Discover grasses with purple flowers for your garden! Learn to identify, grow, and care for ornamental varieties, avoid weeds, and explore options for Florida, dwarf sizes, and more.
Hi, I’m Ashley Scott! With over 10 years of gardening experience, I’ve fallen in love with the unique charm of grasses with purple flowers. These plants add vibrant color, texture, and low-maintenance magic to gardens. But not all purple-flowered grasses are created equal—some are prized ornamentals, while others are sneaky weeds. Let me walk you through everything you need to know!
What Are Grasses With Purple Flowers?
When I first heard the term “grass with purple flowers,” I assumed it referred to traditional lawn grasses. But in reality, this category includes ornamental grasses, ground covers, and even weeds that mimic grassy foliage. The key is their slender, blade-like leaves and clusters of tiny purple blooms.
Common examples include:
- Purple Muhly Grass (Muhlenbergia capillaris) – A showstopper with airy pink-purple plumes.
- Liriope (Liriope muscari) – Often called “monkey grass with purple flowers”, though it’s technically a lily.
- Pennisetum ‘Purple Majesty’ – A striking tall grass with purple flowers and dark foliage.
Top 10 Grasses With Purple Flowers for Your Garden
1. Purple Muhly Grass (Muhlenbergia capillaris)
This evergreen grass with purple flowers is a fall superstar, with airy pink-purple plumes that look like cotton candy. Thrives in zones 6-9, full sun, and well-draining soil. Perfect for drought-tolerant landscapes! (Related: Drought-Tolerant Grasses Guide)
2. Liriope (Liriope muscari)
Often called “monkey grass with purple flowers”, this lily-family plant blooms in late summer. Use the dwarf grass with purple flowers variety (Liriope spicata) for borders or edging.
3. Purple Fountain Grass (Pennisetum setaceum ‘Rubrum’)
A perennial grass with purple flowers in zones 8-11, featuring burgundy foliage and bottlebrush blooms. Great for containers or focal points.
4. Ruby Grass (Melinis nerviglumis)
This low-growing grass-like ground cover with purple flowers has fluffy pink-purple blooms and thrives in poor soil. Ideal for rock gardens!
5. Purple Love Grass (Eragrostis spectabilis)
A native grass with purple flowers that forms dense clumps with reddish-purple seed heads. Attracts birds and thrives in sandy soil.
6. Switchgrass ‘Shenandoah’ (Panicum virgatum)
A tall grass with purple flowers (up to 5 feet!) with reddish-purple foliage. Drought-resistant and perfect for prairie-style gardens.
7. Karl Foerster Feather Reed Grass (Calamagrostis x acutiflora)
While known for pinkish-purple plumes, this perennial grass with purple flowers is a cold-hardy favorite (zones 4-9) for vertical interest.
8. Tufted Hair Grass (Deschampsia cespitosa)
A shade-tolerant grass with purple-tinged flowers that shimmer in partial sun. Pair with hostas for contrast.
9. Purple Moor Grass (Molinia caerulea)
This ornamental grass with purple flowers boasts slender, arching stems and thrives in wet soil. A gem for rain gardens!
10. Zebra Grass ‘Purpurascens’ (Miscanthus sinensis)
A tall grass-like plant with purple flowers and striped foliage. Its copper-purple plumes last through winter.
Weeds With Purple Flowers: Don’t Be Fooled!
Not every grassy plant with purple flowers belongs in your garden. Here’s how to spot imposters:
Creeping Charlie (Glechoma hederacea)
This grass weed with purple flowers invades lawns with its scalloped leaves and tiny purple blooms. I’ve battled it in my own yard—it spreads aggressively!
Wild Violet
Often mistaken for a grass-like ground cover with purple flowers, this weed has heart-shaped leaves and thrives in shady, moist areas.
Pro Tip: Use a vinegar-and-salt solution for small patches, or manually remove roots. For severe cases, check out my guide on controlling invasive weeds.
Grasses With Purple Flowers in Florida
Floridians, rejoice! Purple Muhly Grass and Fakahatchee Grass (Tripsacum dactyloides) are native grasses with purple flowers Florida gardeners adore. They tolerate heat, humidity, and sandy soil.
How to Grow and Care for Purple-Flowered Grasses
Planting Tips
- Sunlight: Most need 6+ hours of direct sun.
- Soil: Well-draining soil is critical—add compost to heavy clay.
- Spacing: Give tall grass with purple flowers like pampas grass room to spread.
Maintenance
- Watering: Drought-tolerant once established.
- Pruning: Cut back perennial grass with purple flowers in early spring.
- Fertilizing: Use a balanced slow-release formula in spring.
FAQs About Grasses With Purple Flowers
Are purple-flowered grasses invasive?
Some, like creeping Charlie, are. Stick to non-invasive ornamentals like Muhly Grass.
Can I grow these in containers?
Yes! Dwarf grass with purple flowers like Carex varieties thrive in pots.
What’s the difference between Liriope and monkey grass?
They’re the same! Southerners often call Liriope “monkey grass.”
Final Thoughts
Whether you’re eyeing a black grass with purple flowers for drama or a native grass with purple flowers for sustainability, these plants offer endless versatility. Just remember to verify their identity—what looks like a grassy weed with purple flowers might be a keeper!
Need More Ideas? Explore my favorite ornamental grasses for small spaces.
External Resources:
- University of Florida Gardening Solutions
- Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map
- Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
- Royal Horticultural Society
Happy gardening,
Ashley Scott
Founder, US Garden Hub
