Purple is an enchanting color that captures our imagination. In nature, purple hues are relatively rare and often signify something special. Many natural things contain anthocyanin pigments that can produce shades of purple under the right conditions. By exploring examples in the plant and animal kingdoms, as well as in geology and astronomy, we gain appreciation for nature’s stunning purple treasures.
Purple Flowers
Flowers provide some of the most vivid purple hues in nature. Many species contain anthocyanin pigments in their petals and other structures that reflect purple light. Here are some examples of popular purple flowers:
| Flower | Scientific Name |
|---|---|
| Lilac | Syringa |
| Lavender | Lavandula |
| Iris | Iris |
| Hyacinth | Hyacinthus |
| Purple coneflower | Echinacea purpurea |
| Allium | Allium |
| Violet | Viola |
| Orchid | Orchidaceae |
These are just a few examples of the many flowers that come in shades of purple in the wild. The depth of color can vary based on soil conditions, sunlight, and genetics. Some species also have cultivated varieties with richer purple hues.
Purple Fruits and Vegetables
A range of fruits and vegetables contain natural pigments that create rich shades of purple when ripe. Here are some common natural foods that are purple:
| Fruit/Vegetable | Scientific Name |
|---|---|
| Eggplant | Solanum melongena |
| Purple sweet potato | Ipomoea batatas |
| Purple cabbage | Brassica oleracea |
| Purple cauliflower | Brassica oleracea |
| Purple carrot | Daucus carota subsp. sativus |
| Purple asparagus | Asparagus officinalis |
| Blackberries | Rubus fruticosus |
| Elderberries | Sambucus nigra |
| Purple figs | Ficus carica |
| Purple grapes | Vitis vinifera |
| Purple plums | Prunus domestica |
The deep purple hues come from anthocyanins and other antioxidant pigments. These pigments not only provide vibrant color, but also offer potential health benefits. Fruits and vegetables with purple shades tend to be high in compounds that can help reduce inflammation, boost immunity, and provide other advantages.
Purple Trees and Foliage
Along with flowers and fruits, some tree species have naturally purple leaves, stems, bark, or other structures:
| Tree/Plant | Scientific Name |
|---|---|
| Jacaranda | Jacaranda mimosifolia |
| Purple leaf plum | Prunus cerasifera |
| Purple leaf sand cherry | Prunus x cistena |
| Purple smoke bush | Cotinus coggygria |
| Purple fountain grass | Pennisetum setaceum |
| Purple basil | Ocimum basilicum |
| Purple shamrock | Oxalis regnellii |
| Purple heart | Tradescantia pallida |
| Persian shield | Strobilanthes dyerianus |
The striking purple tones in the leaves and stems come from anthocyanins and other pigments. Along with aesthetics, these pigments help protect the plants from sun damage. Many purple-foliage plants grow best in full sun, where the pigments are enhanced under intense light.
Purple Gemstones
One of the most prized types of purple in nature comes from gemstones. Various mineral impurities and structures can create purple hues in crystals and gem-quality stones. Here are some of the main purple gemstones:
| Gemstone |
|---|
| Amethyst |
| Sugilite |
| Charoite |
| Lepidolite |
| Purple garnet |
| Purple spinel |
| Purple sapphire |
| Purple diamond |
| Purple tourmaline |
| Alexandrite |
Of these, amethyst is the most common purple gemstone and is composed of quartz. Trace amounts of iron within the stone result in the characteristic purple color. Other purple gems like sugilite and charoite are much rarer. Purple diamonds and sapphires exhibit a phenomenon called color change, shifting between purple and other hues. These exotic purple gems are highly coveted in jewelry for their beauty and mystique.
Purple Animals
While less common than in the plant kingdom, some animals also display stunning purple and violet tones:
| Animal | Scientific Name |
|---|---|
| Violet sabrewing hummingbird | Campylopterus hemileucurus |
| Purple frog | Nasikabatrachus sahyadrensis |
| Indigo snake | Drymarchon corais |
| Violet-tailed sylph hummingbird | Aglaiocercus coelestis |
| Giant purple emperor butterfly | Apatura iris |
| Violet goby fish | Gobioides broussonnetii |
| Purple sea urchin | Strongylocentrotus purpuratus |
| Violet jellyfish | Drymonema dalmatinum |
| Violet birdwing butterfly | Trogonoptera charmosyna |
These creatures get their purple tones from specialized cells and structures rather than pigments. For example, the feathers of hummingbirds contain air bubbles and flattened cells that refract light to produce iridescent purple. Other animals like the purple frog and urchin have physical chromatophore cells that reflect light selectively. These adaptations help animals communicate, attract mates, evade predators, and blend into their environments.
Purple Natural Landscapes
At a grander scale, some impressive landscapes and geological formations display purple hues:
| Landscape | Location |
|---|---|
| Purple mountain majesties | Rocky Mountains, USA |
| ZiMapurple | JiuZhaiGou Park, China |
| Purple Island (Io) | Mediterranean Sea |
| Lavender fields | Provence, France |
| Jacaranda trees | Pretoria, South Africa |
| Hepburn Springs | Australia |
| volcanic amythest | Iceland |
| Bavanat purple village | Iran |
The “purple mountain majesties” in the Rocky Mountains get their color from dark minerals deposited in the stone. At certain times and from certain angles, the mountains take on a rich purple glow. Similarly, the purple landscape at Jiuzhaigou results from mineral lakes and vegetation. Other purple landscapes arise from human cultivation like lavender fields, jacaranda tree groves, and painted villages. The dynamic interplay of light, minerals, and life forms purple landscapes both natural and cultivated.
Purple Nebulae and Galaxies
Venturing into the cosmos, many wondrous nebulae and galaxies shine in purple:
| Object |
|---|
| Horsehead Nebula |
| Lagoon Nebula |
| Butterfly Nebula |
| Skull Nebula |
| Eagle Nebula |
| Iris Nebula |
| Bug Nebula |
| Purple Forbidden City (NGC 1187) |
These purple cosmic objects form from clouds of ionized gases like hydrogen and helium. Radiation from stars causes the gases to emit a red glow, while blue light reflects from dust, combining to create the vivid purple color. The shapes arise from differences in density within the clouds. Over eons, these nebulae may gravitationally collapse to form new stars and planetary systems. Their subtle purple hues inspire awe and imagination when viewed from earth.
Conclusion
Purple stands out as an uncommon and coveted color throughout the natural world. In flowers, fruits, gems, animals, landscapes, and galaxies, purple signifies the unique and the exquisite. Nature produces these regal purple tones through ingenious combinations of specialized cells, pigments, minerals, and physical structures under the right conditions. Beyond beauty, purple’s rarity in nature often indicates biological advantage and value. Understanding examples of purple things provides insight into the remarkable chemistry and physics behind natural color.