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5 Purple-Leaf Majesties of Shrubs
Looking for beautiful depth and dynamism in your landscape? Just add purple
I’m a writer, designer, and lifelong gardener. I'm also author of "Why Grow That When You Can Grow This?", a book due out from Timber Press in November 2012, and I host/produce a podcast and column called Garden Confidential at Fine Gardening Magazine. My company, Oakleaf Green, is a boutique landscape design firm specializing in planting design with primarily sustainable and native plants. Oakleaf Green is currently on hiatus while I wrap up a book, for Timber Press, due out in Fall 2012. In the meantime, you can find me here or on my blog, Garden Smackdown.
I’m a writer, designer, and lifelong gardener. I'm also author of "Why... More »
Trends in plants come and go, but if there's one that seems to have settled into the modern gardening mainstream, it's shrubs with purple foliage. I, for one, am glad. There was a time when (gasp!) I wasn't wild about plants with colorful foliage, but purple plants were my gateway, and for that, they continue to be some of my favorites. Purple foliage adds oomph wherever it appears, and most of these plants' purples range through a sophisticated, subtly varying palette over the course of the growing season and in different levels of sun. One thing's for sure: Purple is rarely dull.
Here are a few purple mainstays, but there are many more to choose from. Post your favorites in the Comments!
Here are a few purple mainstays, but there are many more to choose from. Post your favorites in the Comments!
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| Purple smoke tree (Cotinus coggygria cultivars, zones 4 to 8) is as common a site on the East Coast as the West, and though this low-water beauty will grow into a tree, it's often cut to the ground in late winter, a practice that prompts it to send up tall new stems with bigger leaves. (Don't cut it down if you'd prefer its smoke-like flowers.) Smoke tree grows 15 feet high and 20 feet wide, but it's usually pruned to be much smaller. Popular purple cultivars include 'Royal Purple', 'Velvet Cloak', and the more reddish 'Grace'. All prefer full to part sun. |
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by Andrew Keys
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| Another favorite of recent years is Diabolo ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius Diabolo, zones 3 to 7), a big, wide-ranging shrub that makes a tough, easy addition almost anywhere, although its color will fade to green. Diabolo grows to 8 feet tall and wide, so give it space or prune it back hard — ninebark can take it. Diabolo's parent species is native to the eastern half of North America. |
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by Andrew Keys
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| How about a purple that's completely different? 'Red Majestic' contorted filbert (Corylus avellana 'Red Majestic', zones 4 to 8) is a new twist, pun intended, on an old favorite that's typically green. This contorted shrub looks just as great without its leaves, and its twisty branches add an air of mystery to any winter garden. During the season, it starts a deep, glossy wine-purple, then it fades a bit by fall. Don't be surprised if its leaves begin to contort too! Give it average soil and moisture, and full to part sun. Contorted filbert grows 8 to 10 feet high and wide. If you find noncontorted shoots sprouting from the base, cut them to the ground. |
When I think of purple shrubs that have stood the test of time, purple sand cherry (Prunus x cistena, zones 2 to 8) is the first that comes to mind. This little purple shrub has been around the block a time or two, and though it's relatively short-lived (10 years or less), it still packs a wallop. Shining red-purple foliage is accented by fragrant pink flowers in spring. Prune it after it blooms. True to its name, sand cherry prefers well-drained soil, and like most of the others, colors best in full to part sun.
Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Sten
Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Sten
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by Andrew Keys
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| Other new favorites include the purple weigelas (pronounced why-JEE-lah), like Wine & Roses (Weigela florida Wine & Roses, zones 4 to 8), shown here, named for its pink spring flowers that make for a bold combo with purple leaves. Wine & Roses often colors up in a particularly interesting purple that almost veers into chocolate brown, a fascinating color not often seen in plants. Give it sun for best color and average soil, and it will grow to around 5 feet tall and 6 feet wide. |
Comments
Banyon Tree Design Studio Just saw a deep, dark purple Cimicifuga growing tall out of the middle of a lush, 3' tall stand of Hakonechloa grass on a garden tour. It was really stunning.
11 months ago · Like
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Andrew Keys You've got an eye for purple plants for sure!
11 months ago · Like
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bachara Summer wine is a smaller version of diabolo that can find a place in the middle/back of the border with Joe Pye weeds. Several complementary or contrasting color coral bells can make a great mid to late summer combination. A cimifuga with painted ferns also blends well.
11 months ago · Like
sclawson I love purple-leafed shrubs and trees, but unfortunately, so do the Japanese beetles. Most years they eat the leaves into lace and fall down on us if we sit beneath. Fighting them off is an ongoing battle that as I age I don't have the energy to fight. No more purple leaves for me!
11 months ago · Like
karenhanim The Purple European beech tree, although needing space is absolutely gorgeous.
11 months ago · Like
karenhanim Here is a picture of the European Purple Beech tree. 
11 months ago · Like
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Dawn W not sure you want purple yet or where? Try a purple sweet potato plant, it's an annual so you can add it in and try it out cheaply. It's a climber/mounding plant so you can grow it for various effects. 
11 months ago · Like
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Pierside Ventures Ltd Planted a medium sized acer tree . the purple foliage looked beautiful contrasting against the tones of green calamtis and red robins in the background. but in less than two weeks the acer has either shed its leaves or they have dried and shriveled. Am told acers shud never be planted in areas prone to full sunlight and need loads of water . Have since increased the water dosage and sprinkled some ammonia based fertiliser. Can anyone tell me if this is correct or am I doing something drastically wrong ?
11 months ago · Like
Ideabook published on July 25, 2012.
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