Add Drama and Depth: Stunning Purple Leaf Plants for Your Garden

• Introduce stunning visual interest with rich, colorful foliage.
• Discover a variety of purple-leaf plants, from shrubs to perennials and annuals.
• Learn how to use these plants as focal points, background elements, or dynamic contrasts.
• Find the perfect purple leaf plant to thrive in your garden’s conditions.

Imagine a garden that captivates the eye not just for a few weeks of bloom, but with sustained, striking color throughout the seasons. That’s the magic of incorporating purple leaf plants into your landscape. While vibrant flowers steal the spotlight temporarily, foliage offers enduring beauty, providing texture, form, and captivating hues long after the petals have fallen. Purple, in its many shades from deep burgundy to soft lavender, is an incredibly versatile color in the garden, pairing beautifully with almost any other color and adding a touch of sophistication and drama. Whether you’re looking for a bold statement piece, a subtle backdrop, or a stunning contrast, there’s a purple foliage plant waiting to transform your outdoor space. Let’s explore some remarkable options that will bring depth and charm to your garden sanctuary.

Exceptional Purple Leaf Plants to Enhance Your Landscape

Adding plants with distinct foliage colors is a simple yet effective way to elevate your garden design. Purple offers a rich palette, from the near-black intensity of some varieties to the softer plum and maroon tones. These plants can serve multiple purposes: drawing the eye as a focal point, creating a lush, colorful carpet, or providing a dark counterpoint to brighter greens, yellows, or chartreuse plants. Let’s delve into some fantastic purple leaf plant choices for different areas and needs in your garden.

Astilbe

Known for their feathery plumes and love for shady, moist spots, Astilbes also offer intriguing foliage options. Look for cultivars with deep, dark leaves that provide a moody backdrop to their delicate flowers.

• Scientific Name: Astilbe spp.
• Common Name: Astilbe
• Zone: 3-9
• Light: Partial to full shade
• Size: 1 to 4 feet tall and wide

‘Chocolate Shogun’ is a standout with its deep chocolate-maroon leaves and soft pink blossoms, while ‘Dark Side of the Moon’ presents dark purple-brown foliage creating a beautiful contrast with rosy-purple flower spikes. These varieties bring an unexpected depth of color to those often green shady corners.

Dark Side of the Moon astilbe with deep purple-brown foliage and pink flower spikes

Beautyberry (Pearl Glam®)

A deciduous shrub prized for its stunning purple berries in the fall, the ‘Pearl Glam’ cultivar offers the added bonus of dark purple foliage. This provides multi-season interest, transitioning from dark leaves and white summer flowers to vibrant violet berries against the still-colorful foliage in autumn.

• Scientific Name: Callicarpa hybrid
• Common Name: Beautyberry (Pearl Glam®)
• Zone: 5-8
• Light: Full sun
• Size: 4 to 5 feet tall, 3 to 4 feet wide

‘Pearl Glam’ grows with an upright habit, making it a great choice for a colorful hedge or specimen plant. Its deep-purple leaves hold their color well into the fall, creating a beautiful display alongside the eye-catching berries.

Pearl Glam beautyberry shrub with deep purple foliage and clusters of violet-purple berries

Bugleweed

This versatile perennial ground cover spreads readily, forming a dense mat of colorful foliage. Bugleweed is tough and tolerant of various conditions, making it a reliable choice for filling in spaces or edging beds.

• Scientific Name: Ajuga reptans
• Common Name: Bugleweed
• Zone: 3-10
• Light: Full sun to partial shade
• Size: 6 to 8 inches tall, 24 inches or more wide

Cultivars like ‘Black Scallop’ boast dramatic, nearly black scalloped leaves paired with deep blue flowers. ‘Burgundy Glow’ offers a striking variegation of burgundy-rose, white, and green foliage highlighted by pale blue flower spikes.

Black Scallop bugleweed ground cover with dark purple-black scalloped leaves

Canna

For a bold, tropical statement, Canna lilies are hard to beat. Their large, paddle-shaped leaves bring dramatic form and color to containers, borders, and beds, complemented by showy flower spikes.

• Scientific Name: Canna spp.
• Common Name: Canna
• Zone: 7-11
• Light: Full sun
• Size: 1.5 to 8 feet tall, 1.5 to 6 feet wide

‘Black Knight’ is a stunning variety featuring large, dark burgundy leaves and vibrant lipstick-red flowers. ‘Wyoming’ offers deep bronze-red foliage that provides a striking contrast to bright orange blooms. These heat-loving plants are perfect for adding an exotic touch.

Wyoming canna plant with large, deep bronze-red leaves and bright orange flowers

Coleus

An incredibly popular choice for containers and shady borders, Coleus is celebrated for its diverse and colorful foliage patterns. It’s typically grown as an annual, offering endless possibilities for creative planting combinations.

• Scientific Name: Coleus scutellarioides
• Common Name: Coleus
• Zone: 10-11 (often grown as annual)
• Light: Partial sun to shade (protect from hot afternoon sun)
• Size: 6 to 26 inches tall and wide

‘Black Prince’ features large, deep purple-black leaves edged with a thin line of chartreuse. ‘Inky Fingers’ has small, uniquely shaped leaves in burgundy-red with bright green margins. Coleus provides reliable color in shadier spots where flowers might struggle.

Black Prince coleus plant with large, dark purple-black leaves edged in chartreuse

Coral Bells

Grown primarily for its stunning, often ruffled or textured foliage, Coral Bells (Heuchera) are versatile perennials perfect for containers, borders, or mass plantings.

• Scientific Name: Heuchera spp.
• Common Name: Coral Bells
• Zone: 4-9
• Light: Full sun to shade
• Size: 6 to 18 inches tall, 12 to 30 inches wide

Look for varieties like Primo® ‘Black Pearl’ with deep purple-black leaves and scalloped edges, topped with pinkish-white flowers. Dolce® ‘Wildberry’ offers rich royal purple foliage with ruffled edges and delicate white flowers. These mound-forming plants add enduring color and texture.

Dolce Wildberry coral bells with rich royal purple, ruffled leaves and delicate white flowers

Elephant Ear (‘Illustris’)

Bring tropical drama to your garden with Elephant Ears. These tuberous plants produce massive leaves that evoke exotic landscapes, perfect for adding a bold statement near water features or in large containers.

• Scientific Name: Colocasia esculenta
• Common Name: Elephant Ear
• Zone: 8-11
• Light: Full sun to shade
• Size: 3 to 8 feet tall and wide

While many cultivars are green, ‘Black Magic’ is famous for its large, heart-shaped leaves in a deep purple-black hue. ‘Illustris’ features striking arrow-shaped leaves with a dark purple overlay contrasting sharply with prominent green veins, creating a truly unique look.

Illustris elephant ear plant with large, arrow-shaped leaves showing dark purple overlay and green veins

Japanese Maple

An elegant landscape tree, Japanese Maples are beloved for their graceful structure and wide variety of leaf shapes and colors. Many cultivars feature stunning purple or burgundy foliage that adds multi-seasonal interest.

• Scientific Name: Acer palmatum
• Common Name: Japanese Maple
• Zone: 5-8
• Light: Full sun to shade
• Size: 8 to 30 feet tall and wide

‘Bloodgood’ is a classic, popular cultivar with deeply dissected, rich burgundy-red foliage and a spreading habit. ‘Crimson Queen’ offers a more delicate, lacy foliage with dark crimson coloring and a beautiful weeping form. These trees are living sculptures that provide a focal point in any garden.

Bloodgood Japanese maple tree with deeply lobed burgundy-red leaves

Japanese Painted Fern

A hardy deciduous fern that thrives in shade, the Japanese Painted Fern offers beautifully variegated fronds in shades of purple, silver, and green. It brings a delicate, layered texture to woodland settings.

• Scientific Name: Athyrium niponicum var. pictum
• Common Name: Japanese Painted Fern
• Zone: 3-9
• Light: Partial to full shade
• Size: 1 to 2 feet tall and wide

New growth on ‘Burgundy Lace’ emerges deep burgundy with silver highlights, softening as the season progresses. ‘Red Beauty’ showcases elegant lacy fronds in silver-gray with striking burgundy stems and midribs. These ferns add subtle, sophisticated color to shady garden rooms.

Burgundy Lace Japanese Painted Fern fronds with deep burgundy centers fading to silver and green edges

Loropetalum

Also known as Chinese fringe flower, this broadleaf evergreen shrub offers year-round purple foliage and delicate, ribbon-like flowers, similar to witch hazel.

• Scientific Name: Loropetalum chinense var. rubrum
• Common Name: Loropetalum (Chinese Fringe Flower)
• Zone: 7-10
• Light: Full to partial sun
• Size: 1 to 15 feet tall, 3 to 10 feet wide (variety dependent)

Purple Diamond® is a semi-dwarf variety featuring rich burgundy-red foliage that holds its color and provides a stunning contrast to hot pink flowers. ‘Jazz Hands Mini®’ offers a compact form with vibrant pink flowers and deep purple leaves that retain their color throughout the year.

Jazz Hands Mini loropetalum shrub with deep purple leaves and bright pink fringe flowers

Ninebark

A low-maintenance deciduous shrub known for its peeling bark (hence the name) and cold hardiness, Ninebark provides great multi-season interest, including stunning foliage color.

• Scientific Name: Physocarpus spp.
• Common Name: Ninebark
• Zone: 2-8
• Light: Full sun to partial shade
• Size: 3 to 10 feet tall, 3 to 12 feet wide

Summer Wine® is a larger variety with deep burgundy-red foliage and clusters of white flowers in spring. Little Devil™ is a compact type that still offers deep burgundy-red leaves and pinkish-white flowers. Ninebark is a tough plant that delivers significant color impact.

Summer Wine ninebark shrub with dark burgundy-red foliage and clusters of white flowers

Purple Basil

More than just an herb, purple basil brings beautiful, aromatic foliage to the edible garden, patio containers, or even mixed borders.

• Scientific Name: Ocimum basilicum
• Common Name: Purple Basil
• Zone: 10-11 (often grown as annual)
• Light: Full sun (afternoon shade beneficial)
• Size: 6 to 48 inches tall, 6 to 36 inches wide

‘Purple Ruffles’ features shiny, ruffled leaves in a dark purple hue. ‘Dark Opal’ has pointed foliage with a mix of purples and greens. Planting purple basil adds a pop of color alongside other herbs and vegetables, while also being a delicious addition to your kitchen.

Dark Opal purple basil plant with pointed leaves showing shades of purple and green

Purple Shamrock

This ornamental clover, grown from small bulbs, features striking violet leaves resembling shamrocks and delicate bell-shaped flowers. It’s perfect for edging, ground cover in milder regions, or even as a charming houseplant.

• Scientific Name: Oxalis triangularis
• Common Name: Purple Shamrock
• Zone: 7-11
• Light: Partial sun
• Size: 6 to 12 inches tall, 12 to 24 inches wide

Charmed® Wine is a popular cultivar known for its large, deep violet leaves. Its mounding habit and vibrant color make it an excellent accent plant. The leaves famously fold up at night or when stressed, adding another interesting dimension.

Charmed Wine purple shamrock plant with triangular deep violet leaves

Purple Fountain Grass

A favorite ornamental grass, Purple Fountain Grass adds graceful texture and movement to the garden with its arching burgundy-red foliage and soft, mauve-colored plumes.

• Scientific Name: Pennisetum setaceum ‘Rubrum’
• Common Name: Purple Fountain Grass
• Zone: 9-11 (often grown as annual)
• Light: Full sun to partial shade
• Size: 2 to 4 feet tall, 2 to 3 feet wide

Typically grown as an annual in cooler climates, ‘Rubrum’ is the classic variety sought after for its consistent deep color and elegant form. It adds vertical interest and a soft, flowing appearance to beds, borders, and containers.

Graceful Grasses Purple fountain grass with arching burgundy-red blades and fluffy mauve seed heads

Smoke Bush

Named for its unique, wispy flower clusters that resemble puffs of smoke, this large deciduous shrub or small tree also offers spectacular foliage color.

• Scientific Name: Cotinus spp.
• Common Name: Smoke Bush
• Zone: 4-8
• Light: Full sun to partial shade
• Size: 4 to 30 feet tall, 4 to 25 feet wide (variety dependent)

‘Grace’ is a larger variety with wine-red new growth that deepens to plum-red and offers stunning orange-red fall color. Winecraft Black® has a more compact habit with rich plum-purple new foliage that turns nearly black before transitioning to brilliant orange and red in autumn. Both offer those characteristic smoky flower plumes.

Winecraft Black smoke bush shrub with dense, deep plum-purple foliage

Sweet Potato Vine

A fast-growing ornamental vine, Sweet Potato Vine is a staple for containers and hanging baskets where its colorful, often lobed or heart-shaped leaves can trail and spill dramatically.

• Scientific Name: Ipomoea batatas
• Common Name: Sweet Potato Vine
• Zone: 9-11 (often grown as annual)
• Light: Full sun to partial shade
• Size: 6 to 16 inches tall, 3 to 6 feet wide, trailing up to 10 feet

Sweet Caroline Bewitched After Midnight™ is a captivating cultivar with dark, maple-like purple foliage. ‘Blackie’ features shiny, deeply lobed leaves that are nearly black. These vigorous vines provide instant impact and color in warm weather.

Sweet Caroline Bewitched After Midnight sweet potato vine with dark, purple, maple-shaped leaves trailing

Weigela

This deciduous shrub is cherished for its abundant tubular flowers in spring, but many varieties also feature beautiful foliage, including deep purple.

• Scientific Name: Weigela spp.
• Common Name: Weigela
• Zone: 4-8
• Light: Full sun to partial shade
• Size: 1 to 10 feet tall, 1.5 to 12 feet wide (variety dependent)

Wine & Roses® is a popular compact variety with deep burgundy-purple foliage that provides a dramatic backdrop to its rosy red flowers. Midnight Wine® is a dwarf cultivar offering glossy dark burgundy leaves and bright pink flowers. These shrubs offer a double dose of beauty with both flowers and foliage.

Wine and Roses weigela shrub with dark burgundy-purple foliage and bright pink tubular flowers

Frequently Asked Questions About Purple Leaf Plants

Why do some plants have purple leaves?

The purple coloring in leaves is typically due to pigments called anthocyanins. These pigments are also responsible for red and blue colors in plants. While chlorophyll (which makes leaves green) is essential for photosynthesis, anthocyanins can play a role in protecting leaves from excessive sunlight, especially in young or stressed foliage, acting like a natural sunscreen. The concentration of these pigments can vary depending on genetics, light levels, temperature, and soil conditions, leading to different shades of purple or red.

What houseplants have purple leaves?

Many beautiful houseplants also display stunning purple foliage, bringing vibrant color indoors. Some popular examples include:

• African Violet: While known for their flowers, some varieties have hints of purple in their leaves or undersides.
• Cyclamen: Often grown for their unique flowers, some cultivars feature patterned leaves with silvery or purple zones.
• Echeveria: Many succulent species have stunning purple, pink, or reddish tones, especially when exposed to bright light.
• Persian Shield: Famous for its iridescent purple and silver leaves.
• Prayer Plant: Many Maranta and Calathea varieties have intricate leaf patterns with purple undersides that they display when they fold their leaves at night.
• Purple Waffle Plant: A small, textured plant with deeply crinkled purple-bronze leaves.
• Rex Begonia: Offers an incredible array of leaf shapes, textures, and colors, including many vibrant purples, silvers, and reds.
• Rubber Plant (Ficus elastica ‘Burgundy’): Features large, glossy leaves in a deep burgundy-purple color.
• Ti Plant (Cordyline fruticosa): Known for its strap-like leaves that come in shades of pink, red, purple, and burgundy.
• Velvet Plant (Gynura aurantiaca): Covered in soft purple hairs, giving it a fuzzy, velvety texture and vibrant color.
• Tradescantia spp. (e.g., Wandering Jew/Dude): Many species and cultivars have striking purple, silver, and green striped or patterned leaves.

Incorporating these purple-leaf plants, whether indoors or out, adds a layer of visual interest and sophistication that lasts beyond seasonal blooms. Their rich hues provide depth and contrast, making your garden or home feel more dynamic and alive.

Ready to infuse your garden with the captivating beauty of purple? Explore the possibilities these stunning plants offer and watch your landscape come alive with vibrant color. Share your favorite purple leaf plant discoveries or ask us your questions in the comments below! And don’t forget to explore more garden inspiration and plant guides on Thelittle.garden.