Deep purple wildflowers?

Question

What wildflowers, especially in the western or mountain regions, are deep purple?

I just dyed a skein of yarn a fantastic purple and am trying to find a name for it.

oops -- I wasn't clear enough. I'm not trying to find a dye plant -- I've already dyed the wool.

I'm just looking for a flower to name this color after. I like to give my yarns botanical names. Thanks for the suggestions so far!

Thanks for all the ideas. Whatever I call it, it's already sold -- I took it to show some friends at church, and one of them bought it on the spot! It didn't even make it up onto my Website...;-)

But I think "Purple Larkspur" is a good name for that color. The images I looked at are just the right shade. Thanks!

Answer 1

Spring Larkspur (deep purple)
Delphinium tricorne

Answer 2

Purple Loosestrife Lythrum salicaria Makes purple and with iron makes black

There are many plants with the common name of larkspur but they mostly make blue dye.
Delphinium nuttallianum A blue dye is obtained from the flowers.
Larkspur Consolida regalis makes green
Delphinium menziesii makes blue
Red Larkspur Delphinium nudicaule makes blue
Delphinium nuttallianum makes blue

Answer 3

Larkspur might be one. Another name that came to my mind was "GENTIAN VIOLET" which is also a beautiful deep purple color and the name of a flower (as well as a medicine!).
Also, some Columbine (state flower of Colorado, I think) flowers are a deep purple and are very striking.


Good luck with your yarn naming.

Answer 4

Larkspur - it does come in a variety of colors, but I have seen fantastic deep shades of purple for this flower.

Also...

Thistle - though many consider tit a weed, I find the flower of the thistle can be most beautiful...especial purple thistle.
(My fiancee's middle name was Thistle and she loved the color purple)