Purple lilies bring unique depth and charm to any landscape. These striking flowers, celebrated for their vibrant hues and diverse forms, range from soft lavenders to deep, velvety purples. Their presence can transform a garden space, providing visual interest and a sophisticated touch. Exploring the various types helps gardeners select the perfect bloom to complement their outdoor aesthetic.
Understanding Lily Groups
Lilies are broadly categorized into divisions, each with distinct characteristics influencing their appearance and growth habits. Asiatic hybrids bloom early to mid-summer, featuring upward-facing, often unscented flowers. These lilies typically grow to a moderate height, making them versatile for various garden settings. Their sturdy stems and wide color range, including vibrant purples, contribute to their popularity.
Oriental hybrids bloom later in summer, often releasing a strong, sweet fragrance. These lilies are distinguished by their larger, often bowl-shaped or recurved flowers. Many Oriental varieties can reach impressive heights, creating a dramatic visual impact.
Trumpet and Aurelian hybrids feature large, trumpet-shaped flowers that can be highly fragrant, particularly in the evening. These lilies bloom mid to late summer and can exceed six feet.
Other distinct groups include Martagon lilies, with uniquely recurved petals resembling a Turk’s cap, and LA hybrids, combining traits from Longiflorum and Asiatic lilies for robust growth and a wide color palette.
Popular Purple Lily Varieties
Asiatic Hybrid Lilies
‘Black Out’ offers deep, dark red to nearly black petals that appear intensely purple in certain light. This variety blooms early to mid-summer, reaching 3 to 4 feet. Its rich, dark color provides a dramatic contrast against lighter foliage.
‘Purple Pixie’ is a compact variety suitable for containers or the front of a border. It displays vibrant, true purple flowers, often speckled with darker markings. ‘Purple Pixie’ reaches 1 to 2 feet tall and flowers in early summer. These lilies are robust and adaptable, thriving in various garden conditions.
Oriental Hybrid Lilies
Oriental lilies are prized for their large, often fragrant blooms that appear later in the growing season. ‘Black Beauty’ is a hybrid, often classified as an Orienpet or Oriental, producing deep, purplish-red, recurved flowers. Its downward-facing, martagon-like blooms are heavily speckled and emit a light fragrance, blooming mid to late summer and reaching 5 to 7 feet.
‘Tom Pouce’ is another Oriental variety displaying significant purple tones, often with large, fragrant flowers blending pink, white, and purple. Its petals are typically white with deep pink to purplish margins and speckles. This variety blooms mid to late summer and grows 3 to 4 feet tall.
Trumpet and Aurelian Hybrid Lilies
Trumpet and Aurelian hybrids are known for their often intensely fragrant, trumpet-shaped flowers. While pure purple trumpet lilies are less common, some varieties exhibit strong purple blush or deep plum tones. ‘Pink Perfection’ can present deep rosy-pink to purplish-pink blooms, especially as they mature. These highly fragrant flowers reach 6 to 8 inches in length, blooming mid to late summer on stalks exceeding 6 feet.
‘African Queen’ is primarily apricot-orange but can have purplish-brown backs on its petals, contributing to a deeper hue that leans towards purple in certain light. These highly fragrant, outward-facing blooms appear mid-summer on robust stems reaching 4 to 6 feet.
Other Distinct Lily Types
Martagon lilies offer a unique aesthetic with their distinctive, strongly recurved petals that form a “Turk’s cap” shape. ‘Claude Shride’ produces numerous small, deep reddish-maroon flowers that appear almost black-purple. These blooms are often spotted and appear early to mid-summer on tall, slender stems, reaching 4 to 6 feet. Martagons prefer partial shade and are long-lived.
LA Hybrid lilies, a cross between Longiflorum and Asiatic lilies, combine large flowers with vibrant colors and sturdy growth. ‘Triumphator’ is an LA Hybrid featuring large, upward-facing flowers with a blend of deep pink and purple hues, often with a white center. These robust lilies bloom early to mid-summer, reaching 3 to 5 feet, and offer a long-lasting display.
Choosing the Best Purple Lily for Your Garden
Selecting the ideal purple lily involves considering various environmental factors and personal preferences. Hardiness zone is a primary consideration, as different lily types have varying tolerances to cold temperatures. For example, many Asiatic and Martagon lilies are quite cold-hardy, while some Oriental varieties may require more protection in colder climates. Understanding a lily’s specific hardiness range ensures its successful establishment and return year after year.
Sunlight availability also influences the choice. Most lilies prefer full sun, but some, like Martagon lilies, perform best in partial shade, where they are protected from intense afternoon heat. Matching the lily type to light conditions promotes vigorous growth and abundant blooms.
Considering desired bloom time helps create a continuous display of color throughout the growing season. Ultimate lily height is another important factor for garden design, allowing placement of taller varieties at the back of borders and shorter ones towards the front. Fragrance preference is also a personal consideration; Oriental and Trumpet lilies have strong scents, while Asiatics are generally unscented. Evaluating these aspects helps gardeners choose purple lilies that will thrive and enhance their outdoor spaces.