15 Stunning Ground Cover Plants with Purple Flowers

Are you looking to transform your garden into a sea of vibrant purple flowers? Look no further than low-growing, creeping ground cover plants. Not only do these plants bring the regal beauty of purple to your landscape, but they also provide a low-maintenance and long-lasting display of color.

Why settle for a plain garden when you can have a beautiful carpet of purple blooms? Whether you have sunny spots or shaded areas under trees, there are ground cover plants that will thrive and bring a burst of color to your garden. Some varieties are even evergreen, ensuring a year-round spectacle.

Aside from their captivating beauty, ground cover plants offer numerous benefits. They help retain soil moisture, preserve nutrients, and suppress weeds. With their low-maintenance nature, these plants save you time and effort without compromising the visual appeal of your garden. Plus, they spread quickly, making them a cost-effective option.

Now, let’s dive into the world of purple-flowering ground covers. I’ve curated a list of 15 of my favorite varieties that promise year-round allure without demanding constant attention.

Why Choose Ground Cover Plants with Purple Flowers?

The energy and vibrancy of the color purple is the first reason why I adore ground cover plants with purple blooms. From delicate pastel shades like lavender to rich and bold hues like raspberry and imperial purple, the range of purple offers something for every palette. Plus, unlike other colors that may be scarce in spring, purple can grace your garden throughout the seasons, ensuring a harmonious color scheme.

Why Choose Ground Cover Plants?

In addition to their stunning visual appeal, ground cover plants offer numerous advantages. Exposed soil can be unattractive, but by adding ground cover plants, you can transform your garden into an impressive display. These plants act as natural mulch, preserving soil moisture and nutrients. With their low-maintenance nature, they reduce the time and effort required to care for your garden while still providing a beautiful showcase for both you and your guests.

Now, let’s explore the 15 remarkable ground cover plants with purple flowers that will add a touch of enchantment to your garden.

1. Periwinkle (Vinca minor)

Periwinkle is a graceful and evergreen ground cover plant with lavender-colored blooms. These fan-shaped flowers spread rapidly and suppress weeds, making it an ideal choice for any garden condition. Whether you have full shade or sun, periwinkle thrives in all light conditions. Its arching stems bear elliptical, dark green leaves, and there are even variegated varieties available. Use periwinkle as ground cover, or add it to rock gardens and informal settings.

2. Creeping Thyme (Thymus serpillum)

Creeping thyme, with its wide range of purple shades, is a popular full-sun ground cover plant. This small shrub forms dense blooms that cover its cushion-like structure. Not only is it a visual delight, but it also emits a pleasant aroma due to its nectar-rich flowers, attracting pollinators and butterflies. The evergreen foliage ensures that even after the blossom display, your garden remains covered in a textured carpet of green. Creeping thyme is perfect for stepping stones, rock gardens, and sunny spots near your home.

3. Creeping Phlox ‘Violet Pinwheels’

Creeping phlox ‘Violet Pinwheels’ is an exceptional ground cover plant known for its vibrant shade of violet purple. This variety produces an abundance of star-shaped flowers that completely conceal the foliage when in bloom. It offers a magnificent early spring display, followed by dark green needle-shaped leaves that persist until fall. With its striking color and early blooming period, creeping phlox ‘Violet Pinwheels’ is perfect for rock gardens, flower beds, and adding a sudden burst of color to your garden.

4. ‘Birch Hybrid’ Bellflower (Campanula ‘Birch Hybrid’)

‘Birch Hybrid’ is a low-growing spreading purple bellflower that makes an excellent ground cover plant. It blooms in early summer, and its intense violet shade and bell-shaped flowers create an eye-catching display. The dense, long-lasting blooms perfectly complement the broad, dark green, heart-shaped leaves with gentle spiny edges. This evergreen ground cover plant is ideal for informal gardens, flower beds, and rock gardens. Enjoy the late-season burst of color and beauty this plant brings.

5. Carpet Bugleweed (Ajuga reptans)

Carpet bugleweed is a fast-growing and shade-loving ground cover plant that blankets the ground with dense violet purple blooms. These small lavender-shaped flower heads form upright spikes, resulting in an irresistible visual effect. The early-season show of flowers is followed by evergreen foliage, ensuring your garden is adorned with beauty year-round. Carpet bugleweed thrives in various shades, from lavender to amethyst, and even offers variegated varieties. It is suitable for difficult soil conditions and can be planted in containers or on slopes.

6. ‘Celeste’ Lithodora (Lithodora diffusa ‘Celeste’)

‘Lithodora’ is a mat-forming evergreen shrub that excels as a ground cover plant. While most varieties are in the blue range, ‘Celeste’ boasts lovely pure purple flowers that appear atop a dense cushion of green foliage. The star-shaped blooms with slightly cupped petals are well-proportioned and provide a fine texture to your garden. This spreading shrub is perfect for informal gardens, edging, rock gardens, and pathways. It can be grown in containers as well, and propagating it is a breeze.

7. ‘Queen Charlotte’ Sweet Violet (Viola odorata ‘Queen Charlotte’)

‘Queen Charlotte’ sweet violet stands out among other violet varieties for its vibrant and intense purple hue. These fragrant blooms feature elegant fading and veins toward the center, which showcases a captivating golden accent. The cordate leaves are mid-green and evergreen, providing year-round interest. This heirloom variety blooms in spring, allowing your garden to come alive during a time of lesser activity. ‘Queen Charlotte’ sweet violet is perfect for woodland settings and adds a touch of elegance to any garden.

8. ‘Darley Dale’ Winter Heath (Erica x darleyensis ‘Darley Dale’)

‘Darley Dale’ winter heath is a low shrub that boasts a bright and vivid deep mauve hue. This variety exhibits impressive winter blooms, covering itself in a multitude of small flowers, even when it snows. The richly colored blooms contrast beautifully with the thick, needle-shaped leaves in shades of mid to dark green. ‘Darley Dale’ is a hardy and low-maintenance ground cover plant that provides a blooming spectacle from fall to spring. Its ability to thrive in acidic and moor-like conditions makes it ideal for challenging soil conditions.

9. Chocolate Vine (Akebia quinata)

Although it may seem unconventional, you can use chocolate vine as a ground cover plant by letting it sprawl across the land rather than climb. This unique plant offers the advantage of covering a large area with just one plant while producing mulberry purple blooms with an exotic appearance. The fleshy, nodding flowers resemble open capsules and emit a spicy cocoa fragrance. Edible violet pods follow the blooms, standing out against the bright green foliage. As winter approaches, even the foliage turns purple. Chocolate vine is suitable for shaded areas, making it an excellent choice for planting under trees.

10. ‘Sweet Heidy’ Cranesbill (Geranium ‘Sweet Heidy’)

Cranesbills are ideal ground cover plants for various sunlight conditions, and ‘Sweet Heidy’ stands out for its vibrant shade of amethyst. The blooms feature jam-colored veins radiating from the center, creating a captivating visual effect. The finely textured foliage adds further interest to this spreading perennial, making it a perfect addition under trees and shrubs in shady places. ‘Sweet Heidy’ cranesbill thrives in informal gardens and complements flower beds and rock gardens.

11. Purple Rock Cress (Aubrieta deltoidea)

If you’re seeking a ground cover plant with delicate-looking flowers, purple rock cress is an excellent choice. Its pure purple blooms, with a bright yellow dot at the center, have a round and full shape, lending them a gentle appearance. This generous perennial bursts into color for months, covering the foliage entirely with its blossoms. The small, elliptical, and dense leaves are of a vibrant mid-green shade. While purple rock cress is perfect for stepping stones and crevices, it can also be used in rock gardens or mixed with other ground cover plants.

12. Winter Blooming Bergenia (Bergenia crassifolia)

Winter blooming bergenia, also known as elephant’s ears, is a classic choice for ground cover plants. While not all species have purple flowers, Bergenia crassifolia does. Its bright lilac flowers form elegant branching inflorescences called “cymes” on long stems. The evergreen leaves are known for their fleshy texture, glossy dark green color, and large, round shape. The foliage forms a thick and decorative carpet, preserving soil moisture and hosting beneficial small animals. Winter blooming bergenia thrives in colder climates and shade. It suits medium-sized solutions and is popular under trees.

13. Woolly Thyme (Thymus pseudolanguinosus)

Woolly thyme is a low-growing shrub with pale mauve flowers, making it an excellent choice for ground cover. While the blooms are not as dense as those of other thyme varieties or heathers, they still attract butterflies and provide a pleasing visual display. The prostrate branches, covered in soft foliage, create a thick mesh of purple. This evergreen ground cover plant offers the effect of a natural carpet, ensuring your garden looks inviting year-round. Woolly thyme is perfect for achieving a soft-looking effect in your garden and is particularly well-suited for small areas or between stepping stones.

14. Magenta Rock Rose (Cistus x pulverulentus ‘Sunset’)

Magenta rock rose ‘Sunset’ is a prize-winning, low-shrub ground cover plant that thrives in sunny gardens. The bright and vivid color of its blooms, coupled with the golden center, creates a stunning visual display. Each flower head can reach an impressive 2 inches in diameter. This hardy plant blossoms for an extended period, and its pointed, veined, slightly fuzzy leaves complement the vibrant blooms. Magenta rock rose is suitable for both ground cover and flower beds, providing energy and color to your garden while protecting the soil.

15. Persian Violet (Cyclamen coum)

Persian violet, also known as Cyclamen coum, is a remarkable ground cover plant that thrives even under pine trees and conifers. This variety features rosy purple flowers that represent the typical reflexed petals of cyclamen. The heart-shaped, glossy, dark green leaves with silver dots form attractive clumps under trees and shrubs. Persian violet naturalizes easily, making it a long-lasting addition to your garden. This plant thrives in woodland settings and brings a touch of enchantment to any space.

Drape Your Garden in Purple with Ground Cover Plants

If you want to cover your garden’s bare soil with a captivating carpet of purple, choose from the array of ground cover plants in this article. With options suitable for various light conditions and climates, you can curate a garden that exudes enchantment and beauty year-round. Embrace the allure of purple and transform your landscape with these stunning ground cover plants.