Purple-Leafed Plants for Your Garden

ASTILBE (Astilbe spp.)

Zones: 3-9
Exposure: Partial to full shade
Habit: Upright spreading habit
Height/Spread: 1 to 4 feet tall and wide
Bloom time: Late spring through summer

Astilbe is a moisture-loving shade plant grown for the ferny foliage and flamboyant flower plumes. ‘Chocolate Shogun’ has deep chocolate-maroon foliage and blush pink flowers. ‘Dark Side of the Moon’ produces dark purple-brown leaves that contrast with the rosy purple flower spikes. Learn more about growing astilbe.

Pictured: 'Dark Side of the Moon' astilbe from Proven Winners.

PEARL GLAM® BEAUTYBERRY (Callicarpa hybrid)

Zones: 5-8
Exposure: Full sun
Habit: Upright habit
Height/Spread: 4 to 5 feet tall, 3 to 4 feet wide
Bloom time: Summer to fall

Beautyberry is a deciduous shrub grown for the prolific clusters of purple or white ornamental berries that occur in fall. ‘Pearl Glam’ has white flowers, violet-purple berries and deep-purple foliage that holds its color into fall. Learn more about growing beautyberry.

Pictured: Pearl Glam® beautyberry from Proven Winners.

BUGLEWEED (Ajuga reptans)

Zones: 3-10
Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
Habit: Spreading habit
Height/Spread: 6 to 8 inches tall, 24 for inches or more wide
Bloom time: Late spring to early summer

This perennial ground cover produces green, purple, or variegated leaves and attractive blue or purple flowers. Plants are tolerant of a wide range of growing conditions and are virtually carefree once established. ‘Black Scallop’ has deep blue flowers and nearly-black scalloped leaves. ‘Burgundy Glow’ produces pale blue flowers that stand out against the striking variegated burgundy-rose, white and green foliage. Learn more about growing bugleweed.

CANNA (Canna spp.)

Zones: 7-11
Exposure: Full sun
Habit: Upright spreading habit
Height/Spread: 1-1/2 to 8 feet tall, 1-1/2 to 6 feet wide
Bloom time: Mid-summer to fall

Cannas are popular warm season tuberous plants with large decorative foliage and showy flower spikes that add tropical appeal to containers, beds, and mixed borders. ‘Black Knight’ has large dark burgundy leaves and lipstick-red flowers. ‘Wyoming’ has deep bronze-red foliage that contrasts dramatically with the bright orange flowers. Learn more about growing canna plants.

COLEUS (Coleus scutellarioides)

Zones: 10-11, most often grown as an annual
Exposure: Partial sun to shade, protect from hot afternoon sun
Habit: Upright, mounding, or trailing habit
Height/Spread: 6 to 26 inches tall and wide
Bloom time: Anytime during the growing season; flowers are insignificant and often pinched off

Coleus is a popular container or bedding plant valued for the highly decorative foliage that comes in a wide array of leaf colors and patterns. Use as a filler or spiller element in a container or massed in shady beds and borders. ‘Black Prince’ has large purple-black leaves thinly edged with chartreuse. ‘Inky Fingers’ produces small duckfoot leaves that are burgundy-red with bright green margins. Learn more about growing coleus.

CORAL BELLS (Heuchera spp.)

Zones: 4-9
Exposure: Full sun to shade
Habit: Mounding or spreading habit
Height/Spread: 6 to 18 inches tall, 12 to 30 inches wide
Bloom time: Late spring to mid-summer

Grown primarily for the decorative foliage, this versatile perennial can be used in containers, as border edging, or massed in the landscape. Primo® ‘Black Pearl’ has pinkish-white flowers and foliage with deep purple-black coloring and scalloped edging. Dolce® ‘Wildberry’ produces white flowers and foliage with rich royal purple color and ruffled edges. Learn more about growing coral bells.

Pictured: Dolce® ‘Wildberry’coral bells from Proven Winners.

ELEPHANT EAR (Colocasia esculenta)

Zones: 8-11
Exposure: Full sun to shade
Habit: Upright vase-shaped habit
Height/Spread: 3 to 8 feet tall and wide
Bloom time: Summer; flowers are inconspicuous or nonexistent

This tropical ornamental plant grown from tubers produces oversized leaves that resemble elephant ears. Add exotic appeal to containers, rain gardens, and water features. ‘Black Magic’ has large heart shaped leaves with deep purple-black coloring. ‘Illustris’ produces large arrow shaped leaves with a dark purple overlay and prominent green veining.

JAPANESE MAPLE (Acer palmatum)

Zones: 5-8
Exposure: Full sun to shade
Habit: Upright spreading, weeping, or vase-shaped habit
Height/Spread: 8 to 30 feet tall and wide
Bloom time: Late spring; flowers are inconspicuous

Japanese maple is a popular landscape tree that occurs in a wide range of leaf shapes and colors. The elegant structure lends multi-seasonal interest to woodland borders and Asian-style landscapes. ‘Bloodgood’ is a popular cultivar with a spreading canopy and deeply dissected burgundy-red foliage. ‘Crimson Queen’ has a graceful weeping habit and lacy foliage with dark crimson coloring. Learn more about growing Japanese maple trees.

JAPANESE PAINTED FERN (Athyrium nipponicum var. pictum)

Zones: 3-9
Exposure: Partial to full shade
Habit: Upright arching habit
Height/Spread: 1 to 2 feet tall and wide
Bloom time: None

This hardy deciduous fern, which grows in most zones, has beautifully patterned purple, silver, and green leaves. The new growth of ‘Burgundy Lace’ is deep burgundy with silver highlights, fading to paler tones in summer. ‘Red Beauty’ produces elegant lacy fronds with silver-gray coloring and burgundy stems and midribs.

LOROPETALUM (Loropetalum chinense var. rubrum)

Zones: 7-10
Exposure: Full to partial sun
Habit: Upright, mounding, or spreading habit
Height/Spread: 1 to 15 feet tall, 3 to 10 feet wide, depending on variety
Bloom time: Mid-spring, with sporadic rebloom

Also known as Chinese fringe flower, this broadleaf evergreen shrub produces colored foliage and strappy ribbon-like petals similar to witch hazel. Purple Diamond® is a semi-dwarf variety with rich burgundy-red foliage that contrasts dramatically with the hot pink flowers. ‘Jazz Hands Mini®’ has a dwarf form with vibrant pink flowers and deep purple leaves that retain their color year-round. Learn more about growing Chinese fringe flower.

Pictured: ‘Jazz Hands Mini®’ loropetalum from Proven Winners.

NINEBARK (Physocarpus spp.)

Zones: 2-8
Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
Habit: Upright, arching or compact bushy habit
Height/Spread: 3 to 10 feet tall, 3 to 12 feet wide
Bloom time: Late spring to summer

Ninebark is a low maintenance deciduous shrub with four-season appeal and exceptional cold hardiness. Summer Wine® is a larger variety that produces deep burgundy-red foliage and rounded clusters of white flowers in spring. Little Devil™ is a compact type with pinkish-white flowers and deep burgundy-red foliage. Learn more about growing ninebark.

Pictured: ‘Summer Wine®’ ninebark from Proven Winners.

PURPLE BASIL (Ocimum basilicum)

Zones: 10-11, most often grown as an annual
Exposure: Full sun; plants will benefit from some afternoon shade
Habit: Upright, mounding or spreading habit
Height/Spread: 6 to 48 inches tall, 6 to 36 inches wide
Bloom time: Summer to frost

A member of the mint family, this popular herb is grown for the aromatic edible foliage. Plant basil in a kitchen or herb garden and harvest the leaves for a wide range of fresh and cooked dishes. ‘Purple Ruffles’ has shiny pointed leaves with ruffled edges and dark purple coloring. ‘Dark Opal’ has pointed foliage with purples and greens mixed together.

PURPLE SHAMROCK (Oxalis triangularis)

Zones: 7-11
Exposure: Partial sun
Habit: Mounding spreading habit
Height/Spread: 6 to 12 inches tall, 12 to 24 inches wide
Bloom time: Summer

This showy ornamental clover, which is grown from small bulbs, produces large violet leaves and dainty bell-shaped flowers. Use as edging along a pathway or border, or as a perennial ground cover in milder regions. Purple shamrock can also be grown as a houseplant. Learn more about growing shamrock.

Pictured: Charmed® Wine shamrock from Proven Winners.

PURPLE FOUNTAIN GRASS (Pennisetum setaceum 'Rubrum')

Zones: 9-11
Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
Habit: Upright arching habit
Height/Spread: 2 to 4 feet tall, 2 to 3 feet wide
Bloom time: Summer to fall

This warm-season ornamental grass is grown for the strappy burgundy-red foliage and graceful mauve-colored flower plumes. Purple fountain grass is grown as an annual in most regions, and adds soft texture and movement to beds, borders, and containers. .

Pictured: Graceful Grasses® Purple fountain grass from Proven Winners.

SMOKE BUSH (Cotinus spp.)

Zones: 4-8
Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
Habit: Upright bushy or open habit
Height/Spread: 4 to 30 feet tall, 4 to 25 wide, depending on the variety
Bloom time: Late spring to fall

Named for the showy flower spikes that resemble smoke plumes, this deciduous shrub or small tree adds color and texture to beds and borders. ‘Grace’ is a larger variety with wine-red new growth that darkens to plum-red at maturity, with orange-red fall color. The smoky flower plumes are a soft mauve-pink. Winecraft Black® has a more compact growth habit, with rich plum-purple new foliage that deepens to nearly black before turning orange and red in fall. The wispy flowers that appear in summer are wine-red. Learn more about growing smoke bush.

Pictured: Winecraft Black® smoke bush from Proven Winners.

SWEET POTATO VINE (Ipomoea batatas)

Zones: 9-11
Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
Habit: Vining habit
Height/Spread: 6 to 16 inches tall, 3 to 6 feet wide, trailing up to 10 feet long
Bloom time: Summer; flowers are insignificant

This fast growing ornamental vine, most often grown as an annual, is valued for the decorative leaves that come in a wide array of colors and shapes. Sweet Caroline Bewitched After Midnight™ produces maple-like purple foliage. ‘Blackie’ has shiny maple-like leaves that are nearly black. Learn more about growing sweet potato vine.

Pictured: Sweet Caroline Bewitched After Midnight™ sweet potato vine from Proven Winners.

WEIGELA (Weigela spp.)

Zones: 4-8
Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
Habit: Upright, mounding, arching, or spreading habit
Height/Spread: 1 to 10 feet tall, 1 1/2 to 12 feet wide, depending on the variety
Bloom time: Mid to late spring, with sporadic rebloom

Weigela is a deciduous landscape shrub with tubular flowers and leaves in various colors and shapes. Wine & Roses® is a compact variety with deep burgundy-purple foliage that contrasts dramatically with the rosy red tubular flowers. Midnight Wine® is a dwarf cultivar with glossy dark burgundy foliage and bright pink flowers. Learn more about growing weigela.

Pictured: Wine & Roses® weigela from Proven Winners.