Flowers That Look Like Lavender

If you love the look of lavender’s purple spikes but need something different for your garden, you’re in the right place. There are many beautiful flowers that look like lavender, offering similar color and form with sometimes easier care.

These alternatives can thrive in conditions where lavender might struggle, or they can simply add more variety to your planting scheme. Let’s look at some of the best options to get that lovely lavender effect.

This list covers plants with spiky purple blooms that can mimic lavender’s iconic look. They vary in hardiness, size, and specific needs, so you can find the perfect match.

Russian Sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia)

This is perhaps the most famous lavender look-alike. It forms a large, airy bush with delicate gray-green foliage and long wands of tiny lavender-blue flowers.

Why it’s similar: The flower shape and color are almost identical from a distance. It also has a silvery foliage.
Key differences: It grows taller (3-4 feet) and more sprawling than many lavenders. The scent is more sage-like.
Growing tips: Loves full sun and well-drained soil. It’s extremely drought-tolerant and hardy in colder zones than most lavender.

Catmint (Nepeta)

Catmint is a tough, reliable perennial that pumps out masses of small purple flowers for months. The variety ‘Walker’s Low’ is exceptionally popular for good reason.

Why it’s similar: It produces a profusion of small, tubular purple flowers on spikes above gray-green foliage.
Key differences: The growth habit is more mounding and the flower spikes are somewhat looser. It often blooms longer than lavender.
Growing tips: Thrives in sun to part shade and isn’t picky about soil. Cut it back after the first bloom flush for a second show.

Salvia (Various Species)

The Salvia genus is huge, but many varieties like Salvia nemorosa (‘May Night’ is a classic) offer exactly the purple spike form your looking for.

Why it’s similar: Dense, upright spikes packed with tiny flowers. The color range includes deep purples and violets.
Key differences: Foliage is often greener. Bloom cycles are strong, and they attract tons of pollinators.
Growing tips: Full sun is best. Deadheading encourages repeat flowering. They are generally low-maintenance.

Hyssop (Agastache)

Also called Hummingbird Mint, Agastache has licorice-scented foliage and stunning flower spikes that hummingbirds and bees adore.

Why it’s similar: The flower structure is very close—dense, upright spikes of small, colorful blooms.
Key differences: Colors can include oranges and pinks, but purple varieties like ‘Blue Fortune’ are stellar. The leaves have a distinct scent.
Growing tips: Needs excellent drainage and full sun. It’s a great choice for hot, dry spots once established.

Verbena bonariensis

This plant offers a see-through, architectural quality with its tall, slender stems and clusters of tiny purple flowers at the top.

Why it’s similar: The small, clustered purple flowers have a similar hue and texture.
Key differences: It’s much taller (up to 6 feet) with a very open structure. It self-seeds gently in the garden.
Growing tips: Plant in full sun. It’s surprisingly drought tolerant and adds wonderful height to borders without blocking views.

Mealy Cup Sage (Salvia farinacea)

Often sold as an annual, this salvia is a tender perennial in warm zones. Varieties like ‘Victoria’ are a stunning, deep blue-purple.

Why it’s similar: It has dense, upright spikes that are incredibly floriferous and maintain a neat shape.
Key differences: The color can be a more intense, true violet. It’s often treated as a bedding annual.
Growing tips: Provide full sun and moderate water. It blooms non-stop from planting until frost if deadheaded.

How to Choose and Grow Your Lavender Look-Alikes

Selecting the right plant depends on your garden’s conditions and your desired effect. Here’s a simple guide.

Assess Your Garden Conditions

Most lavender alternatives share it’s love for sun. Start by noting how much light your planting area gets.

Full Sun (6+ hours): Russian Sage, Salvia, Catmint, Hyssop, Verbena.
Part Sun (4-6 hours): Catmint and some Salvias will often still perform well.
Soil Type: Good drainage is critical for almost all of these plants. If you have heavy clay, consider raising the bed or planting in a mound.

Design Tips for Planting

You can use these plants to create a cohesive, purple-themed garden or as accents.

Mass Planting: For big impact, plant several of the same variety together, like a drift of Catmint.
Layering: Place taller plants (Russian Sage, Verbena) behind shorter, mounding ones (Salvia, Catmint).
Companion Plants: Pair them with plants that have contrasting forms, like daisies or ornamental grasses, or with silver-foliaged plants to echo the lavender feel.

Essential Care Steps

While these plants are generally tough, a few key practices will keep them looking their best.

Watering: Water deeply to establish roots, then most will only need water during extended dry spells. Overwatering is a common mistake.
Pruning: Cut back perennial types like Catmint and Salvia in early spring. Deadhead spent blooms through the season to encourage more.
Feeding: Most don’t need rich soil. A light application of compost in spring is usually sufficient. To much fertilizer can lead to floppy growth.

Common Questions About Purple Blooms Like Lavender

What is the plant that looks like lavender but isn’t?

Russian Sage and Catmint are the two most common plants mistaken for lavender. They have very similar flower spikes and grayish foliage, which leads to the confusion.

What is the best low-maintenance alternative to lavender?

Catmint (Nepeta) is arguably the easiest. It’s adaptable to various soils, blooms for a very long time, and requires minimal care once its settled in. It’s also rarely bothered by pests.

Are there any shade-tolerant flowers similar to lavender?

True lavender needs full sun. For shady areas, consider other purple-flowering plants with different forms, like Columbine or Geranium, as the spiky lavender shape is hard to find in shade lovers.

Which lavender alternative attracts the most pollinators?

All are excellent, but Hyssop (Agastache) and Salvias are absolute magnets for bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Their long blooming period provides a reliable food source.

Can I grow these in pots?

Yes! Choose compact varieties like Catmint ‘Walker’s Low’ or Mealy Cup Sage. Ensure the pot has excellent drainage and is large enough for the plant’s root system. Watering will be more frequent than in the ground.

Adding flowers that look like lavender to your garden expands your options while keeping that charming purple aesthetic. Whether you choose the towering drama of Russian Sage or the constant blooms of Catmint, you’ll enjoy the beauty and the buzz of pollinators all season long. With so many great choices, you can easily find a plant that fits your specific garden spot and style.