunny to full sunlight conditions, along with well-draining soil with a balanced, neutral pH (7.0). It’s hardy between Zones 3 and 9, so they can do well in a range of climate conditions. 

Grape hyacinths grow between six and 12 inches tall, which is ideal for use in containers, window boxes, borders, and beds. 

You can plant them collectively for a singular, one-color presentation, or plant them with different flowers of comparable heights, like the Glory of the Snow or Crocus. 

6. Pasque Flower

Pasque Flower is an early spring perennial that originates from North America and Europe. It grows in bold, distinct shades of purple, but can also grow in shades of pink, red, and white.

Otherwise known as Pulsatilla vulgaris, this flower produces big blooms that have distinct, yellow centers. These flowers grow on top of ferny, silver foliage that shrivels back during fall. 

Despite their gentle looks, Pasque flowers are robust and stand up to drought well. They also produce a strong root system, but this makes transplanting incredibly difficult. It’s best to leave them in their original site to prevent transplant shock later. 

7. Perennial Primrose

Perennial Primrose is an early-blooming flower that creates an abundance of bold, purple flowers. They can also grow in a wealth of other shades, including white, blue, red, yellow, and pink.

This plant’s flowers can look different from each other. Some look more like bells, while others create rose-like blossoms. 

Perennial primroses are easy to care for and can repel rabbits and deer. This makes them a good choice for gardens that are prone to animal damage. 

It’s best to plant each of these around ten inches apart in rich soil. Make sure the location receives some shade in the afternoon after a day of full sunlight. 

8. Annual Primrose

Many annual primrose plants produce purple, early spring blooms. They don’t do well in heat, so they will wither quickly in hot, dry climates. 

Annual primroses can be grown in USDA zones 1 to 11. They usually grow between five and six inches tall, and five and seven inches in diameter. 

Annual primroses are affordable and work well in containers. This makes them a nice choice for home gardens, either planted solo or with other early spring plants, like daffodils or iris.  

9. Lungwort

Lungwort, otherwise known as pulmonaria, is an easy-to-care-for perennial that creates flowers at the beginning of spring. Its groups of little blooms first look pink, then start to turn purple-blue as they mature. 

Many types of Lungwort have unique leaves that have hints of silver. These will add diversity to your garden, even during periods when they aren’t flowering. 

The flower can grow anywhere from 12 inches to 18 inches tall. Its optimum growing conditions are partial shade to shaded areas, so keep them out of the sun! 

Lungwort flowers are thick enough to work as ground cover. but keep in mind that its blooms can be toxic to animals and humans. 

10. Creeping Phlox

Creeping phlox is a low-growing plant that is regularly used as a ground cover. Its ‘creeping’ nature looks fantastic spreading over rock gardens and stony walls. 

Creeping Phlox produces groups of one-inch long, aromatic blooms which each have five petals. These frequently draw in pollinators, like butterflies, wherever they are planted. 

When creeping phlox stops blooming, their foliage remains a vibrant shade of green, adding to your garden until they wither in winter. 

Plant creeping phlox when you are certain the final frost has passed, as they thrive best in full sunlight. 

11. Horned Violets

This perennial flower produces pansy-like blooms, with yellow cores, bold purple petals, and distinct, heart-shaped leaves. The flower is known for its heat-resistant and winter hardiness qualities, as well as its many big, fragrant flowers. 

Horned Violets can grow between eight and ten inches tall and between ten and 12 inches wide. They prefer partial shade, but can handle full sunlight in cool climate locations. 

The plant’s optimum conditions also include damp, well-draining, fertile soil. You can use a mulch to keep your soil moist and cool. 

A low-mounding plant, Horned Violets look amazing in borders, beds, and containers, though they also work well when used as a ground cover. 

Horned Violets are deer resistant, but look out for snails, slugs, and pansy leaf spots. Remember to trim back when summer starts, as this will encourage new growth. 

12. Sweet Violet

As its name implies, Sweet Violets have fragrant blooms that grow on top of heart-shaped leaves when spring starts. They are known for their purple blooms, but they can mature into blue or white shades as well. 

This can grow between six and ten inches in height, but you can stop them from growing too tall by pinching them back before they flower. You can also do the same after they finish flowering, as this will stop them from self-seeding. 

Sweet violets originate from woodland locations, so they do best in damp, even soil and a large amount of compost. 

This plant does bloom in early spring, but some types bloom in fall, so double-check before planting. 

13. Hellebore

Hellebore flowers also go by the name of Lenten Rose, as they usually flower during the Christian month, Lent. These noticeable plants can grow between 10 to 12 inches tall and may reach as wide as 14 inches. 

Hellebores are easy to care for and bring beautiful purple shades into spring gardens. They can also flower in shades of pink, white, and even black. 

These thrive in Hardiness Zones 4 – 9 and prefer shady to partially shady locations. They prefer constantly damp soil and shouldn’t be moved once they have taken root. 

If you want to show off the blooms more when they flower, you can cut the older Hellebore leaves to the ground at the end of winter. 

They do repel rabbits and deer, but they are also toxic to humans. Always wear gloves when you treat them to avoid skin issues. 

14. George Mini Iris

This plant is a little bigger than some of the other Dwarf Iris types. It’s taller and produces larger, plum-colored blooms with hints of yellow running through. 

‘George’ is a good choice for perennial beds, containers, and rock gardens. It’s easy to grow and does best between full sunlight and partially shady conditions. 

They should be kept in a cold, dark, and dry location before they are ready to plant. Air circulation is very important to prevent rot and moisture buildup. 

It’s also a good idea to add a grit layer on top of the soil, as this stops snails and slugs from munching the new shoots. 

15. Pansy

Pansies generally bloom from early spring unless you are in the south, where they will start flowering in fall. These beautiful plants are viola hybrids that produce much bigger, impressive blooms. 

Pansies can grow in shades of purple and lavender, but they can also bloom in bronze, white, yellow, and bronze. 

Pansies are a great choice for borders, containers, and ground cover. You can plant them on their own for a one-color display, or plant them among different shades for maximum impact. 

Many people view pansies and other violas as annuals, but the plant is hardy between zones 3 and 8. They thrive best in sunny to partially sunny conditions, but keep in mind that they can turn tall and spindly during the summer heat. 

Pansies also resist cold weather well. They can live through frosty conditions, growing back from wintery conditions. This makes them a nice choice to plant in gardens, as they will add color to your home throughout the growing season. 

Pansies may be prone to slugs, snails, spider mites, and aphids. Keep examining your pansies regularly and use suitable control methods, like mulch, to deter them. 

Final Thoughts

Now you know the names of some early spring purple flowers! 

Some of these plants, like Creeping Phlox, are great to use as ground cover, while others, like Grape Hyacinth, look great with other early spring flowers. 

Many of these are easy to maintain and grow, so they are perfect for elevating home gardens. 

No matter which ones you plant in your yard, they will surely signify that spring is on its way! We hope you try your hand at planting early spring purple flowers at home! 

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