Plants with purple leaves add a touch of the unexpected to any garden, offering a dramatic contrast to the usual greens. From deep, velvety purples to lighter lavenders, these unique plants come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes, and textures, making them perfect for adding interest to borders, containers, or walkways. This list provides a great starting point to explore the many options available for incorporating purple foliage into your garden design. Let’s dive into the exciting world of purple leafed plants!
Purple-Leafed Plants
Plants with purple leaves are a fantastic way to add a touch of drama and intrigue to your garden. From deep, velvety purples to lighter lavenders, these unique plants come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes, and textures. They can be used to add interest to borders, containers, or walkways, creating a truly eye-catching display. Whether you’re searching for a plant with dramatic purple foliage, a combination of purple and green leaves, or even a plant with a purple stem, this list offers a vibrant selection to enhance your outdoor space.
Here are just a few of the many exciting options to consider when incorporating plants with purple leaves into your garden:
1. Astilbe (Astilbe spp.)
- Zones: 4-8
- Exposure: Part Shade to Full Shade
- Habit: Clumping Perennial
- Height/Spread: 1-3 ft. tall x 1-2 ft. wide
Astilbe, a shade-loving perennial, features delicate blooms in shades of pink, white, or lavender that rise above attractive ferny foliage. This foliage can range from green to bronze to deep red-purple, creating a stunning purple and green leaf combination.
2. Pearl Glam® Beautyberry (Callicarpa hybrid)
Zones: 5-9
Exposure: Full Sun to Part Shade
Habit: Deciduous Shrub
Height/Spread: 3-5 ft. tall x 3-5 ft. wide
Pearl Glam® Beautyberry is among the purple leafed plants. Valued for its clusters of bright purple berries that appear in late summer and fall, the Pearl Glam® Beautyberry also boasts glossy green leaves that turn bronze in autumn. While the primary foliage color is green, the vibrant purple berries add a pop of purple to the landscape.
3. Bugleweed (Ajuga reptans)
Zones: 3-9
Exposure: Full Sun to Part Shade
Habit: Creeping Perennial
Height/Spread: 6-8 inches tall x indefinite spread
Bugleweed is a low-growing groundcover that’s perfect for filling in empty spaces in your garden. This creeping perennial features scalloped leaves that come in shades of green, bronze, and deep purple, adding a touch of color and texture to pathways or borders. In the spring, bugleweed produces spikes of blue or purple flowers, creating a charming display.
4. Canna (Canna spp.)
Zones: 7-10 (tubers must be lifted and stored over winter in colder zones)
Exposure: Full Sun
Habit: Perennial (treated as an annual in colder climates)
Height/Spread: 1-8 ft. tall x 1-3 ft. wide
Cannas are bold, tropical-looking plants with large, showy flowers in shades of red, orange, yellow, or pink. But some varieties also boast stunning purple foliage that adds drama to the garden. These tall perennials (treated as annuals in colder climates) are a great choice for adding a burst of color and height to borders or containers.
5. Coleus (Coleus scutellarioides)
Zones: Summer annual in all zones
Exposure: Full Sun to Part Shade
Habit: Upright or trailing annual
Height/Spread: 1-3 ft. tall x 1-2 ft. wide
Coleus is a popular choice for adding vibrant color to gardens and containers. This versatile annual comes in a wide variety of foliage colors and patterns, including many with stunning shades of purple. Coleus thrives in full sun to part shade and is relatively low-maintenance, making it a great choice for beginner gardeners.
6. Coral Bells (Heuchera spp.)
Zones: 4-8
Exposure: Part Shade to Full Shade (depending on variety)
Habit: Clumping Perennial
Height/Spread: 6-24 inches tall x 12-24 inches wide
Coral bells are a popular choice for shade gardens, prized for their colorful foliage. They come in a wide range of colors, including many shades of purple, and some varieties even boast stunning green and purple leaves. The rounded, lobed leaves can be solid purple, variegated with green or silver, or feature a metallic sheen.
7. Elephant Ear (Colocasia esculenta)
Zones: 7-10 (tubers must be lifted and stored over winter in colder zones)
Exposure: Part Shade to Full Shade
Habit: Tropical Perennial (treated as an annual in colder climates)
Height/Spread: 2-8 ft. tall x 2-5 ft. wide
Elephant ears are dramatic, tropical plants known for their large, heart-shaped leaves. While green is the most common color, some varieties boast stunning shades of purple or near black, making them a true plant with purple leaves. These bold perennials (treated as annuals in colder climates) are a great choice for adding a touch of the tropics to shady patios or containers.
8. Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum)
Zones: 5-8
Exposure: Part Shade to Full Sun (depending on variety)
Habit: Deciduous Tree
Height/Spread: 10-20 ft. tall x 10-20 ft. wide
The world of purple-leafed plants wouldn’t be complete without mentioning Japanese maples. Prized for their delicate, lacy leaves that come in a dazzling array of colors, Japanese maples are a true standout. These slow-growing trees offer year-round interest, showcasing vibrant reds, oranges, and of course, stunning purples! Their colorful foliage and graceful branching structure make them a natural focal point in many gardens.
9. Japanese Painted Fern (Athyrium nipponicum var. pictum)
Zones: 4-8
Exposure: Part Shade to Shade
Habit: Clumping Perennial Fern
Height/Spread: 1-2 ft. tall x 2-3 ft. wide
The Japanese painted fern adds a touch of elegance to shade gardens with its delicate, arching fronds. While most varieties have green fronds with silvery markings, some cultivars boast stunning shades of purple or maroon. This shade-loving fern is a perfect choice for adding texture and interest to borders or woodland gardens.
10. Loropetalum (Loropetalum chinense var. rubrum)
Zones: 7-9
Exposure: Full Sun to Part Shade
Habit: Evergreen Shrub
Height/Spread: 6-10 ft. tall x 6-8 ft. wide
Loropetalum is a versatile evergreen shrub valued for its glossy foliage and reliable performance. The ‘Rubrum’ variety features burgundy-red leaves that hold their color year-round, adding a touch of vibrancy to winter landscapes. Loropetalum thrives in a variety of light conditions and is a great choice for hedges, borders, or foundation plantings.
11. Ninebark (Physocarpus spp.)
Zones: 3-9
Exposure: Full Sun to Part Shade
Habit: Deciduous Shrubş
Height/Spread: 5-10 ft. tall x 5-10 ft. wide
Ninebark is a versatile shrub valued for its attractive foliage, colorful flowers, and ease of care. The leaves typically emerge in shades of purple or red in spring, maturing to green by summer. In fall, they put on a dazzling display of autumn colors, with a range that includes orange, red, purple, and burgundy. This provides a beautiful purple and green foliage effect throughout the seasons.
12. Purple Basil (Ocimum basilicum)
Zones: Annual in all zones
Exposure: Full Sun
Habit: Upright Annual
Height/Spread: 1-2 ft. tall x 1 ft. wide
Not only does purple basil add a touch of drama to your garden, but it’s also a delicious culinary herb. This variety of basil has deep purple leaves with a slightly ruffled texture. The leaves have a mild anise flavor that pairs well with tomatoes, cucumbers, and other summer dishes. Purple basil is a great choice for herb gardens or containers.
13. Purple Shamrock (Oxalis triangularis)
Zones: 9-11 (grown as an annual in colder climates)
Exposure: Full Sun to Part Shade
Habit: Trailing Perennial (treated as an annual in colder climates)
Height/Spread: 6-12 inches tall x 12-18 inches wide
Purple shamrock is a charming low-growing plant with clover-like leaves that come in shades of deep purple, green, or a combination of both. This trailing perennial (treated as an annual in colder climates) is perfect for adding a touch of color and texture to hanging baskets, window boxes, or groundcovers.
14. Purple Fountain Grass (Pennisetum setaceum ‘Rubrum’)
Zones: 9-11 (grown as an annual in colder climates)
Exposure: Full Sun to Part Shade
Habit: Clumping Perennial (treated as an annual in colder climates)
Height/Spread: 3-5 ft. tall x 3-4 ft. wide
In the realm of purple-leafed plants, purple fountain grass stands out for its unique flair. This clumping perennial (treated as an annual in colder climates) adds a touch of drama and movement to your garden with its soft, cascading plumes of purple foliage. The graceful, vertical accent it creates makes it a perfect choice for adding height and interest to borders, containers, or even near water features.
15. Smoke Bush (Cotinus spp.)
Zones: 3-9
Exposure: Full Sun to Part Shade
Habit: Deciduous Shrub
Height/Spread: 10-20 ft. tall x 10-20 ft. wide
Smoke bush is a stunning shrub valued for its billowy plumes of flowers and vibrant fall foliage. The leaves emerge in shades of green, purple, or red in spring and mature to a rich burgundy or purple by summer. In fall, they put on a spectacular display of autumn colors, ranging from orange and red to purple and crimson. Smoke bush is a versatile shrub that can be used for hedges, borders, or specimen plantings.
16. Sweet Potato Vine (Ipomoea batatas)
Zones: Annual in all zones
Exposure: Full Sun to Part Shade
Habit: Trailing or Vining Annual
Height/Spread: 6-10 ft. tall x indefinite spread
Sweet potato vine is a fast-growing annual that adds a touch of tropical flair to the garden. This vining or trailing plant comes in a variety of foliage colors, including many shades of purple. Sweet potato vine is a great choice for adding color and texture to hanging baskets, window boxes, or groundcovers.
17. Weigela (Weigela spp.)
Zones: 4-8
Exposure: Full Sun to Part Shade
Habit: Deciduous Shrub
Height/Spread: 5-10 ft. tall x 5-10 ft. wide
Joining the ranks of our favorite purple-leafed plants is the weigela. This popular shrub is a true champion, valued for both its showy flowers and attractive foliage. While the leaves may emerge in shades of green, purple, or red in spring, some varieties hold onto their vibrant purple hues throughout the entire growing season. This extended display of color makes weigela a versatile choice for hedges, borders, or foundation plantings, adding year-round beauty to your garden.
Purple is my favorite color! I never realized there were so many options for purple-leaved plants. This is going to be so much fun to explore.