Purple flowers have long held a special meaning and symbolism across cultures due to their relative rarity in nature. The unique and striking color purple has been associated with royalty, spirituality, and creativity throughout history. In this article, we will explore the origins and background of some of the most popular purple flowering plants and examine how they have been used and viewed throughout human civilization.
Where do purple pigments in flowers come from?
The pigments that give purple flowers their distinctive color are called anthocyanins. Anthocyanins are a type of flavonoid, which are compounds produced by plants through their secondary metabolism. Specifically, anthocyanins belong to a subclass of flavonoids called anthoxanthins.
Anthocyanins act as pigments in the petals of certain flowers, particularly those with shades of purple, blue, red, and pink. The specific anthocyanin pigment or combination of pigments present determines the exact flower color. For example, peonidin produces a light pink, malvidin produces a deep purple, and delphinidin gives a bluish hue.
In most plants, anthocyanin production is influenced by environmental factors and stage of growth. Cooler temperatures, higher light levels, nutrient availability, and pH can all impact anthocyanin concentrations in plant tissues. Anthocyanin pigments are primarily produced in young leaves, flowers, stems, and fruits. Their bright colors are thought to attract pollinating insects and animals to the developing flowers and fruit.
Early history and symbolism of purple flowers
Some of the earliest known purple flowering plants include lavender, iris, orchid, lilac, hyacinth, clematis, and petunia species.
| Flower | Early History and Symbolism |
|---|---|
| Lavender | Native to the Mediterranean region, lavender has been used for over 2,500 years. Ancient Egyptians used lavender for mummification and perfumes. Ancient Greeks and Romans used lavender in baths for cleansing and relaxation. |
| Iris | Symbol of royalty in ancient Egypt, sacred to goddess Iris in Greek mythology. Used to make perfumes and represented wisdom and valor. |
| Orchid | One of the most highly prized flowers in ancient China, symbolized refinement and innocence. Associated with many mystical and spiritual meanings. |
| Lilac | Native throughout Eastern Europe and Asia. Symbolizes youthful innocence and love in Victorian era. |
| Hyacinth | Believed to have mythological origins in ancient Greece. Linked to rebirth and constancy. |
| Clematis | Used as a medicinal herb in ancient China and India. Also had symbolic meaning of ingenuity or mental beauty. |
| Petunia | Native to South America, cultivated as an ornamental flower by indigenous groups like the Guarani. Name has origins in an indigenous American language. |
The unique purple color meant that in many ancient cultures, these flowers were associated with mystical and spiritual concepts like dreaming, meditation, and enlightenment. Purple also represented royalty, nobility, and luxury due to the rarity and difficulty of producing purple dyes at the time. Light purple shades were sometimes seen as romantic or feminine.
The significance of purple in medieval and Renaissance eras
During the medieval and Renaissance periods in Europe, purple retained strong connections to royalty and privilege. The rarity and expense of natural purple dyes meant that purple fabric was reserved for kings, nobles, and bishops. Queen Elizabeth I decreed that only close members of the royal family could wear deep Tyrian purple.
Purple was a color worn by emperors and kings across cultures, from the Byzantine rulers of the Eastern Roman Empire to the kings of the Frankish Empire under Charlemagne. Chinese emperors required their representatives to wear purple as a mark of the emperor’s favor.
The specific purple shade also conveyed meaning – crimson purple was associated with the Catholic church, while a reddish purple was reserved for cardinals. Lavender and lilac shades represented beauty, femininity and romance.
Flowers like lavender, violet, iris and lilac remained symbols of royalty and spiritual enlightenment during this era. Monks and apothecaries used purple flowers for their medicinal and aromatic qualities.
New world flowers in the Age of Discovery
The Age of Discovery which began in the 15th century led to an influx of novel purple flowers from the Americas into Europe. These included species like petunias, fuchsias, and bougainvillea.
| Flower | History |
|---|---|
| Petunia | Discovered in South America in the early 18th century by Europeans. Quickly brought into cultivation as an ornamental plant. |
| Fuchsia | First discovered on the Caribbean island of Hispaniola in the late 17th century. Named after the German botanist Leonhart Fuchs. |
| Bougainvillea | First classified by French explorer Louis Antoine de Bougainville in the 18th century after he found the vines growing in South America. |
As foreign contact increased, new purple flowers expanded the color palettes and meanings associated with purple blooms. Their brightly colored petals were seen as exotic and aristocratic. Emperors and noblemen commissioned these rare new flowers for their elaborate private gardens.
Purple flowers in Victorian era symbolism
During the Victorian era, the symbolism behind flowers became highly intricate. Specific flower colors, varieties and bloom stages carried complex meanings used to convey coded messages.
Purple flowers took on many associations in Victorian floral dictionaries. Light purple flowers like lavender and lilac signified youthful innocence, sweetness and grace. Deep purple blooms represented majesty and dignity. White flowers with purple accents, like many irises, suggested wisdom and appreciation.
Here are some common purple flower meanings from the Victorian era:
| Flower | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Lavender | Devotion, grace under pressure |
| Lilac | First love, youthful innocence |
| Violet | Modesty, spiritual wisdom |
| Purple rose | Enchantment, mystical love |
| Iris | Cherished friendship, hope, valor |
| Hyacinth | Sorrow, forgiveness, sincerity |
| Orchid | Luxury, beauty, magnificence |
Victorian ladies crafted intricate bouquets and tussie-mussies featuring purple blooms to communicate specific unspoken messages to suitors and friends. Wider availability of exotic species like orchids meant purple flowers were accessible clues to discreetly signal personality traits, emotions and interests during social visits.
Developments in purple flower cultivation
Until the late 18th century, growing purplish flowers remained a tricky endeavor. Most species with purple pigments developed the vibrant hues only under optimal conditions.
Advances in greenhouse technology and temperature control allowed British growers to begin cultivating more delicate purple and blue flower varieties around 1800. But colors still tended to fade under harsh sunlight.
In 1856, a purple color-changing hydrangea was discovered growing at a limestone quarry near Tokyo. The unique soil chemistry of the area induced the hydrangea shrubs to produce vivid blue and purple blooms. This discovery led to new efforts to alter soil acidity and expand the ranges of purplish flowers that could thrive under cultivation.
The trend gained momentum when growers in England and Germany succeeded in breeding new color varieties of popular flowers. Hybridization produced the first mauve-pink Gladiolus blooms in 1877, purple and blue bearded irises in the 1920s, and the famous ‘Blue Moon’ hydrangea with distinct purple sepals in 1944.
More stable purple shades could be achieved through careful crossbreeding and soil mineral adjustments. This allowed purple species to be grown as reliable garden plants and cut flowers.
Purple flowers in modern times
Today, purple remains one of the most prized colors for cultivated flowers. Modern hybrids have expanded the availability of purple varieties for gardens, florists, and plant breeders. Some popular examples include:
| Flower | Modern Varieties |
|---|---|
| Roses | ‘Purple Tiger’, ‘Ebb Tide’, ‘Night Owl’, ‘Mysterious Magenta’ |
| Tulips | ‘Negrita’, ‘Purple Prince’, ‘Queen of Night’, ‘Prince of Austria’ |
| Dahlias | ‘Ms Purple’, ‘Dark Desire’, ‘Mystic Illusion’, ‘Rip City’ |
| Carnations | ‘Purples’, ‘Vampire’, ‘Blue Moon’ |
| Orchids | ‘Purple Splash’, ‘Lavender Brat’, ‘Dee Lish’ |
Purple blooms remain sought after for their regal elegance and visual intrigue. They add rich depth and contrast to floral arrangements. The color retains associations with extravagance and creative expression. Deep purple flowers are commonly given as signs of fascination or respect. Light purple shades still epitomize delicate charm and femininity.
While flower meanings and traditions have evolved over time, purple flowers still convey many of the same qualities that made them precious centuries ago. Their distinctive hues and ties to mysticism continue to inspire new flower breeders, growers, and enthusiasts today.
Conclusion
In summary, purple flowering plants have long held symbolic significance in human cultures. The unique color was associated early on with prestige, spirituality, and mystery. During the medieval and Renaissance periods, purple flowers became linked to royalty, privilege and ambition. Exciting new purplish flowers were later uncovered from the Americas and Asia, allowing Victorian flower enthusiasts to use them to convey intricate messages. Advances in hybridization and cultivation eventually expanded and stabilized purple shades, making vibrant purple flowers accessible and beloved worldwide. The history of these blooms illustrates the special allure they have held across cultures and eras.