15 Stunning Purple Flowers That Look Like Bells — Vibrant Choices for Your Garden

There is something almost magical about bell-shaped flowers. They hang with a quiet elegance, swaying gently in the breeze, as if they are about to chime. Add purple to that silhouette — in all its shades from pale lavender to deep violet — and you have some of the most captivating plants available to any gardener.

I have always found bell-shaped purple flowers particularly compelling. They attract pollinators like few other forms do. Bumblebees, in particular, seem drawn to them instinctively — pushing headfirst into the bell to reach the nectar inside, emerging dusted with pollen. 

Beyond their ecological value, they bring a sense of structure and romance to any garden space. This guide covers 15 purple flowers that look like bells — their appearance, growing requirements, ideal uses, and what makes each one worth considering for your garden. 

1. Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea)

Foxglove is perhaps the most iconic bell-shaped flower in temperate gardening. Its tall, dramatic spires — sometimes reaching two metres in height — are lined with tubular, downward-hanging bells in shades that range from pale lavender to deep violet-purple, often with spotted throats that serve as landing guides for pollinators.

Growing requirements: Foxglove is a biennial in most climates, meaning it produces leaves in its first year and flowers in its second. It thrives in partial shade to full sun and prefers well-drained, humus-rich soil. Once established in a garden, it self-seeds prolifically and effectively behaves as a perennial through successive generations.

Best for: Cottage gardens, woodland edges, mixed borders. Foxglove is magnificent planted in drifts behind lower-growing plants.

Important note: All parts of the plant are toxic. It should be planted with care in gardens frequented by young children or animals.

2. Bellflower (Campanula species)

The genus Campanula — whose name literally comes from the Latin word for “bell” — contains over 300 species, many of which produce purple or violet bell-shaped flowers. Among the most popular are Campanula persicifolia (peach-leaved bellflower), Campanula glomerata (clustered bellflower), and Campanula lactiflora (milky bellflower).

What they look like: Depending on species, the bells range from small and nodding to upright and open-faced. Most are in the violet-blue to lavender-purple range. Campanula glomerata produces dense clusters of rich violet flowers at the top of upright stems — striking and bold in a border.

Growing requirements: Most campanulas prefer full sun to partial shade and well-drained soil. They are generally hardy perennials and return reliably each year. They are among the easiest bell-shaped flowers to grow successfully, making them excellent choices for less experienced gardeners.

Best for: Borders, rock gardens, ground cover, containers. Some species naturalise beautifully in grass.

3. Bluebell (Hyacinthoides non-scripta)

The native bluebell of the British Isles is one of the most emotionally resonant wildflowers in temperate gardening. Walking through a bluebell wood in April or May — a sea of violet-blue bells carpeting the ground beneath the bare-leafed trees — is an experience that is genuinely difficult to describe to someone who has not seen it.

What they look like: The flowers are narrow, tubular bells with slightly recurved tips, hanging in arching sprays from slender green stems. True bluebells are violet-blue rather than true blue — they carry that signature purple-blue tone that seems almost luminous in shaded conditions.

Growing requirements: Bluebells are woodland plants. They need partial to full shade, moist but well-drained soil, and a period of dormancy in summer. They grow from bulbs planted in autumn and are one of the most naturalising bulbs available — once established, they spread steadily year after year.

Best for: Woodland gardens, shaded borders, naturalising beneath deciduous trees and hedges.

4. Canterbury Bells (Campanula medium)

A traditional cottage garden favourite, Canterbury bells produce large, inflated bells in shades of violet, purple, lilac, pink, or white. They are a biennial, typically sown in summer to flower the following year.

What they look like: The flowers are substantial — notably larger than most other campanulas — and the inflated, cup-shaped bells have a charming, old-fashioned quality. The violet and purple shades are particularly beautiful against grey stone walls or white-painted fences.

Growing requirements: Canterbury bells prefer full sun and fertile, well-drained soil. They are not long-lived plants, but they set seed readily and a well-managed patch will maintain itself through successive self-sown seedlings.

Best for: Cottage borders, cutting gardens, mixed annual and biennial plantings.

5. Balloon Flower (Platycodon grandiflorus)

The balloon flower earns its common name from its buds — before opening, they inflate into rounded, air-filled spheres that look remarkably like small purple balloons. When the bud finally opens, it produces a wide, star-shaped bell in violet-blue or purple.

What they look like: The open flowers are upward-facing and broadly bell-shaped, with a pleated texture and subtle veining. The purple-violet varieties are among the most popular. The buds are genuinely one of the most charming features of any summer garden.

Growing requirements: Balloon flowers are long-lived, reliable perennials that prefer full sun to light shade and well-drained soil. They are slow to emerge in spring, so mark their position carefully to avoid accidental disturbance.

Best for: Borders, rock gardens, containers. The flowers are excellent for cutting.

6. Penstemon (Penstemon species)

Penstemons produce elegant tubular bells on upright stems, often in shades of purple, violet, lavender, and red-purple. They are among the most valuable summer-flowering perennials for their long season and range of colours.

What they look like: The flowers are elongated tubes, slightly flared at the opening, and often have contrasting white throats marked with fine lines. Purple and violet varieties include Penstemon ‘Purple Passion’, ‘Blackbird’, and ‘Raven’. The flowers are held in loose, airy spikes that move gracefully in a breeze.

Growing requirements: Most penstemons prefer full sun and very well-drained soil. They can be short-lived in heavy or wet soils but perform exceptionally in dry, free-draining conditions. In colder climates, some varieties benefit from a light winter mulch.

Best for: Mixed borders, gravel gardens, dry sunny slopes. Penstemons are outstanding bee plants.

7. Sage (Salvia species)

Many salvia species produce whorls of two-lipped, tubular bells along tall spikes in shades of purple, violet, and lavender. Salvia nemorosa (woodland sage) and Salvia x sylvestris are particularly valued for their rich violet-purple flower spikes.

What they look like: Salvia flowers are smaller than some others on this list but are produced in extraordinary abundance along upright spikes. The combination of purple flowers and grey-green or silver-tinged foliage is particularly striking. Named varieties like ‘Caradonna’, ‘May Night’, and ‘Mainacht’ are widely available and consistently excellent.

Growing requirements: Salvias thrive in full sun and well-drained, even poor soils. They are drought-tolerant once established and extremely attractive to bees and butterflies.

Best for: Borders, gravel gardens, prairie-style plantings, containers.

8. Catmint (Nepeta species)

Catmint is one of the most useful and underrated border plants available. Its small, two-lipped bells — produced in lavender-purple in almost unbelievable abundance — cover the plant for weeks, and a hard trim after the first flush encourages a full repeat performance later in the season.

What they look like: The individual flowers are tiny, tubular bells clustered along arching stems above soft, silver-grey foliage. The overall effect is a billowing haze of lavender-purple. Nepeta ‘Six Hills Giant’ is one of the most popular varieties — it forms generous, generous mounds that work beautifully at border edges.

Growing requirements: Catmint is remarkably easy to grow. It tolerates a wide range of soils, prefers full sun, and is highly drought-tolerant. It requires virtually no maintenance beyond the post-flowering trim.

Best for: Border edges, path edging, cottage gardens. An outstanding companion to roses.

9. Harebell (Campanula rotundifolia)

The harebell is the wild cousin of the cultivated campanulas — slender, delicate, and found growing naturally in grasslands, rocky hillsides, and moorland across the northern hemisphere. It is the bluebell of Scotland, celebrated in poetry and folklore.

What they look like: The flowers are narrow, nodding bells of the palest violet-blue, suspended on thread-like stems that tremble in the lightest breeze. There is a particular fragility and grace to harebells that larger cultivated flowers cannot replicate.

Growing requirements: Harebells are plants of poor, well-drained soil and full sun. They actually prefer lean conditions — rich garden soil produces overly lush growth with fewer flowers. They naturalise beautifully in wildflower meadows.

Best for: Wildflower gardens, meadow plantings, rock gardens, dry banks.

10. Wisteria (Wisteria sinensis and W. floribunda)

Wisteria is perhaps the most dramatic plant on this list — a vigorous climbing vine that produces extraordinary cascading racemes of pea-shaped, bell-like flowers in shades of blue-violet and purple. A mature wisteria in full bloom is one of the most spectacular sights in the temperate garden.

What they look like: Individual wisteria flowers are small and butterfly-shaped (typical of the pea family), but they are held in long, pendulous clusters — sometimes reaching 30 to 60 centimetres in length — that create the appearance of cascading bells. The fragrance is exceptional.

Growing requirements: Wisteria requires full sun, fertile soil, and strong support — it is a large, heavy plant. It can take several years to begin flowering after planting and requires regular pruning (twice yearly) to maintain size and encourage bloom.

Best for: Walls, pergolas, arches, large fences. Not suitable for small spaces unless rigorously managed.

11. Agapanthus (Agapanthus species)

Agapanthus — commonly known as African lily or lily of the Nile — produces globe-like heads of small, trumpet-shaped bells in shades of violet-blue and purple atop tall, elegant stems.

What they look like: Each flowerhead contains dozens of individual tubular bells arranged in a spherical umbel. The violet-blue and purple varieties are striking — particularly against the dark green, strap-like foliage. Named varieties like ‘Black Pantha’, ‘Blue Storm’, and ‘Purple Cloud’ offer particularly rich purple tones.

Growing requirements: Agapanthus prefers full sun and well-drained soil. In colder climates, the evergreen varieties need winter protection, while deciduous types are hardier. They flower most abundantly when slightly pot-bound, making them excellent container plants.

Best for: Containers, coastal gardens, Mediterranean-style plantings, sunny borders.

12. Nodding Onion (Allium cernuum)

The nodding onion is one of the most charming of the ornamental alliums — less dramatic than the large-headed cultivars, but possessing a quiet, wildflower beauty that fits naturally into informal and naturalistic gardens.

What they look like: The flower stems arc downward at the tip — giving the plant its “nodding” name — and carry loose, pendant clusters of small, bell-shaped flowers in soft pink-purple to deeper violet. The nodding habit is unusual and endearing, particularly when a group of plants moves together in a breeze.

Growing requirements: Nodding onion prefers full sun to light shade and well-drained, even rocky soil. It is a true perennial and spreads slowly by self-seeding. It is also one of the most important late-summer wildflowers for native bees in North America.

Best for: Wildflower gardens, rock gardens, prairie-style plantings, naturalising in meadows.

13. Deadly Nightshade / Bittersweet Nightshade (Solanum dulcamara)

This wildflower grows in hedgerows, woodland margins, and disturbed ground across Europe and North America — and its small, star-shaped, reflexed bells in purple with bright yellow anthers are genuinely beautiful, even if the plant has a somewhat sinister reputation.

What they look like: The flowers are small and star-shaped, with five reflexed purple petals swept back from a central cone of bright yellow stamens — the classic nightshade flower form. They are held in loose clusters and followed by berries that turn from green to red to black.

Growing requirements: Bittersweet nightshade is a self-seeding scrambler that establishes readily in partial shade and moist soils. It requires no cultivation and should be managed carefully in gardens to prevent excessive spread.

Best for: Wildflower plantings, hedgerow bases, informal naturalistic gardens. Note: the berries are toxic — not suitable for gardens with young children.

14. Clematis (Clematis species and cultivars)

While clematis is typically associated with large, flat flowers, many species and cultivars produce distinctly bell-shaped blooms — and several of the most beautiful are purple or violet.

What they look like: Clematis alpina and Clematis macropetala are perhaps the finest bell-shaped clematis — producing nodding, lantern-like bells in violet, blue-purple, and mauve in spring, followed by attractive fluffy seedheads. Clematis viticella cultivars, such as ‘Etoile Violette’ and ‘Polish Spirit’, produce smaller, outward-facing bells in rich purple throughout summer.

Growing requirements: Clematis follows the classic rule of “head in the sun, feet in the shade.” They prefer full sun on their upper growth but cool, shaded soil at the root zone. They need support to climb and should be pruned according to their pruning group — getting this wrong is the most common reason clematis fails to flower.

Best for: Walls, trellises, growing through shrubs or hedges, arbours and obelisks in borders.

15. Toadflax (Linaria purpurea)

Toadflax is an elegant, airy perennial that produces long, slender spikes of tiny snapdragon-like bells in shades of purple, violet, and pink. It is a plant that deserves far more attention than it typically receives.

What they look like: The individual flowers are small, two-lipped tubes with a nectar spur at the back — technically more snapdragon than pure bell, but with the same pendant, tubular quality. The purple-violet species (Linaria purpurea) produces tall, transparent spikes that weave beautifully through other plants. The overall effect is delicate and wildflower-like, even in a formal border.

Growing requirements: Toadflax thrives in full sun and poor to moderately fertile, well-drained soil. It self-seeds freely — sometimes prolifically — but unwanted seedlings are easy to remove. It is drought-tolerant once established and begins flowering in late spring, continuing well into autumn.

Best for: Cottage and informal borders, gravel gardens, cutting gardens. An excellent plant for filling gaps between more substantial perennials.

How to Choose the Right Bell-Shaped Purple Flower for Your Garden

With fifteen options in front of you, it helps to narrow the choice based on your specific conditions and goals.

For shade and woodland conditions: Bluebells, foxgloves, and harebells are your strongest choices. They have evolved for lower light levels and will not perform well in a sunny, open position.

For sunny, dry gardens: Catmint, penstemon, toadflax, harebell, and salvia all excel in dry conditions. They are the most drought-resilient options on this list.

For cottage and traditional borders: Canterbury bells, foxgloves, campanulas, and catmint bring the classic cottage garden character that many gardeners love.

For naturalistic and wildflower plantings: Bluebells, harebells, nodding onion, and toadflax all naturalise freely and sit comfortably in informal, wildlife-friendly settings.

For containers and small spaces: Agapanthus, balloon flower, smaller campanulas, and penstemon all perform well in pots.

For dramatic impact and structure: Foxglove, wisteria, agapanthus, and large clematis cultivars create the most visual impact at scale.

Final Thoughts

Bell-shaped purple flowers are among the most versatile, beautiful, and ecologically valuable plants a gardener can choose. From the towering drama of foxglove to the thread-thin delicacy of a harebell, from the fragrant cascades of wisteria to the reliable, workhorse abundance of catmint — each plant on this list offers something genuinely distinct.

There is a bell-shaped purple flower for every garden, every climate, and every level of experience. Start with one or two that suit your conditions best, observe how they perform, and let the collection grow naturally from there. That is, in my experience, how the most beautiful gardens are built — not all at once, but plant by plant, season by season.

References

1. University of Florida IFAS Extension — Campanula: Bellflowers for Florida Gardens https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/FP097
2. North Carolina State University Extension — Digitalis purpurea (Foxglove) https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/digitalis-purpurea/
3. Clemson Cooperative Extension — Perennials for the Landscape: Salvia and Nepeta https://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheet/perennials/
4. University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR) — Wisteria in the Landscape https://ucanr.edu/sites/gardenweb/files/183979.pdf
5. Penn State Extension — Bulbs: Selecting and Growing Spring-Flowering Bulbs (including Hyacinthoides) https://extension.psu.edu/bulbs-for-spring-color