Not all weeds are the same. Flowering species set decorative accents and delight numerous insects. Find out here which purple and violet flowering wild herbs are available and what properties they have. You should know this weed with purple flowers.
In a nutshell
- Note the competitive power of weeds
- Wildflowers in different shades of purple
- reach growth heights of up to 200 cm
- Flowers and leaves partially edible
- some wild herbs poisonous
Table of contents
- Weed with purple flowers from A to D
- Weeds with lilac flowers from E to G
- Weed with purple flowers from K to Z
- frequently asked Questions
Weed with purple flowers from A to D
arablebluebell (Campanula rapunculoides)
- Growth: forming runners, proliferating; Height 50 to 80 cm
- flower: blue-violet; spikey; June to September
- location: sunny; Soil loamy, sandy, rich in stones and humus
- Specialties: strong competition and should be removed between weaker plant neighbors; flowers edible
Field thistle (Cirsium arvense)
- Growth: upright, branched, perennial; Height up to 100 cm
- flower: pink-violet; tubular flowers; honey scent; March/April to November
- Location: warm, sunny to semi-shady
- Specialties: edible; very insect and bird friendly; Spread should be controlled
arablepansies (Viola arvensis)
Source: AnRo0002, 20150629Viola arvensis ssp. megalantha03, Edited from Plantopedia, CC0 1.0
- growth: herbaceous; Height up to 20 cm
- Flowers: light purple with white and yellow accents; small; April to October
- Location: partially shaded; fresh, slightly acidic to neutral soil
- Special features: annual, rarely biennial; deciduous; Seeds slightly poisonous, wild herb still suitable as a tea
arableforget Me Not (Myosotis arvensis)
- Growth: covering the ground, upright; Height 10 to 40 cm
- Flowers: light blue to soft lilac; funnel-shaped; April to October
- Location: full to shade; dry to fresh soil
- Special features: one to two years old; flowers edible; very low competitiveness
field scabious (Knautia arvensis)
- Growth: clumpy, basal, upright; Height 30 to 100 cm
- flower: light purple; tubular; single flowers; May to August
- location: sunny; prefers dry, calcareous soils
- Features: very insect friendly; low competitiveness; Leaves and flowers edible
Honorable Prize (Veronica spicata)
- Growth: creeping, very upright inflorescences; Height up to 30 cm
- Flowers: lilac to dark blue-violet; spike-like; June to September
- location: sunny; dry conditions
- Special features: hardy; high ornamental and utility value; non-toxic; low competitiveness
bee friend (Phacelia tanacetifolia 'Stala')
- Growth: annual, upright, herbaceous; Height up to 25 cm
- Flowers: blue-violet, violet, June to October.
- Location: sunny to semi-shady; Soil moderately dry to moderately moist
- Features: as green manure suitable; non-toxic, but contains skin-irritating substances; very little competitive pressure
Tip: The plant, also known as the "tuft beauty", is excellent for growing propagate by seeds.
Bittersweet nightshade (Solanum dulcamara)
- Habit: herbaceous, upright, bushy, climbing, semi-shrub, fruiting; Height up to 200 cm
- Flowers: violet to blue-violet; panicle-like; June to July
- Location: sunny to semi-shady; like humid environment pond and bank edges
- Special features: berries poisonous; Climbing tendrils can "smother" neighboring plants
Sweet Violet (Viola odorata)
- Growth: covering the ground, dense; Height up to 25 cm
- Flower: dark blue-violet; single flowers; March to April
- Location: partially shaded to shaded; Soil nutrient-rich, fresh and well-drained
- Special features: hardy; perennial; subtly scented; tolerates competitive pressure; non-toxic
Weeds with lilac flowers from E to G
True comfrey (Symphytum officinale)
- Growth: upright, bushy, clumpy; Height 30 to 100 cm
- flower: dark purple; simple, racemose; May to August
- Location: sunny to off-sun; Soil fresh to moist
- Specialties: edible; avoid uncompetitive neighbors or controlled growth
fumitory (Fumaria officinalis)
- Growth: upright; Growth height 10 to 20 cm
- Flowers: lilac petals, dark red to black tips; bell-shaped; May to September
- Location: Sun to penumbra; Soil fresh to moist, rich in nutrients and humus, well-drained
- Specialties: annual; blue-green leaves; whole plant poisonous; moderate competitiveness
European sea mustard (Cakile maritima)
- Growth: upright and prostrate, bushy; Height up to 30 cm
- Flowers: pink-lilac to soft lilac; tubular; July to September
- Location: sunny to shady; sandy, saline soil
- Specialties: annual; edible; popular kitchen spice; no competitiveness
A notice: This weed with purple flowers is one of them pointer plants. Where it grows, the soil is very nitrogenous. However, it usually only grows wild in coastal areas, but reliably.
Thread Speedwell (Veronica filiformis)
- Growth: creeping, fast-growing; Height up to 100 cm
- flower: blue-purple; four-leaved; March/April to May/June
- location: sunny; Soil well drained, rich in nutrients
- Special features: can compete with lawns; edible; light scent
field stone quenelle (Acinus arvensis)
- Growth: upright to slightly spreading; short-stalked; Growth height 10 to 30 cm
- Flowers: soft lilac, June to September
- location: sunny; dry soil, also stony
- Special features: annual or perennial; only survives next to uncompetitive neighbors; toxic/inedible
Common ox tongue (Anchusa officinalis)
- Growth: persistent, upright, heavily branched; Growth height 30 to 60 cm
- Flower: dark blue-violet; panicle-like; June to September
- Location: full sun; Soil fresh to dry, well-drained
- Special features: extremely hardy; loses competitiveness in the shade
Common wolfberry (Lycium barbarum)
- Growth: bushy, overhanging, arching, prickly, forming runners; Height 200 to 350 cm
- Flowers: initially purplish-violet, later brown; funnel-shaped; June to August
- Location: sun to semi-shade; Soil permeable, likes walls and in the rock garden
- Special features: robust, hardy; red berries with a lot of vitamin C; kitchen herbs; low competitiveness
ordinarynight violet (Hesperis matronalis)
- Growth: upright, branched, clump-like, perennial; Height 40 to 100 cm
- flower: soft lilac; June to August
- Location: shady; Soil rich in nutrients, rocky and/or sandy
- Particularities: strongly scented during darkness; biennial to perennial; adaptable; medium competitiveness; poisonous
Groundman (Glechoma hederacea)
- Growth: ground covering, creeping; Height up to 30 cm
- flower: lilac; bell-shaped; March to May
- Location: sunny to semi-shady; tolerates shade; Soil acidic to slightly acidic, rich in humus, moderately moist, sandy-loamy
- Special features: bears nut fruits; perennial; not very competitive despite strong proliferation; Can be eaten raw, poisonous to grazing animals
Weed with purple flowers from K to Z
Little Brownie (Prunella vulgaris)
- Growth: dense, flat, covering the ground, forming runners; Height 5 to 20 cm
- Flowers: blue-purple to soft violet; June to September
- Habitat: Often on lawns, pastures and wet areas such as banks and forest edges
- Particularities: often grows in lawns and suppresses this; well-known medicinal plant; mediocre competitiveness; Leaves and flowers edible
milk thistle (Silybum marianum)
- Growth: upright, branched; Height 60 to 110 cm
- flower: pink-violet; plump; July to August
- location: sunny; Soil well drained, sandy
- Special features: one to two years old; thorny; not poisonous; medium competitiveness
Wall Cinnamon (Cymbalaria muralis)
- Growth: creeping, overhanging, forming runners; Height 10 to 20 cm
- flower: light purple; cupped; single flowers; April to September
- Location: sunny to shady; Soil poor in lime, rich in nutrients
- Special features: perennial; evergreen; low competitiveness; not poisonous
A notice: The wall cymbal is also known as "wallflower". This weed with the bright purple flowers is one of the most popular wild herbs, because of its high adaptability even in rocky terrain and in the smallest cracks in the wall grow.
Peach-leaved Bellflower (Campanula persicifolia)
- Growth: upright, perennial, forming runners; Height up to 80 cm
- flower: violet; bell-shaped; June to July
- location: sunny; Soil well drained, loose, nutritious
- Special features: non-toxic; asserts itself against weaker plants
Whorled Sage (Salvia verticillata)
- Growth: upright, clumpy; Height 40 to 60 cm
- Flower: purple-violet (Salvia verticillata 'Purple Rain'); spikey; May to September
- Location: full sun to sunny; Soil low in nitrogen, permeable
- Special features: summer green; hardy; non-toxic and edible; uncompetitive
silver leaf (Lunaria annua)
- Growth: upright, herbaceous; Height up to 100 cm
- Flowers: violet with white accents; grape-like; April to June
- Location: sunny to semi-shady; Soil well drained, neutral to slightly calcareous
- Special features: biennial; non-toxic; high competitiveness
Meadow knapweed (Centaurea jacea)
- Growth: mat-like, upright, herbaceous, herbaceous; Height 30 to 60 cm
- flower: pink-violet; tubular flowers; June to September
- location: sunny; Soil dry to fresh, low in humus, loamy-sandy
- Special features: easy to care for; very insect friendly; edible; strong competitiveness
Shaggy vetch (Vicia villosa)
- Growth: climbing; rampant Height 150 cm and above
- Flower: lilac-white butterfly flowers; grape-like; May to August
- location: sunny; soil permeable
- Special features: summer green; also thrive in tubs; poisonous; moderate competitiveness
frequently asked Questions
Competitiveness relates to the degree of crowding out of surrounding plants. The higher the competitiveness, the higher the risk that the weeds will have a negative effect on all plants in the immediate vicinity, and may even kill them. Highly competitive weeds should therefore be removed or at least prevented from spreading uncontrolled.
This color group also includes wild oregano (Origanum vulgare), meadowcranesbill (Geranium pratense) and bittercress (Cardamine pratensis). They are sometimes less common than classic, wild weeds, but are sown more often in a targeted manner.
The common prunella (Prunella vulgaris) proves to be just as hardwearing as the ground ivy (Glechoma hederacea), which is why these two weeds are ideal as lawn substitutes. But be careful, because they prick your bare feet.
