Clusters of small purple flowers which open from reddish buds. The Marbled White butterfly is particularly drawn to Wild Marjoram. The herb also has culinary uses.
Large reddish-purple flowers (up to 5cm across) and attract bees, butterflies, hover flies and goldfinches.
Wild Basil (Clinopodium vulgare)
Pinkish purple flowers in late summer. It has culinary uses and is also used in herbal medicine. It is great for bees and butterflies.
Salad Burnet (Sanguisorba minor)
The leaves are both exceptionally pretty (green tinged with pink) and are also edible with a cucumber-like flavour. It has dark brownish red flowers. Medically it was once used against bubonic plague and to reduce haemorrhaging but today it is mostly known for its astringent properties.
Saw-Wort (Serriatula tinctoria)
Thistle-shaped uneven flower heads of smallish mauve purple are borne in late summer.
Common Vervain (Verbenia officinalis)
In late summer produces tall spikes with numerous delicate tiny pale purple flowers.
Wild Pansy (Viola tricolor)
Multi-coloured blooms from spring to autumn. Dark purple upper petals, pale purple or pale-yellow middle petals and a dark yellow lower petal with dark streaks.
Red Kidney Vetch (Anthyllis vulneraria)
photo to come
A variant of yellow kidney vetch.