Attract Butterflies with 7 Purple Perennial Flowers

Purple perennials are a must-have when it comes to attracting butterflies to your garden. Known to usually bloom later in the season, purple perennials are a beautiful contrast to the reds ans golds of the fall. Here are seven purple perennials that are ideal for your butterfly garden.

1. Purple Aster provides a wonderful buffet for many varieties of butterflies. They actually have a long blooming season from mid-spring to early fall. They thrive in sun or partial/light shade and are drought tolerant, though they need to be watered regularly. Purple Asters grow between 6 inches up to 18 inches, depending on the variety, and are heartily grown in zones 5a-10b.
    
2. Italian Aster, more commonly known as Violet Queen,  is not only beautiful, but well-loved by butterflies. Blooming late summer to early winter, they too have a long blooming season and are hearty in zones 5a-8b. The Violet Queen loves either full sun or sun/partial shade and grows from 24 inches to 36 inches—perfect for adding height to the middle or back of your butterfly garden.
    
3. Autumn Joy, one of several variations of the Stonecrop,  grows into a striking purple bloom from late summer to early fall. Autumn Joy is wonderfully maintenance free and drought tolerant, and it grows and multiplies rapidly in full sun. Growing from 18 inches to 24 inches, the Autumn Joy is hearty in zones 3a-9b giving it awesome butterfly attraction in many climates.
    
4. Blazing Star has many popular variations. The Round Headed Blazing Star develops round mum-like blooms in a brilliant purple hue. This variation grows between 4 feet and 6 feet tall, making it wonderful for vase clippings. It blooms from late summer to early fall, prefers sun/partial shade, and needs to be watered regularly. Wonderful for growing as a background for your butterfly garden or as a stand alone plant, the Round Headed Blazing Star is hearty in zones 4a-9b.
    
5. Joe-Pye Weed is another large growing purple perennial. Gaining in popularity and hearty in the back of your butterfly garden, the Joe-Pye Weed prefers sun to partial shade and will bloom from mid- summer to early fall. This sweet smelling purple perennial needs constantly moist soil and will grow between 4 feet to 6 feet tall in zones 3a-8b.
    
6. Purple Cornflower, a native prairie flower of the U.S., is a butterfly lover's dream. Extremely low-maintenance and hearty in zones 3a-9b, this fragrant purple perennial will produce beautiful blooms from mid-summer to mid-fall. Thriving in full sun, the Purple Cornflower will grow to be 18 inches to 24 inches tall.
    
7. Purple Hyssop, known as the Purple Giant Hyssop or Lavender Hyssop, is a perennial herb. Producing tall purple spiky blooms, this perennial can grow anywhere from 24 inches to 6 feet tall. This fun purple giant may be endangered in some places, so beware of picking them in the wild. The Purple Hyssop needs constantly moist soil and sun to partial/light shade. The fragrant plant will bloom from late summer to mid-fall in zones 4a-6b.

When planting perennials, remember to check the acidity of your soil as most perennials need a more acidic soil. Also, plant your perennials with other plants that require the same moisture and light level. Although most butterfly gardens are known for white, pink, orange and yellow blooms, the inclusion of purple blooms is becoming popular. Purple perennials are a wonderful addition to any garden to attract butterflies.