Adding color to your garden landscape or interior living space can be done inexpensively with purple leaf plants. Eye-catching shrubs, trailing plants, leafy perennials, purple succulents, and annuals with dark-colored dramatic foliage are all possible varieties of purple-leafed plants. Purple-leafed plants also stand out against green-leafed plants because purple leaves contrast vividly with brilliantly colored blooms.
Due to higher anthocyanin concentrations in the leaves of purple leaf plants, they have dark leaves. From light lilac to light pink, mauve, reddish-purple, violet, amethyst, and dark purple, this pigment causes leaves to shift from white to purple. In the autumn, the bright crimson foliage of the colorful purple plant can also display tremendous brightness.
The dark leaves of certain purple-leafed plants have become well-known. Purple shamrock, tradescantias, and Persian shield are all examples of popular dark purple-leaved plants.
Multi-colored leaves may be purple and green, as in other decorative plants like coleus, coral bells, and succulents. Are you looking for gorgeous purple-leafed plants to add vivid visual appeal to your landscape? Then check out our selection of stunning shrubs and ornamental plants. Would you like to add a room’s look by growing tropical, purple-leafed houseplants? Please read on if you’re interested. Purple-leaved plants are featured in this guide.
Purple Leaf Plants (Including Pictures) – Identification Guide
Garden shrubs, flowers, and houseplants with purple leaves are unusual. Dark purple leaves with green edges may be found on certain purple-leafed houseplants. Tropical plants with purple foliage, some of which have variegated purple leaves, are also available. Let’s explore the many purple-leafed varieties of indoor and outdoor plants.
Purple Shamrock (Oxalis Triangularis)
The purple shamrock is a flowering perennial plant with dark purple leaves that is utilized as a low-growing foliage plant or decorative potted houseplant. Trifoliate leaves, which resemble a purple shamrock, adorn the purple-leafed plant. When touched or at night, the purple plant’s black leaves close in an unusual manner.
The purple shamrock plant grows up to 1.5 feet (45 cm) tall with its deep burgundy-maroon deltoid leaves. A stem with three triangular purple leaves up to 3″ (75 mm) long grows from them. This purple plant is also known as false shamrock or purple wood sorrel because of its resemblance to other plants.
Purple Velvet Plant (Gynura Aurantiaca)
Purple velvet plant has purple and green leaves, and its little orange flowers contrast beautifully with it. Its dark green top surface contrasts with a vivid purple underside in its velvety, fuzzy leaves. The purple velvet plant features tiny orange-yellow blooms and stems with a characteristic purple hue.
USDA zones 10 to 12 are ideal for the shade-loving tropical plant. The colorful tropical houseplant is popular for hanging baskets and is also known as the purple passion vine. It has purple and green velvety leaves on its trailing stems, which may be up to 2 feet (0.6 meters) long. The 8″ (20 cm) long hairy purple leaves are described as ovate with coarsely serrated margins and covered in reddish-purple hairs.
Boat Lily (Tradescantia spathacea)
Boat lily is a sword-shaped dark green and purple perennial that prefers indirect sunlight. With purple and green foliage and tiny boat-shaped white flowers, this tradescantia houseplant adds a lot of aesthetic appeal to any interior. The tall, pointed purple leaves form a rosette and may reach up to 12 inches (30 cm) in height.
For shaded rooms, boat lily plants are superb leafy houseplants. Grow the spiky plant in filtered sunlight for four to eight hours a day if you want the most vibrant green and purple leaves.
Green and dark pink variegated leaves are found on the most spectacular boat lily plants. Moreover, broad pale purple margins and green stripes in the center may be seen on the pinkish and green striped leaves. Oyster plant, Moses-in-a-boat, cradle lily, and Moses-in-a-basket plant are some of the other names for boat lily.
Purple Heart Plant (Tradescantia pallida)
The trailing wandering Jew plant has violet-purple leaves growing on long purple stems, and is known as purple heart trailing plant. The lovely indoor plant with pale pink flowers thrives as an annual or as a gorgeous outdoor plant. It has attractive dark-leaved leaves.
The reddish-purple to nearly black leaves have a stunning leathery, pointed oblong shape. The purple heart tradescantia has dark purple leaves that grow up to 2 feet (0.6 meters) long on stems. The ‘Purple Heart’ cultivar has pure purple foliage, not variegated or striped foliage, unlike other tradescantia types.
Wandering Jew (Tradescantia zebrina)
The wandering Jew is a tropical houseplant with lance-shaped purple and green striped leaves. It adds beautiful color to hanging baskets and can be grown as a ground cover plant. Stripped green and light gray on top, purple on the bottom, the striped plant has variegated purple-leafed leaves. The texture of the purple and green tradescantia leaves is a little fuzzy.
The purple and white blooms are matched by grayish-green and magenta foliage. The wandering Jew has trailing vines up to 2 feet (0.6 meters) long when growing in hanging baskets or plant pots in partial sun. Wandering Jew may be grown as ground cover for partial shade in USDA zones 8 through 12. Silver inch plant, tradescantia tricolor, and tradescantia pendula are some of the other names for the wandering Jew.
Red Leaf Cordyline (Cordyline fruticosa ‘Rubra’)
Cordyline rubra may be cultivated as a houseplant in colder climates, with crimson leaf leaves that are burgundy-purple to crimson in color and long leaves. The center of its leaves is bronze-green, with burgundy and purple borders. Among dark-leaved decorative bushes, the vividly coloured foliage plant stands out.
Tropical cordyline plants have pink and purple leaves that grow 3 to 4 feet (1 to 2 meters) tall. As a specimen plant, it has eye-catching deep reddish-purple and pink leaves that are ideal for landscaping. Indoors, you may grow red leaf cordyline in pots as well.
Canna Lily ‘Purpurea’ (Canna indica ‘Purpurea’)
In warmer climates, the bright purple and red leafed canna lily ‘Purpurea’ may be used as an attractive foundation plant. Oval, deep purple leaves with bright red veins make up the tallest tropical plant foliage. This decorative plant grows 4 to 7 feet (1.8 to 2.1 meters) tall and 3 feet (1 meter) broad.
The stunning canna lily ‘Purpurea’ is ideal for USDA zones 8 to 11 gardens, with its bold foliage and eye-catching beauty. Additionally, growing tall colorful plants along the back of the border or mass planting along walls or foundations is ideal.
Dwarf Barberry Shrubs (Berberis thunbergii)
Dwarf barberry bushes have tiny, oval reddish-purple leaves and are thorny bushes. The shrub has a lot of decorative appeal due to its colorful leaves and compact growth habit. The bushes are also ideal for a security barrier or foundation plant because the purplish leaves grow on barbed stems. Three kinds of dwarf barberry bushes with crimson-purple leaves are shown below:
Golden Ring Barberry: With purple oval leaves and narrow greenish-yellow margins, this decorative shrub is suitable for USDA zones 4 to 8..
Rose Glow Barberry: Deep red-purple leaves, brilliant red berries, and tiny green flowers characterize this low-growing shrub.
Helmond Pillar Barberry: The columnar habit of the tall, purple-leafed ornamental shrubs grows to 3 to 4 feet (1.2 m) tall and 1 to 2 feet (0.3 m) broad.
Berberis thunbergii ‘Helmond Pillar’ (Helmond Pillar Barberry)
Persian Shield (Strobilanthes dyerianus)
The Persian shield is a magnificent delicate perennial with gorgeous purple, green, and silver leaves. The plant has light to dark purple coloring in the center with strong, dark green veins and borders, giving it a unique look. Each lance-shaped leaf is up to 7 inches (21 cm) long and purple and green in color.
The bright purple-leafed plant is often grown as a shade-loving easy-care houseplant. Containers, hanging baskets, and planting in a semi-tropical shade garden are all popular uses for the fast-growing, mounding purple plant.
Ornamental Cabbage (Brassica oleracea)
Annual flowering cabbages have leafy rosettes in light to dark colors of purple and have a bitter flavor. The purple and green leaves of the edible plant have curled edges. White and green leaves with light lilac centers appear on some of the most lovely decorative cabbage plants. Blackish-purple leaves with a bright pink-purple center are found on other decorative cabbages.
Coleus with Purple and Green Leaves
Coleus is a collection of lovely leafy plants noted for their colorful ovate leaves with scalloped edges. They come in purple or purple-green varieties. Coleus plants with multi-colored leaves may be burgundy, reddish-pink, vivid purple, or vibrant green in color. Annuals or houseplants are used to grow the delicate colorful plants. Coleus plants with green and purple leaves have a wide range of beauty:
Giant Exhibition Magma Palisandra: The deep reddish-purple leaves have lime green borders and are almost ovate in shape.
Black Lace coleus (Solenostemon ‘Black Lace’): This coleus has deeply incised margins and deep purple triangular leaves with bright green edges.
Black Magic coleus (Solenostemon ‘Black Magic’): Little deltoid purplish-black leaves with pale green borders distinguish this coleus hybrid.
Kong Scarlet coleus: The burgundy-maroon leaves of this fast-growing foliage plant have complex green patterns along the margins.
Burgundy Wedding Train Coleus (Plectranthus ‘Burgundy Wedding Train’): The green scalloped leaves and purple centers of this coleus make it a trailing plant. Shaded window boxes and hanging baskets are popular with this variety.
Flame Thrower Chili Pepper Coleus (Plectranthus ‘Flame Thrower Chili Pepper’): The pointed purple leaves with lime green tips of this compact coleus are slender. That coleus is one of the few that grows well in full sun.
Coral Bells With Purple Leaves (Heuchera)
Coral bells come in a variety of colors, including deep lobed plum-purple, pink-purple, maroon, and glossy burgundy leaves. This compact, clump-forming shrub thrives on most soils and requires full sun to partial shade. Coral bells are ideal for containers and mixed beds because of the wide range of colors available. Here are a few photos of stunning purple-leaved coral bell plants:
- Coral Bells ‘Forever Purple’ (Heuchera ‘Forever Purple’): The fluted margins of the bold coral bells plants give them a glossy look. The vibrant purple hues of the gorgeous purple foliage plant last throughout the year.
- Coral Bells ‘Grape Expectations’ (Heuchera ‘Grape Expectations’): With grape-purple leaves and dramatic black veins, this coral bell cultivar is a vibrant mounding plant. Mixed borders, pots, or as an accent plant: the heat-tolerant, cold-hardy plant is perfect for this.
- Purple Palace Coral Bells (Heuchera ‘Palace Purple’): The burgundy red undersides of these large evergreen lobed leaves give this coral bells hybrid an elegant appearance. The dark leaves contrast with the tiny pale-pink blooms.
Purple Leaf Cactus and Succulent Plants
The fleshy green and purple leaves of several succulents and cactus plants are lovely. In an indoor cactus garden, purple succulents and cacti come in a variety of forms and sizes, adding a vibrant color contrast. It’s important to remember that sun exposure influences the purple hues when growing succulents with purple leaves. Some purple-leaved succulents are shown here:
Echeveria ‘Black Prince’: A stunning echeveria with deep purple rosettes that grow in a rosette shape. The succulent’s purple leaves are sharp, thick, and fleshy, and in full sun they turn a deeper hue.
Echeveria ‘Shaviana’ Pink Frills: Purple and pink leaves make up this succulent’s spoon-shaped shape. Full sun exposure increases the intensity of the pink and purple hues.
Black tree aeonium (Aeonium arboreum ‘Atropurpureum’): The enormous rosette of dark reddish-purple leaves of the spectacular black tree aeonium. The contrasting light green center is the highlight of this succulent.
Lithops Optica ‘Rubra’: The dark pink to dusty purple shade of the unique lithops succulent is distinctive. Before a fresh purple succulent leaf emerges from the center, the “living stones” develop fleshy leaves that split in two.
Stonecrop ‘Purple Emperor’ (Sedum telephium ‘Purple Emperor’)
Stonecrop plants with pink flowers are a stunning ornamental plant for yards and gardens. They’re known as Stonecrop ‘Purple Emperor.’ Dark purple, meaty leaves cover reddish-purple stems, and the vigorous plant is easily recognized. The purple foliage is complemented by large umbrella-shaped rosy-pink blooms to make the plant more appealing.
Purple stonecrop grows to be about 1 to 2 feet (0.3 to 0.6 meters) tall. Planting foundation plants, adding color to beds and borders, or planting along fences or walls is ideal for purple-colored stonecrop.
Purple Leaf Weigela (Weigela florida ‘Wine & Roses’)
Weigela florida ‘Wine & Roses,’ a dark purple leaf weigela, contrasts wonderfully with other green or colorful plants. The magnificent shrub maintains its stunning colors all season with its rosy-pink trumpet-shaped flowers. In USDA zones 4 to 8, the weigela cultivar produces attractive purple leaves that grow 4 to 5 feet (1.2 to 1.5 meters) tall. Purple-leafed shrub is a popular choice for plant borders, foundation plants, and specimen shrub plantings.
Royal Purple Smokebush (Cotinus coggygria ‘Royal Purple’)
The leaves and blooms of the “Royal Purple” smokebush are vivid, dark purple and burgundy hues. The big shrubby plant’s vivid purple egg-shaped leaves are best grown in full sun. The pinkish-purple feathery blossoms bloom in mid-summer, and this dark foliage matches them.
The big bushy plant has visual appeal all season due to its purple leaves and lovely flowers. As a colorful hedge plant, privacy screen, accent plant, or border plant, you may grow the ornamental shrub.
Inaba Shidare Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum var. dissectum ‘Inaba Shidare’)
The weeping Inaba Shidare Japanese maple tree grows to be about 6 feet (1.8 meters) tall after approximately ten years. It has cascading stems covered in feathery, deep red, scarlet, and purple leaves. The leaves of the weeping tree, which is purple shrub-like, are so dark that they appear almost black.
Moreover, the leaves become even more vibrant as they grow in the intense summer sun. As a dwarf tree in the front of the house, the Inaba Shidare is ideal. The little tree may alternatively be grown in a pot for a patio or container garden.
Black Scallop Bugleweed (Ajuga reptans ‘Black Scallop’)
Black scallop bugleweed favors part-sun settings with shiny purple leaves. The glossy purple leaves of the hardy, lovely bedding plant create a stunning burst of color to a garden setting. Moreover, in the spring, little lavender flower spikes appear, complementing the perennial plant’s evergreen foliage.
Black scallop bugleweed spreads up to 12 inches (30 cm) and grows 4 to 6 inches (12 – 15 cm). In flower beds, rock gardens, or as a dark contrast between stepping stones, you may grow the hardy purple-leafed plant.
Purple Philodendron Rojo Congo (Philodendron ‘Rojo Congo’)
The purple-leafed philodendron ‘Congo Rojo’ is a stunning houseplant with big, broad, dark purple leaves and purple stems. Before becoming purple-black, then rich green, new leathery leaves emerge deep burgundy. This easy-to-care-for houseplant grows to be around 2 feet (0.6 meters) tall and broad, with its long, dark oval leaves.
Chinese Fringe Flower ‘Ever Red’ (Loropetalum chinense ‘Ever Red’)
The crimson flowers of the evergreen Chinese fringe flower plant ‘Ever Red’ contrast beautifully with the dark purple leaves. Late winter and early spring is when the crimson clusters of blooms appear amid the leathery leaves. The flowers are vivid pink, while the foliage is dark purple.
This makes for a striking contrast. An evergreen shrub that grows 6 feet (1.8 meters) tall, the Chinese fringe flower ‘Ever Red’ is a popular choice. As a specimen plant growing in full sun, the versatile red-flowering shrub is ideal. As a hedge, screening, foundation planting, or container plant, you can use the red landscape plant as well. USDA zone: 7 to 9.