Purples are one of the top colours for the spring, from soft lilacs too deep plums. Welcome the season in with purple crocus and finish the summer with the architectural purple alliums. Learn more about all our top purple spring bulbs.
We've spent the last 12 months selecting the best bulbs for spring 2025. From tiny crocus to large tulips, we ensure these beautiful flowers reach their full potential. Here are some of our favourites, which will give you timeless spring displays.
Allium 'Purple Sensation' is the most popular allium for good reason. Its striking silhouette makes it excellent in border and prairie-style planting schemes. However, its green leaves will wilt and die before the flowers have bloomed. So, we love to pair it with perennials like salvias and geraniums to cover the base of the flowers.
For a dark purple tulip that will stand out in most palettes, we love Tulipa 'Negrita'. This is probably the best purple Triumph tulip, with it's warm purple and hints of pink. Plant it en-masses for a truly spectacular showcase.
A cottage garden isn't complete without some hyacinth. Hyacinthus 'Purple Sensation' is a fantastic purple flower with distinctive, almost variegated petals. The fragrance is fantastic and will fill your garden with the scent of spring.
Iris 'Tigereye' is a fantastic Dutch iris with narrow standards that rise above bronze-maroon falls. Flowering in late spring to early summer, it will catch your eye in the garden. Furthermore, you can cut the flowers and bring them inside, to enjoy the blooms in your home.
For a different grape hyacinth try Muscari comosum, with its small purple tassels that look almost crown-like. It will flower in March and April, perfect for cottage gardens or naturalising in large drifts.
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The planting time for different spring bulbs varies depending on their flowering time. Generally, you should plant white spring flower bulbs in early autumn, around September or October. This includes daffodil bulbs, crocus bulbs and snowdrop bulbs. Planting bulbs in autumn gives them plenty of time to grow roots before the ground is too cold.
However, tulip bulbs are the main exception to this rule. If planted too early, they may develop the fungal disease 'tulip fire', stopping them from producing flowers. The best time to plant is around early winter, in November.
You can create six months of blooms with purple bulbs from January through to June. From the smallest crocus at the beginning of the year to the giant alliums in June. Here is how we choose the best bulbs for long-lasting colour.
In January, enjoy the small blooms of Iris 'Pauline'. Plant them in pots or windowboxes, where you will spot them even on the coldest of days.
Several shades of purple will appear from February. Try Crocus 'Vanguard', a lilac crocus fantastic for naturalising in lawns or borders. Leave them undisturbed, and they will increase year after year.
In March, enjoy the spring scents of hyacinth. Hyacinthus 'Violetti Star' is sweetly scented and perfect for pots near doorways. Enjoy as you get out in the garden.
April heralds the arrival of early purple tulips. Tulipa 'Showcase' is a stunning early double-flowering tulip in a rich shade of violet. Pair it with pink and blues for a showcase display.
In May, you can enjoy late-flowering tulips and fritllaria. Fritillaria meleagris are elegant pinkish-purple bells that appear only 30cm high. Perfect for naturalising in a light shade of a woodland edge or a wildflower garden.
Finally, in June, come all the summer-flowering alliums. If you love a giant purple allium, try Allium 'Gladiator'. Growing up to 1.5m tall (nearly 5 feet tall), it will add structure and stature to your garden.
Plant miniature purple spring bulbs in pots, windowboxes, or on the lawn for a stunning effect. From little crocus to muscari, these make the perfect dainty fillers.
Crocus are one of the most famous spring bulbs. Tiny and perfect, you can naturalise in their lawns or at the front of borders for displays that will return year after year.
If you love miniature flowers, try a grape hyacinth. These stunning small blooms are perfect to add to pots. Plus, grow them in gravel and alpine gardens for extra spring colour.
Fritillaria appear in April and May. These robust miniature flowers will bring you joy in even the hardest-to-grow areas.
For something a little different, try Fritillaria uva-vulpis, with its brownish-purple flowers that resemble bells. Plant them in well-draining soil, as they do not thrive in waterlogged conditions.
Finally, iris reticulatas are a beautiful late winter bulb. Growing up to only 10-20cm tall, they come in a variety of shades, including purple. Because of their size, plant in large drifts to get the full impact.