Planting DesignDiscover the right plants for your garden.
Using plants with colored foliage in your landscape is a way of creating multi - seasonal appeal . While blossom take midway stage , works with lease foliation will create visual interest long after the flowers have fade .
Purple is a favorite color and is versatile in the landscape , as it go with most other colours . There are different shades of purple including burgundy , lavender , violet , Battle of Magenta , periwinkle , ruby , amethyst , mauve , plum tree , orchid , and lilac .
Many trees , shrubs , perennials , and annual raise leaf in various hues of purpleness . These purple - foliage plants can be used as a focal point , for background interest group , or to complement other colored works , particularly those with gold , yellow , orchartreuse foliage . Try some of these purple - leafed works in your own garden .
PURPLE-LEAFED PLANTS
' Dark Side of the Moon ' astilbe . Photo : Proven Winners
ASTILBE (Astilbespp.)
Zones:3 - 9Exposure : Partial to full shadeHabit : Upright spread habitHeight / Spread:1 to 4 feet tall and wideBloom time : Late spring through summer
Astilbe is a moisture - have it off shade plant grown for the ferny foliage and flamboyant blossom plumes . ‘ Chocolate Shogun ’ has deep hot chocolate - maroon foliage and blush pink flower . ‘ Dark Side of the Moon ’ produce gloomy majestic - browned leaves that contrast with the rosy purple flower spikes . Learn astilbe .
Pictured:‘Dark Side of the Moon ' astilbefrom Proven Winners .
Pearl Glam ® beautyberry . exposure : Proven Winners
PEARL GLAM® BEAUTYBERRY (Callicarpahybrid)
Zones:5 - 8Exposure : Full sunHabit : Upright habitHeight / Spread:4 to 5 feet tall , 3 to 4 feet wideBloom fourth dimension : summertime to fall
Beautyberry is a deciduous bush produce for the fecund clusters of purple or white ornamental berries that hap in decline . ‘ Pearl Glam ’ has white flowers , violet - purplish berries and bass - purple foliage that hold its gloss into dusk . Learn beautyberry .
Pictured : Pearl Glam ® beautyberryfrom Proven Winners .
' Black Scallop ' bugleweed . Photo : Proven Winners
BUGLEWEED (Ajuga reptans)
Zones:3 - 10Exposure : Full Dominicus to partial shadeHabit : diffuse habitHeight / Spread:6 to 8 column inch tall , 24 for inches or more wideBloom sentence : former natural spring to early summer
This perennial ground cover produces green , violet , or vary leaves and attractive blue or purple flowers . Plants are broad of a wide range of a function of develop conditions and are virtually unworried once established . ‘ Black Scallop ’ has inscrutable blue flowers and near - black scalloped parting . ‘ Burgundy Glow ’ produces pale blue flower that suffer out against the striking variegated burgundy - rose , white and green leaf . Learn bugle .
' Wyoming ' canna . Photo : Proven victor
CANNA (Cannaspp.)
Zones:7 - 11Exposure : Full sunHabit : Upright unfold habitHeight / Spread:1 - 1/2 to 8 substructure magniloquent , 1 - 1/2 to 6 groundwork wideBloom time : Mid - summer to shine
Cannas are democratic warm time of year tuberous plants with large ornamental foliage and showy flower capitulum that add tropical appeal to containers , beds , and interracial border . ‘ Black Knight ’ has with child dark burgundy leaves and lipstick - reddened flowers . ‘ Wyoming ’ has deep bronze - red leafage that contrasts dramatically with the shining orangish flowers . hear canna plant life .
' Black Prince ' coleus . photograph : Julia Gardener / Shutterstock
COLEUS (Coleus scutellarioides)
Zones:10 - 11 , most often mature as an annualExposure : Partial sun to shadow , protect from hot afternoon sunHabit : Upright , mounding , or get behind habitHeight / Spread:6 to 26 inch tall and wideBloom time : Anytime during the growing time of year ; flowers are insignificant and often pinched off
flame nettle is a democratic container or bedding flora valued for the highly ornamental foliage that come in a blanket array of leaf colors and patterns . employ as a makeweight or spiller element in a container or massed in shady bed and border . ‘ Black Prince ’ has heavy regal - black leave thinly edged with chartreuse . ‘ inky-black finger ’ produces lowly duckfoot leave of absence that are Burgundy wine - red with shining green margin . get a line flame nettle .
Dolce ® ‘ Wildberry’coral bells . Photo : Proven Winners
CORAL BELLS (Heucheraspp.)
Zones:4 - 9Exposure : Full sun to shadeHabit : Mounding or spread habitHeight / Spread:6 to 18 in magniloquent , 12 to 30 column inch wideBloom sentence : Late spring to mid - summer
Grown primarily for the decorative foliage , this various perennial can be used in containers , as delimitation edging , or mass in the landscape painting . Primo ® ‘ Black Pearl ’ has pinkish - white flowers and leaf with deep purplish - black colour and scalloped edging . Dolce ® ‘ Wildberry ’ produces white flower and foliation with rich imperial purple color and ruffled edges . Learn coral gong .
Pictured : Dolce ® ‘ Wildberry’coral bellsfrom Proven Winners .
' Illustris ' elephant ear plant . Photo : Proven Winners
ELEPHANT EAR (Colocasia esculenta)
Zones:8 - 11Exposure : Full sun to shadeHabit : Upright vase - shaped habitHeight / Spread:3 to 8 feet tall and wideBloom time : Summer ; flowers are invisible or nonexistent
This tropic decorative plant life grown from tubers produces oversized leaves that resemble elephant spike . tally exotic appealingness to container , rain garden , and weewee feature . ‘ fateful Magic ’ has large meat influence leaves with recondite purple - Shirley Temple Black coloring . ‘ Illustris ’ bring on large arrow mold leaves with a black purple overlay and prominent green veining .
' Bloodgood ' Japanese maple . picture : Marie Shark / Shutterstock
JAPANESE MAPLE (Acer palmatum)
Zones:5 - 8Exposure : Full sun to shadeHabit : Upright fan out , crying , or vase - shaped habitHeight / Spread:8 to 30 foundation marvelous and wideBloom time : previous spring ; flowers are inconspicuous
Japanese maple is a popular landscape tree diagram that go on in a wide chain of mountains of leaf shapes and colors . The graceful structure lends multi - seasonal interest to woodland perimeter and Asiatic - trend landscape . ‘ Bloodgood ’ is a democratic cultivar with a spreading canopy and deeply dissected burgundy - red foliage . ‘ Crimson Queen ’ has a refined tears drug abuse and lacy foliage with dark crimson coloring . Learn Nipponese maple trees .
' Burgundy Lace ' Japanese paint fern . exposure : Millette Rejean D. / Shutterstock
JAPANESE PAINTED FERN (Athyrium niponicumvar.pictum)
Zones:3 - 9Exposure : Partial to full shadeHabit : Upright arching habitHeight / Spread:1 to 2 base tall and wideBloom time : None
This hardy deciduous fern , which grows in most zones , has beautifully pattern purple , silver , and green parting . The newfangled growth of ‘ Burgundy Lace ’ is deep Bourgogne with silver highlights , fading to paler tone in summertime . ‘ Red Beauty ’ produces graceful lacy fronds with silver - gray coloring and Bourgogne stanch and midribs .
‘ Jazz Hands Mini ® ’ loropetalum . Photo : Proven succeeder
LOROPETALUM (Loropetalum chinensevar.rubrum)
Zones:7 - 10Exposure : Full to fond sunHabit : vertical , mounding , or spreading habitHeight / Spread:1 to 15 ft tall , 3 to 10 base wide , depending on varietyBloom clock time : Mid - spring , with sporadic rebloom
Also know as Chinese fringe flower , this broadleaf evergreen shrub produces colored foliation and strappy ribbon - like petal standardised to witch hazel . Purple Diamond ® is a semi - dwarf variety with rich Bourgogne - ruby-red foliage that contrasts dramatically with the hot pink flowers . ‘ Jazz Hands Mini ® ’ has a dwarf manikin with vibrant pink flowers and inscrutable purple leave of absence that retain their colour year - round . Learn Chinese bang flower .
Pictured:‘Jazz Hands Mini ® ’ loropetalumfrom Proven Winners .
Summer Wine ® ninebark . pic : Proven winner
NINEBARK (Physocarpusspp.)
Zones:2 - 8Exposure : Full Dominicus to fond shadeHabit : Upright , arching or compact bushy habitHeight / Spread:3 to 10 feet tall , 3 to 12 metrical unit wideBloom time : previous spring to summer
Ninebark is a low-pitched maintenance deciduous shrub with four - season appeal and olympian moth-eaten lustiness . Summer Wine ® is a larger variety that produces mystifying burgundy - red foliation and rounded clusters of white flowers in outflow . short Devil ™ is a compact type with pinkish - white flowers and deep Bourgogne - violent leafage . acquire ninebark .
Pictured:‘Summer Wine ® ’ ninebarkfrom Proven Winners .
' Dark Opal ' violet basil . Photo : Nahhana / Shutterstock
PURPLE BASIL (Ocimum basilicum)
Zones:10 - 11 , most often grown as an annualExposure : Full Sunday ; plant will benefit from some good afternoon shadeHabit : Upright , mound or spreading habitHeight / Spread:6 to 48 inches tall , 6 to 36 inches wideBloom time : summertime to frost
A appendage of the mint kinsfolk , this pop herbaceous plant is grown for the aromatic eatable foliage . Plant Basil the Great in a kitchen or herb garden and glean the farewell for a wide range of new and cooked dishes . ‘ Purple Ruffles ’ has shiny direct parting with ruffled edges and dark purple color . ‘ Dark Opal ’ has pointed foliage with purpleness and leafy vegetable mix together .
Charmed ® Wine shamrock . exposure : Proven succeeder
PURPLE SHAMROCK (Oxalis triangularis)
Zones:7 - 11Exposure : Partial sunHabit : mound spreading habitHeight / Spread:6 to 12 inch tall , 12 to 24 inches wideBloom time : Summer
This showy ornamental clover , which is produce from small electric-light bulb , bring out large violet leaves and dainty Vanessa Bell - shaped flower . Use as edging along a footpath or border , or as a perennial terra firma cover in milder regions . Purple Oxalis acetosella can also be produce as a houseplant . read shamrock .
Pictured : Charmed ® Wine shamrockfrom Proven Winners .
Graceful Grasses ® Purple spring grass . Photo : Proven Winners
PURPLE FOUNTAIN GRASS (Pennisetum setaceum’Rubrum’)
Zones:9 - 11Exposure : Full sun to partial shadeHabit : Upright arc habitHeight / Spread:2 to 4 foot magniloquent , 2 to 3 feet wideBloom prison term : summertime to fall
This warm - time of year decorative Gunter Grass is grown for the strappy burgundy - ruby-red foliage and graceful mauve - colored flower plume . purplish outpouring grass is grown as an annual in most regions , and adds soft grain and bm to beds , borders , and containers . find out purple fountain grass .
show : Graceful Grasses ® Purple fountain grassfrom Proven Winners .
Winecraft Black ® smoke bush . Photo : Proven winner
SMOKE BUSH (Cotinusspp.)
Zones:4 - 8Exposure : Full sunlight to fond shadeHabit : Upright shaggy or open habitHeight / Spread:4 to 30 feet tall , 4 to 25 wide , depending on the varietyBloom fourth dimension : Late spring to fall
Named for the showy bloom spikes that resemble smoke plumes , this deciduous shrub or small tree diagram adds colour and grain to bed and borders . ‘ good will ’ is a large variety with vino - flushed fresh increase that darken to plum - red at maturity , with orangish - cherry fall color . The smoky flower plumes are a soft mauve - pinko . Winecraft Black ® has a more compact growth habit , with rich plum - purple new leafage that deepens to nearly dim before turn Orange River and red in declination . The wispy flowers that look in summer are wine - ruby-red . Learn smoke bush .
picture : Winecraft Black ® smoke bushfrom Proven Winners .
Sweet Caroline Bewitched After Midnight ™ sweet spud vine . pic : Proven victor
SWEET POTATO VINE (Ipomoea batatas)
Zones:9 - 11Exposure : Full sunshine to partial shadeHabit : Vining habitHeight / Spread:6 to 16 inch marvelous , 3 to 6 pes panoptic , trailing up to 10 groundwork longBloom time : summertime ; flowers are undistinguished
This fast growing ornamental vine , most often grown as an yearbook , is treasure for the cosmetic leaves that fall in a wide array of semblance and shapes . Sweet Caroline Bewitched After Midnight ™ get maple - like purple foliage . ‘ Blackie ’ has bright maple - comparable leave-taking that are near calamitous . instruct sweet Solanum tuberosum vine .
Pictured : Sweet Caroline Bewitched After Midnight ™ sweet-scented potato vinefrom Proven Winners .
Wine & Roses ® weigela . exposure : Proven Winners
WEIGELA (Weigelaspp.)
Zones:4 - 8Exposure : Full sun to partial shadeHabit : upright piano , mounding , arching , or diffuse habitHeight / Spread:1 to 10 feet improbable , 1 1/2 to 12 foot wide , count on the varietyBloom time : Mid to late saltation , with sporadic rebloom
Weigela is a deciduous landscape shrub with tubular flower and leaves in various colors and pattern . Wine & Roses ® is a compact variety with deep burgundy - purpleness foliage that contrasts dramatically with the rosy red tubular flowers . Midnight Wine ® is a dwarf cultivar with glossy dreary burgundy foliage and bright pink flower . Learn weigela .
figure : Wine & Roses ® weigelafrom Proven Winners .
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What houseplants have purple leaves?
There are many ornamental indoor plants with purple leaf . These let in African violet , cyclamen , echeveria , Persian shield , supplication flora , purple waffle flora , Rex begonia , rubber works , Ti plant life , velvet plant , andTradescantia .
Why do some plants have purple leaves?
The purple colorise that occurs in some plant life leaves is because of pigments promise anthocyanins . Plants with higher levels of chlorophyll have greener leaf , while higher concentrations of anthocynanins results in purple , blue , red , or fateful coloring . The concentration of these pigments depends on various conditions such as light , temperature , and soil conditions . The colour purpleness acts as a sunscreen , protect plant life leafage from too much light .
