These 14 Houseplants With Purple Leaves Make An Excellent Addition To Any Home
Reviewed By COLIN SKELLY
Colin is a Horticulturist and Horticultural Consultant with experience in a range of practical and managerial roles across heritage, commercial and public horticulture. He holds the Royal Horticultural Society’s Master of Horticulture award and has a particular interest in horticultural ecology and naturalistic planting for habitat and climate resilience.
IN THIS GUIDE
- 1) Rose-Painted Calathea ‘Dottie’
- 2) Echeveria ‘Purple Pearl’
- 3) Oxalis ‘Iron Cross’
- 4) Moses In The Cradle
- 5) Painted Nettle
- 6) Persian Shield
- 7) Sedum ‘Purple Emperor’
- 8) Purple-Heart Spiderwort
- 9) Velvet Plant ‘Purple Passion’
- 10) Purple Shamrock
- 11) Painted-Leaf Begonia
- 12) Split Rock ‘Royal Flush’
- 13) Tiger Stripes
- 14) Jaw Plant
- References
Houseplants are intended to brighten up a home, so what better way to do so than with these purple-leaved beauties?
Purple is not necessarily a colour that occurs in nature with too much frequency, but when it does, you can be sure that the outcome is an eye-catching one.
That’s why we’re following on from our list of outdoor purple-leaved plants with this catalogue of similarly coloured houseplants – for a superb, sure-fire way to liven up your home’s interior décor.
Whether it’s foliage awash with the deepest shades of purple, variegated leaves that alternate between purple and green or more subtle tinges, fringes and flecks of purple on your plant, we’ve got you covered.
Most of the options below are fairly easy to cultivate, but all of them are extremely easy on the eye.
1) Rose-Painted Calathea ‘Dottie’
- BOTANICAL NAME: Goeppertia roseopicta ‘Dottie’
- HARDINESS RATING: H1A
- FLOWERS: purple and white
- FLOWERING SEASON(S): summer
- SUNLIGHT: part shade
Native to Brazil, this broad-leaved prayer plant opens up its foliage to the heavens.
The topmost side features starkly-veined dark green leaves with a vibrant pink centre, while their underside is a rich purple that’s more visible at night as they close in on themselves.
Due to its tropical origins, ‘Dottie’ prefers bright but indirect sunlight, so choose a windowsill in an appropriate location; the darker the leaves, the more UV it will need.
It needs constant moisture but hates saturated soil, so water it frequently but sparingly.
2) Echeveria ‘Purple Pearl’
- BOTANICAL NAME: Echeveria ‘Purple Pearl’
- HARDINESS RATING: H2
- FLOWERS: pink
- FLOWERING SEASON(S): summer
- SUNLIGHT: full sun
With its small but fleshy leaves and delicately purple tones, ‘Purple Pearl’ is an absolute treat to behold, especially in springtime, when the dainty coral-coloured blooms complement the rest of its visual palette.
Like most succulents, it prefers full sun, can’t handle colder temperatures and will benefit most from soaking it thoroughly and then letting it dry out completely.
“Echeveria will need full sun or it might start to etiolate (stretching to reach more light),” shares Master Horticulturist Colin Skelly.
“You also might need to rotate the pot to achieve even growth.
In full summer sun, the colours will darken substantially as a stress response and in winter it will become a greener hue as it enters its active growing phase.”
Capable of reaching 30cm in height, it’s a breathtakingly beautiful yet compact houseplant to add to your collection.
3) Oxalis ‘Iron Cross’
- BOTANICAL NAME: Oxalis tetraphylla ‘Iron Cross’
- HARDINESS RATING: H4
- FLOWERS: pink
- FLOWERING SEASON(S): spring / summer
- SUNLIGHT: full sun
The dark purple triangles at the centre of the four-leaved clover-like foliage give this perennial bulb its nickname since it resembles the Iron Cross of Prussia.1Begonia masoniana (Iron Cross Begonia). (n.d.). North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox. Retrieved March 17, 2023, from https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/begonia-masoniana/
From June to August, you can enjoy the additional appeal of its attractive flowers, which are either red or pink depending on the type of soil in which it’s grown.
Another point in the plus column for the Iron Cross is its versatility.
It’ll thrive just as well in full sun as it will in the shade and can adapt to most soil types.
Its watering demands are entirely reasonable, making it an easy-to-care-for houseplant.
4) Moses In The Cradle
- BOTANICAL NAME: Tradescantia spathacea
- HARDINESS RATING: H1B
- FLOWERS: white
- FLOWERING SEASON(S): spring / summer / autumn / winter
- SUNLIGHT: full sun / part shade
A member of the Tradescantia family, Moses in the cradle is characterised by its lengthy lance-shaped leaves, which blend green, red and purple in a mesmerising mix.
Devastatingly attractive yet diminutive, the plant rarely exceeds 30cm in height.
Its growing demands are modest, though it does prefer stronger sunlight and a stable temperature if possible.
It can flower at any time of the year, adding another string to its aesthetic bow.
5) Painted Nettle
- BOTANICAL NAME: Coleus scutellarioides
- HARDINESS RATING: H1C
- FLOWERS: blue
- FLOWERING SEASON(S): spring / summer / autumn
- SUNLIGHT: full sun
Painted nettles come in a virtually limitless number of varieties.
Although it does bear flowers, it’s the foliage which is the real attraction here, as the velvety leaves are lovely to the touch, while the range of variegated colours and patterns make it a delight to behold too.
For best results, place your painted nettles in direct sunlight, since their leaves will fade in colour if they are deprived of sunlight.
Water evenly, prune regularly and ensure good aeration of the soil to keep your specimen healthy and happy.
6) Persian Shield
- BOTANICAL NAME: Strobilanthes dyeriana
- HARDINESS RATING: H1B
- FLOWERS: blue
- FLOWERING SEASON(S): autumn
- SUNLIGHT: full sun / part shade
The name of this exotic specimen is something of a misnomer; the leaves are perhaps more reminiscent of arrowheads than shields, while it originally hails from Myanmar, not Persia.2Strobilanthes dyerianus. (n.d.). Missouri Botanical Garden. Retrieved March 17, 2023, from https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?taxonid=292523&isprofile=0&basic=%25
Nonetheless, the purplish iridescence of its foliage is one of the most attractive qualities of any option on this list.
In its youth, the Persian shield will maintain vibrancy and vitality in its leaves but expect this to soften and dull over the years.
You can prolong its lustre as long as possible by giving it what it wants, namely plenty of sunshine, warmth and water.
7) Sedum ‘Purple Emperor’
- BOTANICAL NAME: Sedum telephium ‘Purple Emperor’
- HARDINESS RATING: H7
- FLOWERS: pink
- FLOWERING SEASON(S): summer
- SUNLIGHT: full sun
‘Purple Emperor’ belongs to the sedum family, which is also known as stonecrops due to their ability to thrive in poor soils populated by pebbles and rocks.
This particular specimen is one of the most eye-catching, boasting dark purple, almost black leaves topped by towering stems and small clusters of bright pink flowers.
Purple emperors do just as well outdoors as inside, but in both situations, they’ll prefer sandy or rocky soil.
You can water them more often in their first year to ensure they become fully established, but after that, they’ll require less frequent irrigation.
8) Purple-Heart Spiderwort
- BOTANICAL NAME: Tradescantia pallida
- HARDINESS RATING: H1C
- SUNLIGHT: full sun / part shade
Another member of the Tradescantia family, ‘Purple Heart’ is characterised by the deep burgundy shades of both its stems and its slender, cupped leaves.
While it does produce uniquely attractive clusters of flowers in a range of pinky-purple colours, it’s the foliage that’s the main event.
A drought-tolerant species, this plant will survive without too much in the way of maintenance.
‘Purple Heart’ is particularly notable for its profusion of leaves, which look especially attractive when cascading over the rim of a hanging basket.
9) Velvet Plant ‘Purple Passion’
- BOTANICAL NAME: Gynura aurantiaca ‘Purple Passion’
- HARDINESS RATING: H1B
- FLOWERS: purple and yellow
- FLOWERING SEASON(S): winter
- SUNLIGHT: part shade
For a more understated touch of purple, this vine plant is an excellent addition to any home.
Its stems and the undersides of its leaves are a deep dark purple, while its bright green foliage is fringed by a purplish tinge and populated by soft, purple hairs.
That velvety texture makes ‘Purple Passion’ a pleasure to touch as well as to observe, while its ease of cultivation means it’s ideal for novice or busy houseplant enthusiasts.
Keep it well-watered (but not overwatered, since it’s highly prone to root rot) and it’ll remain happy enough.
10) Purple Shamrock
- BOTANICAL NAME: Oxalis triangularis
- HARDINESS RATING: H3
- FLOWERS: pink and white
- FLOWERING SEASON(S): summer / autumn
- SUNLIGHT: part shade
This exquisite perennial is a close relative of the aforementioned Iron cross and gains its name from the trio of triangular leaves which adorn each stem.
Exceedingly dark in hue, its purple foliage is almost black in colour, making it a dramatic addition to your indoor display.
Those dark tones are perfectly set off by its white or lavender blooms, which can appear at pretty much any time of the year.
The purple shamrock’s leaves neatly fold up at night like an umbrella, but it’ll spring back with renewed vigour the following morning without fail.
11) Painted-Leaf Begonia
- BOTANICAL NAME: Begonia rex
- HARDINESS RATING: H1B
- FLOWERS: pink
- FLOWERING SEASON(S): winter
- SUNLIGHT: part shade
Out of the many varieties of begonia, Rex begonia boasts perhaps the most impressive foliage of all.
In fact, many growers simply pinch off the underwhelming flowers as they appear so as to redirect all energy towards the production of their stunning, oversized leaves in various shades of purple, red and silver.
Rex begonia will survive without too much fuss on the owner’s part, but if you really want it to flourish so you can appreciate its beauty in all its glory, it’s advisable to put in the hard yards on care.
That means using a porous compost, a shallow pot, regular fertilisation and constant moisture.
12) Split Rock ‘Royal Flush’
- BOTANICAL NAME: Pleiospilos nelii ‘Royal Flush’
- HARDINESS RATING: H1C
- FLOWERS: white
- FLOWERING SEASON(S): spring / summer / autumn / winter
- SUNLIGHT: part shade
The ‘Royal Flush’ plant is more commonly known as split rock and it’s easy to see why.
The foliage of this curious succulent is reminiscent of two sides of a small pebble that’s been cut in half, revealing a new pair of leaves with each passing year.
Atop it all, a daisy-like flower appears in early spring, adding pink, yellow and white colours to the purplish palette below.
The plant requires excellent drainage and ventilation alongside plentiful sun and sparse watering.
13) Tiger Stripes
- BOTANICAL NAME: Kalanchoe humilis
- HARDINESS RATING: H2
- SUNLIGHT: full sun
Another succulent, tiger stripes bear large, oval-shaped leaves characterised by swathes of purple in a tiger-striped pattern.
It also enjoys purple-green blossoms in the height of summer, but these are small and less showy than its impressive foliage.
Capable of reaching almost 1m in height, this kalanchoe’s only hard-and-fast demands are at least six hours of sunlight per day and constant warmth.
It will benefit from regular watering during summer but can withstand forgetfulness and even neglect during winter.
14) Jaw Plant
- BOTANICAL NAME: Tradescantia fluminensis
- HARDINESS RATING: H1C
- FLOWERS: white
- FLOWERING SEASON(S): spring / summer / autumn / winter
- SUNLIGHT: part shade
The Jaw Plant also belongs to the Tradescantia family and in the wild, it’s often considered invasive.
However, those same fast-growing properties make it ideal as a trailing houseplant for a hanging basket inside your home, as its zebra-like leaves cascade over the sides of its container attractively.
If left to its own devices, it can exceed 80cm in height, so you might want to prune it back to keep it in check.
