11 Beautiful Flowers That Look Like Lavender

Lavender is iconic and famous for its calming properties and beautiful purple hue. It has long been used in perfumes, potpourri, and even food. But did you know that there are flowers that look like lavender? These flowers are doppelgangers of lavender sharing its distinct color and shape but are unrelated to the herb. 

This article will explore the lavender look-alikes, with their unique features and brief descriptions. Delve into the charming realm of Russian sage to the finest grace of purple giant hyssop. All are perfect to add vibrant variation to your garden! 

What Are the Flowers That Look Like Lavender 

Lavender is a widely used herb, mostly used in many culinary recipes and fragrance purposes. Its calming scent and purple blooms are a touch of aesthetic grace to your garden. But the good news is that you can get the same aesthetic from some other flowers that look like lavender. Here is the list of some look-alike flowers of lavender:

1. Russian Sage

The botanical name of the Russian sage is Perovskia artriplicifolia. The bluish-purple blooms of this flower make it the finest doppelganger of Lavender. This flower thrives in hardiness zones 4 to 9 when well-drained average to lean soil is provided. Russian sage is an attractive, fragrant, and easy-to-maintain perennial flower native to the dry regions of central Asia.

It has a long blooming season, typically from June to September, and its grayish-green, lacy foliage and lavender-blue flowers make it a popular addition to many gardens. These flowers bloom from mid-summer to late fall. With their lavender-blue flowers, the attractive fragrance of these flowers attracts bees and other insects for pollination. They are blue flowers that look like lavender. 

2. Hyssop

Hyssops are botanically known as Hyssopus officinalis. They resemble lavenders due to the shape and color of their flowers. These flowers require well-drained fertile and loamy soil and thrive in hardiness zones 4 to 8. Hyssop is a purple flower that looks like lavender and belongs to the Lamiaceae family of mint and sage. 

Some of their similarities with lavender include the leaf shape of these flowers being similar to lavender, but the lead color of these plants is greener than the lavender. When hyssop blooms during summer, they show different colors throughout the season, including violet-blue, white, and pink. They are native to Southern Europe and Central Asia and have become naturalized in North America. 

3. Catnip

Nepeta cataria is the botanical name of the Catnip flower. The purple blooms of this flower make it resemble the lavender. It is mainly found in hardiness zones 3 to 8 and its soil requirements consist of well-drained rocky and clayey soil. Catnip is an herbaceous perennial plant with almost the same growing conditions as lavender.

This plant can easily tolerate drought. The structure of this flower is worth watching, its heart-shaped leaves are green and gray, along with the flower spike of lavender color. Catmint has more than 250 species worldwide, and these plants are native to Africa, Asia, and Europe. The leaves and flowers of this plant are best for making tea, which is famous for providing an instant relaxing effect for cats.

4. Rosemary

The botanical name of the Rosemary herb is Rosmarinus officinalis. It resembles lavender due to its needle-like leaves. It grows vigorously in hardiness zones 9 to 10 and requires well-drained soil for better growth. Rosemary resembles lavender in many ways; it has thin, needle-like leaves attached to its grey stems.

When they bloom in spring or early summer, you can see the light purple-blue flowers that look like lavender. Along with lavender, rosemary also belongs to the Mediterranean, where you can find Rosmarinus, the Dew of the Sea. Rosemary releases a beautiful and sweet but strong fragrance that is somehow related to lavender but much better than it. 

5. Purple Salvias

Purple Salvias are commonly known as Woodland Sage, and botanically known as Salvia. Its species resembles Lavender due to its flower color. They are hardy in zones 3 to 8. Their soil requirements for better growth demand well-drained soil.

Purple salvias belong to the family of Lamiaceae and contain more than 1000 species. Salvias are more like lavenders and sage with grey foliage and violet-blue flowers. These flowers are native to the Mediterranean and other various regions. They are used in the making of different medicines. This plant has a strong and old connection to the medical field. Other varieties of these plants are various in size and color with deep purple, white, and pink flowers that look like lavender. 

6. Basil

The common name of basil is Tulsi, whereas its botanical name is Ocimum tenuiflorum or Ocimum sanctum. It resembles lavender due to the color of its flowers and is hardy in zones 10 to 11. Basil requires well-drained soil and moderate watering to grow vigorously. Basil is a plant that looks like lavender due to the color of its flowers and is called Tulsi in most Asian countries, including India.

This plant is considered religiously significant, and Indian people use it during many religious ceremonies. This aromatic plant can attract many bees due to its mauve flowers with spikes. They have purple or green leaves, and we use them in cooking after chopping them. They are native to India and other Asian countries such as Pakistan, Thailand, and Iran.

7. Pitcher Sage

The botanic name of Pitcher sage is Salvia azurea. The bluish-purple blooms of this flower make it look like lavender. It thrives in hardiness zones 5 to 9 with well-drained (dry to medium moisture) soil. Pitcher sage is native to North America, and if there are optimum conditions for this plant, it can quickly grow up to 3 feet wide and tall.

The silvery foliage of the leaves and the green and brown contrast of the stem make this plant look beautiful. The overall look of this plant looks a lot like lavender. These flowers bloom to their full size during summers, and they know how to attract bees, hummingbirds, butterflies, and other insects for pollination.

8. Meadow Sage

Meadow sage is known botanically as Salvia Nemorosa and it has blue and purple flowers that look like lavender. It thrives in hardiness zones 3 to 9 and its soil requirements include well-drained loamy soil. Meadow sage belongs to the mint family Lamiaceae and contains more than 750 varieties of flowering plants.

This perennial plant is native to Europe, Western Asia, and Northern America. It grows up to two feet. This plant’s fresh and dried leaves are used in cooking, give off a beautiful fragrance, and contribute significantly to different cosmetic products.

9. Mexican Bush Sage

Velvet sage is the common name for Mexican bush sage and Salvia leucantha is the botanical name. The purple-colored flowers had a great resemblance to the lavender. It thrives well in 8 to 11 hardiness zones. Well-drained, rich, and moist soil is essential for its optimal growth.

Mexican bush sage is one of those plants that looks like lavender and is gorgeous with soft purple flowers. It is beautiful to look at and smell and has a decent fragrance. The foliage is gray-green to add to the look. The overall design is perfect and has many capabilities, such as drought tolerance and insect resistance. These plants are native to subtropical and tropical conifer forests and central and eastern Mexico.

10. Mealycup Sage

The common name of this flower is Mealy blue sage, and the botanical name is Salvia Farinacea. Its purple flowers had a great resemblance to lavender. These flowering plants are hardy in zones 8 to 10 and require well-drained soils for fuller growth.

Mealycup sage, or Victoria blue, is a perennial plant with beautiful, colored flowers spiking from the stem. Although these plants have a striking resemblance to lavender, they are not related to lavender. They are native to North America and belong to the plant class, which is called saving or healing properties. They are commonly used in medicines and planted in spring but bloom all summer.

11. Purple Giant Hyssop

Prairie Hyssop is the common name, and Agastache scrophulariifolia is the botanical name of the Purple giant hyssop. It has purple-colored flowers that can mimic lavender. It thrives in hardiness zones 3 to 8 and well-drained sandy to loamy soil is necessary for its optimal growth.

Purple giant hyssop is a tall herb and a member of the mint family. It can grow to 6 feet and is light pink to purple, depending upon the blooming season. These plants grow to their maximum height if exposed to full sun and partial shade. This flower takes almost two years to bloom to its full size, from July to September. 

Conclusion

Are you interested in decorating your garden with flowers that look like lavenders? look no further! This article explores 11 flowers that can mimic lavender. you can choose your favorite flower or pick a list of flowers to grow in your garden and add a combination of colors to make your garden look vibrant and colorful. 

FAQs

1. What Flower Is Similar to Lavender?

There are plenty of flowers that are similar to lavender, but they are not lavender. This article some doppelganger flowers of lavender including Purple giant hyssop, catnip, Russian sage, and many more.

2. Are Wisteria and Lavender the Same?

Wisteria has a light blue-violet color and is slightly different from the color of lavender; its fragrance is also somewhat different from lavender. The rest of the characteristics are the same.

3. Is Russian Sage the Same as Lavender?

No, they are not entirely the same and look slightly different than lavender. This plant is known as the lavender of Afghanistan.