Purple Foliage Plants


Purple foliage adds depth that flowers cannot. A dark leaf grounds a border, sets off brighter colours, and looks good for months on end.

26 products

    26 products
    Oxalis triangularis 'Mijke' 12cm / 1L Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALSSale

    Purple False Shamrock (Mijke)

    Oxalis triangularis 'Mijke'

    £10.99£12.99Save 15%
    1
    Loropetalum Fire Dance Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS

    Chinese Fringe Flower, Fire Dance

    Loropetalum Fire Dance

    £6.99
    1
    Strobilanthes 'Brunetthy' Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS

    Persian Shield

    Strobilanthes 'Brunetthy'

    £9.99
    1
    Begonia 'Darkside of the Moon' Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALSSale

    Begonia 'Darkside of the Moon'

    Begonia 'Darkside of the Moon'

    £19.49£21.99Save 11%
    1
    Catalpa erubescens 'Purpurea' Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALSSale

    Purple Indian Bean Tree

    Catalpa erubescens 'Purpurea'

    £42.49£52.99Save 19%
    1
    Acer palmatum 'Atropurpureum' Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS

    Purple Japanese Maple

    Acer palmatum 'Atropurpureum'

    £15.99
    1
    Lonicera crassifolia 'Little Honey' Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALSSale

    Creeping honeysuckle

    Lonicera crassifolia 'Little Honey'

    £11.99£14.99Save 20%
    1
    Eucomis vandermerwei 'Octopus' Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALSSale

    Dwarf Pineapple Lily

    Eucomis vandermerwei 'Octopus'

    £9.79£12.99Save 24%
    1
    Sambucus nigra 'Black Lace' Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS

    Black Lace Elder 'Eva' PBR

    Sambucus nigra 'Black Lace'

    £16.99
    1
    Mahonia aquifolium (Oregon Grape) Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALSSale

    Oregon Grape

    Mahonia aquifolium (Oregon Grape)

    £14.99£19.99Save 25%
    1
    Coprosma repens 'Eclipse' 12cm / 1L Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALSSale

    Mirror Plant

    Coprosma repens 'Eclipse'

    £7.49£9.99Save 25%
    1
    Pennisetum 'Rubrum' 17cm / 2L Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALSSale

    Purple Fountain Grass 'Rubrum'

    Pennisetum 'Rubrum'

    £12.49£13.99Save 10%
    1
    Cercis canadensis 'Merlot' 23cm / 5L Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALSSale

    Merlot Redbud (Eastern Redbud)

    Cercis canadensis 'Merlot'

    £49.29£54.99Save 10%
    1
    Cotinus coggygria 'Royal Purple' 19cm / 3L Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALSSale

    Smoke Bush 'Royal Purple'

    Cotinus coggygria 'Royal Purple'

    £17.99£23.99Save 25%
    1
    Cordyline australis 'Red Star' Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALSSale

    Cabbage Palm 'Red Star'

    Cordyline australis 'Red Star'

    £13.99£19.99Save 30%
    1
    Astilbe 'Dark Side of the Moon' Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS

    False Goatsbeard

    Astilbe 'Dark Side of the Moon'

    £16.99
    1
    Oxalis triangularis Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS

    Purple False Shamrock (Love Plant)

    Oxalis triangularis

    £9.99
    Euphorbia 'Miner's Merlot' Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS

    Spurge (Miner's Merlot)

    Euphorbia 'Miner's Merlot'

    £7.99
    1
    Loropetalum Black Pearl Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS

    Chinese Fringe Flower, Black Pearl

    Loropetalum Black Pearl

    £33.99
    Aeonium arboreum 'Velours' Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS

    Dark Purple Aeonium 'Velours'

    Aeonium arboreum 'Velours'

    £12.99
    Colocasia esculenta 'Black Magic' Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS

    Black Magic Elephant Ears (Black Taro)

    Colocasia esculenta 'Black Magic'

    £11.99
    Hydrangea aspera 'Hot Chocolate' Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS

    Velvet Hydrangea 'Hot Chocolate'

    Hydrangea aspera 'Hot Chocolate'

    £22.99

    Designing with purple foliage plants

    Dark leaves are a designer's shortcut. Purple and near-black foliage adds weight and contrast, calms a busy planting scheme, and makes hot colours look richer and pale ones look brighter. A single dark plant can pull a whole border together.

    The plants here range from deep beetroot purples to almost black, and most hold their colour right through the growing season rather than for a few fleeting weeks. Many darken best in good light, so a sunny or lightly shaded spot brings out the strongest tone. They work as a foil in a mixed border or as a bold statement in a pot.

    All grown for UK gardens and sent out well rooted.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Most colour most deeply in good light, and some turn greener in heavy shade. A sunny or lightly shaded spot usually keeps the darkest tone. Check the aspect on each plant.

    Hot pink, orange and lime green all pop against dark leaves, while white and silver give a crisp contrast. Purple foliage flatters almost any flower colour you place near it.

    Most here keep their colour through the growing season rather than briefly. A few shift as the year goes on, which is noted on the individual plant pages.

    Yes. A dark-leaved plant makes a strong single specimen in a container and gives an instant anchor to a mixed pot display.