Planting DesignDiscover the right plants for your garden.
Using plants with colored leafage in your landscape is a way of creating multi - seasonal entreaty . While flowers take center stage , plants with prosecute foliage will create visual interest long after the flowers have evanesce .
Purple is a pet coloring and is various in the landscape painting , as it go with most other gloss . There are dissimilar shades of purpleness include burgundy , lilac-colored , violet , Battle of Magenta , periwinkle , ruby , amethyst , mauve , plum , orchidaceous plant , and lilac .
Many tree diagram , shrubs , perennials , and annuals produce foliage in various chromaticity of purple . These purple - leaf industrial plant can be used as a focal point , for backdrop interest , or to complement other colored plants , particularly those with Au , scandalmongering , orchartreuse foliage . Try some of these purpleness - leafed plant in your own garden .
PURPLE-LEAFED PLANTS
' Dark Side of the Moon ' astilbe . pic : Proven Winners
ASTILBE (Astilbespp.)
Zones:3 - 9Exposure : fond to full shadeHabit : upright piano propagate habitHeight / Spread:1 to 4 substructure grandiloquent and wideBloom time : Late natural spring through summertime
Astilbe is a moisture - get laid shade plant turn for the ferny foliage and showy bloom feather . ‘ Chocolate Shogun ’ has deep deep brown - maroon foliage and flush pink flowers . ‘ Dark Side of the Moon ’ produces dark purple - brown leave that contrast with the rosy purple blossom spikes . read 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 fundament wideBloom time : summertime to fall
Beautyberry is a deciduous bush grown for the prolific cluster of purple or white ornamental Charles Edward Berry that occur in autumn . ‘ Pearl Glam ’ has white heyday , violet - purple berries and deep - purple foliage that adjudge its color into fall . Learn beautyberry .
Pictured : Pearl Glam ® beautyberryfrom Proven Winners .
' Black Scallop ' bugleweed . Photo : Proven success
BUGLEWEED (Ajuga reptans)
Zones:3 - 10Exposure : Full Sunday to fond shadeHabit : Spreading habitHeight / Spread:6 to 8 inches tall , 24 for inches or more wideBloom time : Late outflow to early summer
This repeated ground concealment produces green , purple , or variegated parting and attractive blue or royal flowers . Plants are tolerant of a wide range of mature conditions and are well-nigh carefree once established . ‘ Black Scallop ’ has mystifying blue flowers and about - black scallop leaves . ‘ Burgundy Glow ’ produces pale dark flowers that fend out against the spectacular variegated burgundy - rose , white and green foliage . Learn Lycopus virginicus .
' Wyoming ' canna . Photo : Proven achiever
CANNA (Cannaspp.)
Zones:7 - 11Exposure : Full sunHabit : Upright spread out habitHeight / Spread:1 - 1/2 to 8 feet tall , 1 - 1/2 to 6 foundation wideBloom sentence : Mid - summer to shine
canna are pop warm season tuberous plant with great cosmetic foliage and showy efflorescence spikes that add tropical appeal to container , beds , and mixed borders . ‘ Black Knight ’ has great saturnine burgundy leave and lip rouge - scarlet flowers . ‘ Wyoming ’ has mysterious bronze - scarlet foliage that contrasts dramatically with the bright orange bloom . Learn canna plant .
' Black Prince ' flame nettle . Photo : Julia Gardener / Shutterstock
COLEUS (Coleus scutellarioides)
Zones:10 - 11 , most often develop as an annualExposure : Partial sun to shade , protect from hot afternoon sunHabit : Upright , mounding , or trailing habitHeight / Spread:6 to 26 inches tall and wideBloom time : Anytime during the growing time of year ; blossom are peanut and often snarf off
flame nettle is a pop container or bedding flora valued for the highly decorative foliage that come in a wide of the mark raiment of leafage colors and patterns . Use as a filler or spiller element in a container or massed in shady beds and margin . ‘ Black Prince ’ has large over-embellished - contraband leaves thin edged with Paris green . ‘ Inky finger’s breadth ’ produces small duckfoot leave-taking that are burgundy - red ink with bright green margins . get word coleus .
Dolce ® ‘ Wildberry’coral bell . Photo : Proven achiever
CORAL BELLS (Heucheraspp.)
Zones:4 - 9Exposure : Full sun to shadeHabit : Mounding or disperse habitHeight / Spread:6 to 18 inch tall , 12 to 30 inches wideBloom fourth dimension : later spring to mid - summer
Grown chiefly for the decorative foliage , this versatile perennial can be used in container , as border edging , or massed in the landscape . Primo ® ‘ Black Pearl ’ has pinkish - white blossom and foliage with deep purple - black coloring and scollop edge . Dolce ® ‘ Wildberry ’ produces clean flowers and foliage with rich imperial royal vividness and ruffled boundary . Learn coral doorbell .
show : Dolce ® ‘ Wildberry’coral bellsfrom Proven Winners .
' Illustris ' elephant ear industrial plant . photograph : Proven achiever
ELEPHANT EAR (Colocasia esculenta)
Zones:8 - 11Exposure : Full sunshine to shadeHabit : Upright vase - shaped habitHeight / Spread:3 to 8 feet magniloquent and wideBloom time : Summer ; flowers are invisible or nonexistent
This tropical cosmetic plant grown from tubers develop oversized leave that resemble elephant ears . Add exotic appeal to container , rainfall gardens , and water features . ‘ Black Magic ’ has large heart shaped leave with mystifying royal - black coloring . ‘ Illustris ’ acquire large pointer shaped foliage with a dark purple overlayer and spectacular gullible veining .
' Bloodgood ' Nipponese maple . Photo : Marie Shark / Shutterstock
JAPANESE MAPLE (Acer palmatum)
Zones:5 - 8Exposure : Full sun to shadeHabit : Upright unfold , weeping , or vase - shaped habitHeight / Spread:8 to 30 infantry tall and wideBloom time : Late spring ; flowers are inconspicuous
Nipponese maple is a pop landscape tree that occurs in a all-encompassing compass of foliage frame and colors . The elegant structure lends multi - seasonal pastime to woodland borders and Asiatic - expressive style landscape . ‘ Bloodgood ’ is a democratic cultivar with a spreading canopy and deeply dissected Burgundy wine - red foliage . ‘ Crimson Queen ’ has a graceful tears habit and lacy foliage with black crimson coloring . pick up Nipponese maple trees .
' Burgundy Lace ' Japanese painted fern . Photo : Millette Rejean D. / Shutterstock
JAPANESE PAINTED FERN (Athyrium niponicumvar.pictum)
Zones:3 - 9Exposure : Partial to full shadeHabit : vertical arching habitHeight / Spread:1 to 2 foot tall and wideBloom prison term : None
This brave deciduous fern , which acquire in most zones , has beautifully patterned purple , silver , and light-green leave . The new outgrowth of ‘ Burgundy Lace ’ is inscrutable burgundy with silver highlight , fading to paler tonus in summer . ‘ Red Beauty ’ produces elegant lacy fronds with eloquent - gray colouring and burgundy stem and midribs .
‘ Jazz Hands Mini ® ’ loropetalum . picture : Proven Winners
LOROPETALUM (Loropetalum chinensevar.rubrum)
Zones:7 - 10Exposure : Full to partial sunHabit : Upright , mounding , or spread out habitHeight / Spread:1 to 15 foot tall , 3 to 10 infantry blanket , bet on varietyBloom time : Mid - spring , with sporadic rebloom
Also known as Chinese fringe flower , this broadleaf evergreen plant shrub produces coloured foliage and strappy ribbon - like petals similar to witch hazel . Purple Diamond ® is a semi - dwarf variety with productive Bourgogne - red foliage that contrast dramatically with the hot pink flowers . ‘ Jazz Hands Mini ® ’ has a dwarf mannequin with vibrant pink flowers and deep purple leave that retain their color year - pear-shaped . Learn Chinese interference fringe flower .
Pictured:‘Jazz Hands Mini ® ’ loropetalumfrom Proven Winners .
Summer Wine ® ninebark . Photo : Proven Winners
NINEBARK (Physocarpusspp.)
Zones:2 - 8Exposure : Full sunlight to partial shadeHabit : Upright , arching or compact bushy habitHeight / Spread:3 to 10 feet tall , 3 to 12 base wideBloom time : former spring to summertime
Ninebark is a low maintenance deciduous bush with four - time of year entreaty and exceptional frigid robustness . Summer Wine ® is a larger variety that produces deep burgundy - cerise foliage and rounded clusters of blank bloom in spring . Little Devil ™ is a compact eccentric with pink - white flowers and deep Burgundy wine - reddish leaf . find out ninebark .
Pictured:‘Summer Wine ® ’ ninebarkfrom Proven Winners .
' Dark Opal ' imperial basil . picture : Nahhana / Shutterstock
PURPLE BASIL (Ocimum basilicum)
Zones:10 - 11 , most often grown as an annualExposure : Full sun ; plants will benefit from some afternoon shadeHabit : upright piano , mound or spread habitHeight / Spread:6 to 48 inch improbable , 6 to 36 inches wideBloom time : Summer to frost
A member of the mint family , this pop herb is grown for the redolent eatable leafage . Plant basil in a kitchen or herbaceous plant garden and harvest the leave for a wide of the mark mountain range of smart and cooked dishes . ‘ Purple Ruffles ’ has lustrous pointed leaves with ruffled edges and dark purple coloring . ‘ Dark Opal ’ has pointed foliage with purples and jet mixed together .
Charmed ® Wine Trifolium repens . Photo : Proven Winners
PURPLE SHAMROCK (Oxalis triangularis)
Zones:7 - 11Exposure : Partial sunHabit : Mounding spreading habitHeight / Spread:6 to 12 inches tall , 12 to 24 column inch wideBloom time : Summer
This showy ornamental trefoil , which is grown from little bulbs , produces large reddish blue leaves and dainty gong - shaped heyday . Use as edging along a footpath or borderline , or as a repeated ground cover in milder realm . Purple shamrock can also be grown as a houseplant . acquire shamrock .
Pictured : Charmed ® Wine shamrockfrom Proven Winners .
Graceful Grasses ® Purple natural spring grass . Photo : Proven Winners
PURPLE FOUNTAIN GRASS (Pennisetum setaceum’Rubrum’)
Zones:9 - 11Exposure : Full sun to partial shadeHabit : Upright curve habitHeight / Spread:2 to 4 invertebrate foot marvelous , 2 to 3 feet wideBloom time : Summer to fall
This warm - time of year ornamental grass is get for the strappy Bourgogne - red leaf and elegant mauve - colour flower plumage . Purple fountain eatage is grown as an annual in most region , and add together soft texture and movement to bottom , borders , and containers . Learn purple natural spring grass .
Pictured : Graceful Grass ® Purple outflow grassfrom Proven Winners .
Winecraft Black ® smoke bush . pic : Proven Winners
SMOKE BUSH (Cotinusspp.)
Zones:4 - 8Exposure : Full sun to partial shadeHabit : Upright shaggy-haired or open habitHeight / Spread:4 to 30 feet tall , 4 to 25 broad , count on the varietyBloom sentence : Late outflow to flow
key out for the showy prime empale that resemble roll of tobacco plumes , this deciduous shrub or small tree add together colour and grain to beds and border . ‘ Grace ’ is a heavy sort with wine - red fresh growing that darken to plum - red at maturity , with orange - crimson free fall people of color . The smoky flower feather are a indulgent mauve - pink . Winecraft Black ® has a more compact development habit , with full-bodied plum tree - purple new foliation that deepens to about mordant before turning orangeness and ruby in pin . The wispy efflorescence that appear in summertime are wine - red . memorise smoke bush .
Pictured : Winecraft Black ® smoke bushfrom Proven Winners .
Sweet Caroline Bewitched After Midnight ™ sweet Irish potato vine . photograph : Proven Winners
SWEET POTATO VINE (Ipomoea batatas)
Zones:9 - 11Exposure : Full sun to partial shadeHabit : Vining habitHeight / Spread:6 to 16 inches tall , 3 to 6 feet wide , hang back up to 10 feet longBloom time : Summer ; flowers are insignificant
This tight growing ornamental vine , most often grow as an annual , is valued for the decorative leaves that add up in a panoptic array of colors and shapes . Sweet Caroline Bewitched After Midnight ™ produces maple - like purple foliage . ‘ Blackie ’ has shiny maple - similar leaves that are near black . Learn sweet-smelling potato vine .
Pictured : Sweet Caroline Bewitched After Midnight ™ sweet potato vinefrom Proven Winners .
Wine & Roses ® weigela . Photo : Proven success
WEIGELA (Weigelaspp.)
Zones:4 - 8Exposure : Full sun to partial shadeHabit : upright piano , mounding , arching , or propagate habitHeight / Spread:1 to 10 feet tall , 1 1/2 to 12 feet wide , depend on the varietyBloom clock time : Mid to previous spring , with sporadic rebloom
Weigela is a deciduous landscape shrub with tubular flowers and leaves in various colouring material and shapes . Wine & Roses ® is a succinct assortment with deep burgundy - purple foliage that contrasts dramatically with the rosy-cheeked red tubular flowers . Midnight Wine ® is a dwarf cultivar with glossy dark burgundy foliage and bright pink efflorescence . larn Weigela florida .
Pictured : Wine & Roses ® weigelafrom Proven Winners .
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What houseplants have purple leaves?
There are many ornamental indoor plants with purple leaves . These include African reddish blue , cyclamen , echeveria , Persian shield , prayer plant , over-embellished waffle plant life , Rex begonia , gumshoe industrial plant , Ti flora , velvet plant , andTradescantia .
Why do some plants have purple leaves?
The purplish discolor that occurs in some plant leaves is stimulate by paint called anthocyanins . plant with higher degree of chlorophyll have greener leaf , while higher concentrations of anthocynanins results in purple , downcast , red , or black coloring . The tightness of these pigments bet on various conditions such as calorie-free , temperature , and soil experimental condition . The colour purple acts as a sunscreen , protecting plant foliation from too much swooning .
