Purple Flowers That Look Like Lavender

If you love the look and scent of lavender but want something a bit different, you’re in the right place. We’re talking about purple flowers that look like lavender, which offer vibrant color and wonderful fragrance for your garden.

These blooms can create a similar soothing, purple haze in your borders. They often thrive in the same sunny, well-drained conditions. Let’s look at some fantastic alternatives that will give you that lavender feel with a unique twist.

This group of plants shares lavender’s iconic spikes of small, tubular flowers. They usually bloom in shades of purple, blue, and violet. Many are just as easy to grow and attract pollinators like bees and butterflies.

Top Picks for Your Garden

Here are some of the best plants that mimic lavender’s charm. Each has its own special character and growing needs.

1. Russian Sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia)

This is a superstar for dry, hot gardens. It forms a large, airy clump of silvery-gray stems and foliage. From mid-summer to fall, it’s covered in long, wispy spikes of tiny lavender-blue flowers.

Looks like lavender because: Its flower spikes and gray-green foliage are very similar from a distance.
Fragrance: Its leaves have a strong, sage-like scent when crushed.
Care: Loves full sun and poor, dry soil. It’s extremely drought-tolerant once established.
Pro Tip: It’s bigger than most lavender, often reaching 3-4 feet tall and wide, so give it space.

2. Catmint (Nepeta)

Catmint is a tough, reliable perennial that gardeners adore. It mounds beautifully and spills over edges. The most popular variety, ‘Walker’s Low,’ is covered in purple-blue flower spikes for months.

Looks like lavender because: The flower shape and color are nearly identical, and it forms a similar shrubby mound.
Fragrance: The foliage has a mild, minty aroma that cats enjoy.
Care: Thrives in full sun to part shade and isn’t picky about soil. Shear it back after the first bloom for a second show.

3. Salvia (Salvia nemorosa, S. sylvestris)

Often called woodland sage, these salvias are incredible bloomers. They send up dense, upright spikes of purple, blue, or pink flowers above clumps of textured leaves. Varieties like ‘May Night’ are award-winners.

Looks like lavender because: The dense, spike-shaped flower clusters are a close match.
Fragrance: The leaves often have a distinct, spicy fragrance.
Care: Prefers full sun and good drainage. Deadheading encourages more blooms right into fall.

4. Hyssop (Agastache)

Also known as Hummingbird Mint, this plant is a pollinator magnet. It offers long-blooming, tubular flowers on upright spikes. Colors range from bright purple to orange and pink, but many have that classic lavender hue.

Looks like lavender because: The flower structure is very similar—tight spikes of small blooms.
Fragrance: The leaves are wonderfully fragrant, often like licorice or mint.
Care: Needs full sun and excellent drainage. It loves heat but appreciates some water in very dry spells.

5. Veronica (Speedwell)

Veronica offers elegant spires of flowers that rise above low-growing foliage. The spikes are usually a bit more dense and structured than lavender. They come in brilliant blues and deep purples.

Looks like lavender because: The tall, slender flower spikes create a similar vertical effect in the garden.
Fragrance: Most are not notably fragrant, but they make up for it with their vibrant color.
Care: Grows best in full sun and average, well-drained soil. It’s generally low-maintenance.

How to Choose the Right One for You

Picking the perfect plant depends on your garden’s conditions and what you want. Here’s a simple guide.

For Hot, Dry, Poor Soil: Choose Russian Sage or Lavender itself. They are the most drought-tolerant.
For Long, Repeat Bloom: Catmint and Salvia are champions, flowering from early summer until frost with a little care.
For Fragrant Foliage: Hyssop, Catmint, and Russian Sage all have leaves that smell amazing when brushed against.
For Formal Edging: Dwarf varieties of Catmint or Salvia work beautifully. Veronica also gives a neat, upright line.
For Wildlife: Hyssop attracts hummingbirds and bees. Catmint and Salvia are also excellent for pollinators.

Planting and Growing Success

Getting these plants off to a good start is easy. Follow these steps for healthy, blooming plants.

Step 1: Pick the Perfect Spot

Almost all of these plants need one thing above all: sun. Aim for a location that gets at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight each day. Good air circulation helps prevent disease, so avoid cramming them in to tightly.

Step 2: Prepare the Soil

Well-drained soil is non-negotiable. These plants hate wet feet, especially in winter.

Dig a hole twice as wide as the plant’s root ball.
If your soil is heavy clay, mix in some gravel or coarse sand to improve drainage.
You can also plant in a raised bed or mound the soil up a bit to help water run away from the crown.

Step 3: Planting Correctly

Water the plant in its pot thoroughly before planting.
Gently remove it from the container and loosen the roots if they are pot-bound.
Place it in the hole so the top of the root ball is level with the soil surface.
Backfill with your soil mix and firm it gently around the plant.
Water deeply to settle the soil around the roots.

Step 4: Ongoing Care and Maintenance

These plants are generally low-care, but a little attention goes a long way.

Watering: Water regularly during the first growing season to establish roots. After that, most are very drought-tolerant. Always let the soil dry out between waterings.
Feeding: They don’t need much fertilizer. In fact, to much feed can lead to weak, floppy growth. A light application of compost in spring is usually sufficient.
Pruning: This is key for a tidy shape and more flowers. In early spring, cut back the previous year’s growth by about one-third. For plants like catmint and salvia, shear off spent flower spikes after blooming to encourage a second flush.

Design Ideas for Your Garden

Using these purple flowers that look like lavender can create stunning garden scenes. Here are some ways to incorporate them.

Create a Fragrant Border

Plant a sweeping drift of Catmint or Salvia along a sunny path. The soft, billowing forms and color will greet you with scent every time you walk by. Mix in some true lavender for texture variation.

Add Vertical Accents

Use the tall spires of Russian Sage or Veronica in the middle or back of a flower bed. They rise above mounding plants and add height and structure. Their airy quality doesn’t block the view of plants behind them.

Pot and Container Displays

Dwarf Catmint or small Salvia varieties are perfect for pots. Combine them with silver-leaved plants like Dusty Miller or trailing white flowers for a classic, elegant look. Make sure your container has excellent drainage holes.

A Pollinator Paradise Garden

Group Hyssop, Catmint, and Lavender together. This combination will buzz with bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds from morning till evening. Add some Coneflowers and Black-eyed Susans for late-summer color.

Common Problems and Simple Solutions

Even tough plants can have issues. Here’s how to handle common problems.

Floppy or Leggy Growth

This usually means the plant is getting to much fertilizer, not enough sun, or needs pruning. Move it to a sunnier spot if possible. Be sure to cut it back hard in early spring to promote bushy growth.

Poor or No Flowering

If your plant is green but not blooming, the cause is often to much nitrogen fertilizer (which promotes leaves) or not enough sun. Ensure it gets full sun and switch to a low-nitrogen, bloom-boosting fertilizer if you feed it at all.

Root Rot or Dieback

This is almost always caused by soggy soil. Improve drainage immediately. You might need to lift the plant, amend the soil with grit, and replant it higher. In winter, avoid letting mulch pile up against the plant’s crown.

Pests

These aromatic plants have few pest problems. Sometimes aphids may appear. A strong spray of water from the hose is usually enough to dislodge them. Encouraging ladybugs to your garden helps keep aphids in check naturally.

FAQ: Purple Flowers Similar to Lavender

What is the plant that looks most like lavender?

Catmint (Nepeta) is often mistaken for lavender. Its flower shape, color, and growth habit are remarkably similar. The main visual difference is that catmint’s flower spikes are sometimes a bit looser.

Are there any purple flowers that look like lavender but bloom longer?

Yes! Many Salvias and Catmints have a much longer blooming period than traditional English lavender. With deadheading, they can flower from early summer right through to the first frost.

Which lavender look-alikes are the most fragrant?

For fragrant foliage, Russian Sage and Hyssop are excellent. Their leaves release a strong scent when touched. For a more traditional floral scent, some Salvias like ‘Hot Lips’ have fragrant flowers.

Can I use these plants to make sachets or potpourri like lavender?

You can. The leaves of Catmint, Russian Sage, and Hyssop dry well and retain their scent. They make lovely additions to homemade potpourri mixes or herbal sachets for your drawers.

Do deer eat these purple flowers that resemble lavender?

Most of these plants are deer-resistant due to their aromatic foliage. Deer typically avoid Russian Sage, Lavender, Catmint, Salvia, and Hyssop. This makes them fantastic choices for gardens in areas with deer pressure.

Final Thoughts on Adding These Blooms

Adding purple flowers that look like lavender to your garden is a wonderful way to enjoy that classic look with more variety. Whether you choose the towering wispy plumes of Russian Sage, the reliable bloom of Catmint, or the pollinator-friendly Hyssop, you’ll gain vibrant color and lovely fragrance.

Remember the golden rules: plenty of sun and excellent drainage. With just that bit of care, these plants will thrive for years. They fill your garden with life and color while requiring minimal fuss, giving you more time to simply enjoy your beautiful outdoor space.