These flowering bushes are highly sought after for meditation gardens, but even casual gardeners can appreciate these plants. Blue and purple hues are highly favored blooms; hybrids in these colors continue to be developed. Here, learn about the top 10 most beautiful flowers and shrubs that bloom in blue and lavender colors. Butterfly bush originally came to the U.S. around 1900 and is considered a weed or invasive plant in at least 20 states. Although it attracts butterflies and other pollinators, it is only a host plant for non-native North American butterflies and caterpillars, crowding out native host plants. It grows best in USDA hardiness zones 5 to 9. It grows well, not requiring much maintenance beyond controlling its overgrowth. If not planted in full sun, it can get weedy and sparse. Some experts recommend cutting the plant down to ground level yearly to keep it under control. This cultivar typically grows to 6 to 12 feet, but heights of 15 feet are possible. It has a long flowering period, from June into early fall. 

Native Area: AsiaUSDA Hardiness Zones: 5 to 9Height: 6–15 ft. tallSun Exposure: Full

Rose of Sharon originally comes from eastern Asia, spanning China to India. You can plant it in the spring or fall. It blooms from summer well into fall in most regions. It attracts bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and other pollinators. This shrub can tolerate various growing conditions, not needing much maintenance. Prune it to keep its shape and limit its spread.

Native Area: AsiaUSDA Hardiness Zones: 5 to 8Height: 8–12 ft. tallSun Exposure: Full, partial

This plant is easy to grow and sends down deep roots, giving it good resistance to drought. It is a broadleaf evergreen best planted in the spring that will reach a mature height of 4 to 8 feet, with a spread of 6 to 12 feet. This June bloomer likes full sun and well-drained soil. It has purple or blue flowers, and the flowers are fragrant. You can train this plant’s vibrant blooming branches to climb walls, fences, and door arches. Deer-resistant and drought-tolerant California lilac will draw hummingbirds and butterflies to the yard.

Native Area: North AmericaUSDA Hardiness Zones: 7 to 10Height: 2-20 ft. tallSun Exposure: Full, partial

Several named cultivars are available, such as ‘Blue Mist’, ‘Arthur Simmonds’, ‘Dark Knight’, and ‘Heavenly Blue’. These are nicely compact shrubs, most remaining under 3 feet in height. They usually bloom from July to September. This plant is excellent for succession planting since it blooms in late summer, long after many other flowering shrubs,

Native Area: Hybrid; parent plants are native to AsiaUSDA Hardiness Zones: 7 to 9Height: 2–4 ft. tallSun Exposure: Full

Catawpa rhododendron (Rhododendron catawbiense): Lavender-pink flowers from April to early June; hardy in zones 4 to 8PJM rhododendron (Rhododendron (PJM group): Lavender-pink flowers in April; hardy in zones 4 to 8’Bob’s Blue’ (Rhododendron ‘Bob’s Blue’): True blue flowers in spring; hardy in zones 7 to 9’Blue Diamond’ (Rhododendron ‘Blue Diamond’); Blue-lavender flowers in spring and early summer; a dwarfish plant that is hardy in zones 7 to 9

Its flower colors can be a more true blue shade than azaleas. Rhododendrons are larger shrubs with sizable leaves. The leaves are more leathery in texture and may be evergreen in a suitable climate. Rhododendron nectar is toxic to most animals, including some pollinators. Bees are the primary pollinators of rhododendrons.

Native Area: Asia, North America, EuropeUSDA Hardiness Zones: 4 to 9Height: 5-20 ft. tallSun Exposure: Full, partial

‘Purple Gem,’ hardy in zones 4 to 8; purple flowers’Conlee,’ hardy in zones 6 to 10; purple flowers’Robles,’ hardy in zones 6 to 10; purple flowers on a dwarf (less than 3 feet) shrub’Bloom-A-Thon Lavender,’ a 3- to 4-foot tall plant with lavender flowers that may rebloom in fall; hardy in zones 6 to 9.

Bees are most attracted to violet and blue azaleas (blue is very rare); azalea nectar is toxic to most animals, including bees. Regional arboretums have developed wide cold-hardy varieties that survive nicely up to zone 3. 

Native Area: Asia, Europe, North AmericaUSDA Hardiness Zones: 3 to 10Height: 3–20 ft. tallSun Exposure: Partial (Full in colder zones)

Although it has “Russian” in its name, it’s native to central Asia in the region of Afghanistan. Hardy in zones 4 to 9, Russian sage is a sprawling 3- to 5-foot-tall plant. It grows easily in any soil and is drought tolerant.

Native Area: AsiaUSDA Hardiness Zones: 3 to 9Height: 3-5 ft. tallSun Exposure: Full

French lavender (L. stoechas)Portuguese (or “broadleaved”) lavender (L. latifolia)Fringed lavender (L. dentata)

It is best known for its fragrant leaves and tiny purple blossoms. Besides its beauty and usefulness in the kitchen and potpourri, this early-summer bloomer is deer-resistant and drought-tolerant. It’s so easy to care for that it tolerates a little bit of neglect without a problem. Although it’s a bee magnet, it always has their attention. Plant it in the spring.

Native Area: Europe, Africa, AsiaUSDA Hardiness Zones: 5 to 9Height: 2–3 ft. tallSun Exposure: Full

This large shrub grows as tall as 20 feet, although some cultivars stop at 12 feet. Other lilac species are more compact, such as ‘Miss Kim’ (Syringa pubescens subsp. patula ‘Miss Kim’), which remains under 9 feet; and dwarf Korean lilacs, such Syringa meyeri ‘Palibin’, which remains under 5 feet in height. Lilac shrubs are well-loved by pollinators. Lilacs are easy to care for and can adapt to most soils but can’t tolerate poor drainage or high, prolonged heat. One of its few drawbacks is that its leaves tend to get powdery mildew by late summer. The mildew does not harm the plant, so you will be happy growing this late-spring bloomer if you can ignore it. 

Native Area: Europe and AsiaUSDA Hardiness Zones: 3 to 7Height: 8–15 ft. tallSun Exposure: Full

Heather and heath species live in zones 4 to 7. They are evergreen shrubs, best planted in spring. They bloom in spring, late summer, and fall, depending on the species and variety. Heath and heather are popular plants that attract pollinators of all kinds. Winter heath (Erica x darleyensis) is popular in North America—blooming from January through March. It is hardy in zones 5 to 7 and rarely grows above 1 foot tall.

Native Area: Europe, AsiaUSDA Hardiness Zones: 4 to 7Height: 1 ft. tallSun Exposure: Full, partial