How To Incorporate Blue & Purple Plants For A Tranquil Garden Style by Nicki Jackson

When you step into a garden, colour is often the very first thing that sets the mood. Bright reds and oranges can bring a sense of energy, while soft whites suggest elegance. But when the goal is calm and peaceful, nothing works quite as well as the cool spectrum of blues and purples. These shades don’t shout for attention; instead, they invite you to slow down, breathe, and feel at ease in your surroundings.

At Blue Daisy Garden Design, we’re often asked to create gardens that feel like a retreat from everyday life. The colours we choose, primarily for planting, play a big part in that, and time and again, plants around the blue and purple spectrum deliver the tranquil style our clients are looking for.

Why Blue and Purple Work So Well

From a design perspective, cooler tones have a psychological effect of receding into the background, giving a space a sense of depth and openness. They naturally balance warmer colours and can soften a garden that feels too busy or overstimulating.

Purples, ranging from lilac to deep indigo, add richness and variety while still keeping to that calming palette. The secret is to layer shades and textures within it so the scheme doesn’t become flat - soft mauves alongside bolder blues, for instance, create harmony without monotony.

Seasonal Stars for a Calming Palette

A tranquil garden isn’t just for one season. Careful plant selection means you can enjoy blue and purple tones from spring through to autumn. Here are some favourites we return to time and again:

• Spring: Try Brunnera macrophylla ‘Jack Frost’ with its delicate blue flowers and silvery foliage, or large clumps of Camassia bulbs for a gorgeous meadow feel.
• Summer: Geranium Rozanne ‘Gerwat’ (PBR) is a real ‘doer’ in the garden in terms of flowering, starting in early summer and often is still going as autumn begins to unfold. Salvia nemorosa ‘Caradonna’ begins flowering around June and, if deadheaded, will last through to August, offering beautiful long spikes of vibrant purple flowers.
• Late Summer into Autumn: Verbena bonariensis offers a tall haze of purple flowers that pollinators love, while Asters such as Aster x frikartii ‘Mönch’ keep the colour coming right through September and October.

Of course, there are so many beautiful plants to choose from – far too many to include here - but the general takeaway is that by blending perennials, bulbs, and shrubs, you can ensure the calming palette evolves gently and beautifully throughout the seasons.

Design Principles for Tranquil Planting

Colour is only part of the story though. For true tranquillity, when we’re designing a planting scheme, we also need to think about:

• Repetition: Repeating blue and purple plants across beds and borders creates rhythm and cohesion, leading the eye gently through the space.
• Balance: Using complementary green foliage or touches of silver (like Stachys byzantine, for instance) to highlight and cool the scheme further.
• Scale: Mixing heights of plants so the planting looks layered but seamless; Brunnera is perfect near the front of a border for instance, while Verbena suits a spot nearer to the back.
• Structure: Pair soft planting with strong shapes - a clipped yew ball or a simple stone water feature, for instance, can anchor the design and stop the garden feeling too “fluffy.”

Bringing It All Together

Whether you’re working with a large, sprawling garden or a compact balcony, weaving blue and purple plants into your planting scheme can instantly add a layer of tranquillity. By paying attention to seasonal choices, thoughtful repetition, and good balance, it’s possible to create a space that soothes the senses and stands the test of time.

So, if you’re looking to create your own tranquil retreat, start by experimenting with just a few calming shades; you may be surprised at how transformative they can be!

© Nicki Jackson, Blue Daisy Gardens 2025