California is blessed with a diverse climate that allows gardeners to grow a wide variety of plants. One of the most popular colors for flowering shrubs is vibrant purple. The regal hue adds a pop of color and livens up outdoor spaces beautifully.

In this article, we will look at 10 excellent purple blooming bushes that thrive in California. Whether you live in an arid desert region, cool coastal zone or something in between, you can find glorious purple-flowering shrubs to enhance your garden

1. Lavender

No list of purple blooming bushes would be complete without lavender This fragrant herb comes in over 400 varieties. Some popular types to grow in California include

• English Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) – winter hardy with fruity scent

• Spanish Lavender (Lavandula stoechas) – tolerates heat extremely well

• Fringed Lavender (Lavandula dentata) – one of the tallest lavender species

Lavenders flourish in full sun and well-drained alkaline soil. Prune plants after flowering to maintain their shapely mound form. The colorful blooms appear from early summer into fall.

2. Lilac

Another old-fashioned favorite, lilacs produce an abundance of sweetly scented blooms in shades from deep purple to lighter lavender. Common Lilac (Syringa vulgaris) thrives in most parts of California. For warm climates try the pale purple ‘Sensation’ variety.

Give lilacs full sun exposure and moderate water. Prune immediately after spring flowering. Their lush green heart-shaped foliage turns golden yellow in fall before shedding.

3. Rosemary

Rosemary is a culinary herb that doubles as an ornamental flowering shrub. Upright varieties like ‘Tuscan Blue’ and ‘Majorca Pink’ work great in California gardens. These drought-tolerant plants thrive in coastal areas.

Trim rosemary regularly to maintain its architectural shape. The purple blooms appear in late winter into spring, and are very attractive to bees.

4. Butterfly Bush

As the name suggests, butterfly bushes are magnets for butterflies, hummingbirds and other pollinators. Their arching branches get covered in eye-catching blooms from summer through fall. Deep purple varieties include ‘Black Knight’ and ‘Lochinch’.

These fast-growing deciduous bushes need full sun and moderate watering. Prune back each winter to maximize flowering. They handle hot inland environments beautifully.

5. Sages

The diverse Salvia group offers myriad options for glorious purple floral color. Some top picks include:

• Pineapple Sage (Salvia elegans) – red & white blooms loved by hummingbirds

• Russian Sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia) – airy lavender-blue panicles with silver foliage

• Allan Chickering Sage (Salvia ‘Allan Chickering’) – rich purple flower spikes

Trim sage plants lightly after flowering to maintain their shapely form. They thrive with minimal watering once established.

6. Ceanothus

California Lilac (Ceanothus species) is an iconic flowering native shrub. The tiny fragrant blooms come in colors from white to deep purple-blue. Species like Mountain Lilac (C. cordulatus) and Snowball Lilac (C. maritimus) add welcome color in spring.

These tough drought-tolerant bushes need excellent drainage and little summer watering once established. Deer tend to avoid their stiff foliage.

7. Purpletop Vervain

Purpletop Vervain (Verbena bonariensis) is a tall perennial that shoots up 5-foot purple flower spikes all summer long. The vivid purple color is eye-catching against its thin grass-like foliage.

Plant Purpletop Vervain in borders, meadow gardens and containers. It thrives in full sun with moderate irrigation. Cut it back hard in winter. This plant self-seeds readily.

8. Desert Lavender

As a drought-tolerant California native, Desert Lavender (Condea emoryi) is perfect for xeric gardens. The shrub grows 3 feet tall and wide, with abundant light purple blooms appearing in spring.

Give Desert Lavender full sun exposure and well-drained sandy or rocky alkaline soil. Once established, it needs very little supplemental watering even in desert environments.

9. Magic Carpet Spirea

For a petite flowering shrub, try Magic Carpet Spirea (Spiraea japonica ‘Walbuma’). This 2-foot-tall variety has vivid reddish-purple foliage accented by pinkish-purple blooms. The colorful leaves offer year-round interest.

Magic Carpet Spirea thrives with regular watering and afternoon shade. Plant it in borders, rock gardens or containers. Prune occasionally to rejuvenate its foliage.

10. Redbud

Lastly, no article on purple blooming bushes would be complete without mentioning Redbud (Cercis canadensis). This small ornamental tree explodes with a profusion of bright magenta blooms in early spring before leafing out.

Several redbud cultivars like ‘Forest Pansy’ and ‘Oklahoma’ produce vivid reddish-purple heart-shaped leaves after the flowers fade. These make a striking focal point in any garden.

Conclusion

The vibrant purple flowers from these flowering shrubs add striking color impact to gardens across California. They attract pollinators, require minimal care and offer year-round visual interest.

Choose varieties suited to your specific microclimate. Group them together for a bold floral statement. Or use them as unique specimen plants.

With so many outstanding choices available, it’s easy to incorporate beautiful purple blooming bushes into your landscape. Let them bring a regal touch of color to your outdoor living spaces!