9 purple-leaved shrubs

Sambucus nigra 'Black Lace'

To kick off this festival of crimson colours, the Sambucus nigra ‘Black Lace’ (‘Eva’), or black elder, is a classic favourite of ours, as its foliage and flowering are graceful in May, when it adorns itself in its finest attire. This is a deciduous shrub, reaching a height of about 2.5 metres with a spread of approximately 3 metres, displaying a lovely, spreading, bushy habit. Its laciniate (deeply cut) leaves, reminiscent of Japanese maples, are a truly dark purple, almost black, creating a stunning dark lace effect. Its flowering in May produces a myriad of small pink flowers that turn creamy by the end of the month. Another advantage of the black elder is its rapid growth, enhancing a free-standing hedge or an open space that showcases it very quickly. ‘Black Lace’ requires full sun or partial shade, and ordinary, rather rich, even moist soil.

Young Sambucus nigra ‘Black Lace’ (habit, © Leonora Enking), and flowering (©Amanda Slater)

Cotinus coggygria 'Royal Purple'

The ‘Royal Purple’ smoke tree is a must-have among purple-leaved shrubs! It stands out from the few other purple-leaved Cotinus varieties with its charming pink-edged foliage. In autumn, it turns a stunning red, with almost orange contrasting veins when well-exposed to the sun. The tiny but numerous cream-yellow flowers create a lovely contrast against the foliage when they bloom, before transforming into a magical, rosy, vapour-like smoke above the leaves… a true delight! It is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful purple shrubs, which you should not miss if you have a small or medium garden (it grows up to 3 m tall), a sunny spot to plant it, and well-drained soil.

You will surely also be enchanted by Cotinus coggygria ‘Atropurpureus’ with its purple-pink flowers.

Cotinus coggygria ‘Royal Purple’: habit on the left (© FD Richards), summer foliage in the centre, and autumn reddening foliage on the right

Physocarpus 'Lady in Red'

Among the deciduous purple shrubs, Physocarpus includes many interesting and diverse varieties. The physocarpus with Obier leaves had somewhat fallen out of favour, being considered a bit old-fashioned. However, they prove to be perfect companions in country gardens, small urban gardens, and in natural beds or planted as solitary specimens.

The interest in the cultivar ‘Lady in Red’ (aside from the fact that it shares the name with that wonderful song by Chris de Burgh!) lies in the evolution of its foliage, which transitions from a stunning copper-red to a satin purple between spring and summer. The dentate leaves, often trilobed, are borne on young shoots that are also reddened. As for the flowering, it is discreet like all Physocarpus, but takes the form of beautiful corymbs nearly 5 cm in diameter, initially pink in May, turning to cream and white, contrasting beautifully against the dark foliage. The raspberry-red autumn fruiting is not without interest in ‘Lady in Red’, as it will remain on the shrub for a good part of winter, evolving into a black hue.

This is a nectariferous shrub, which will also have the advantage of feeding birds during the coldest period. Plant it in well-drained, rich soil, ideally slightly acidic, and in full sun or partial shade. Its modest dimensions (1.50 m high) make it suitable for all gardens, especially in urban areas as it withstands pollution very well.

Physocarpus opulifolius ‘Diabolo’ is another stunning variety with very upright red branches and purplish foliage, which conversely turns orange in autumn.

Physocarpus ‘Lady in Red’

Weigela florida 'Purpurea'

Also known as ‘Foliis Purpureis’, this is a variety of Weigela that is sure to catch your attention. It is a deciduous shrubthat is smaller in size than most Weigelas, growing up to a maximum height of 1 m with a slightly larger spread of 1.50 m. Most notably, it features a bronze-purple foliage that beautifully enhances the charming bicoloured pink spring flowering (the inside of the flowers is pale pink, while the outside is a lovely carmine pink). The bushy and arching habit of this purple variety is perfect for creating original medium borders, or for being inserted into romantic spring beds in white and pink tones, in a rockery, or to bring contrast and the charm of Weigela to a terrace. Hardy and resilient, plant Weigela florida ‘Purpurea’ ideally in full sun for abundant flowering, or in partial shade, in cool soil.

Weigela florida ‘Purpurea’ (© Leonora Enking)

Ceanothus thyrsiflorus 'Tuxedo'

How about planting an unusual Ceanothus at home? Unlike the Ceanothus with glossy green leaves, Ceanothus ‘Tuxedo’ features deeply purplish evergreen foliage, almost black in fact, making it a unique evergreen shrub to install in a sunny border or informal hedge. The small, dark leaves contrast beautifully with the particularly soft and light blue flowering that appears from May through July. ‘Tuxedo’ can even be planted as a specimen due to its generous size, reaching 3 m in height at maturity. It will just need the usual care given to Ceanothus: well-drained soil that does not retain moisture to help it survive winter (it is moderately hardy), a sunny position, and protection from cold winds. Paired with shrubs that have golden foliage, it adds a lot of character even after flowering, with its upright habit and the persistence of its leaves.

Ceanothus thyrsiflorus ‘Tuxedo’ (© FarOutFlora)

Berberis thunbergii 'Admiration'

In the large family of Berberis with their admirable foliage, the cultivar ‘Admiration’ is of rare beauty. Its foliage is indeed deciduous, but it holds one of the highest ornamental values among this selection of purple-leaved shrubs. It features a rounded bicolour foliage of purple edged with a very fresh cream yellow. This foliage turns into a vibrant orange-red in autumn. Over time, it forms a beautiful compact mass, well-ramified and glowing. Red berries will punctuate the shrub after the discreet yellow flowering.

In a large rockery where it proudly displays itself alongside some low grasses, Physocarpus, purple Heucheras, and tangy Euphorbias at the edge of a bed, or in a pot on a terrace, it is literally magical and, as its name suggests, provokes admiration… It is an ultra-hardy little gem that we particularly recommend!

Berberis thunbergii ‘Admiration Cov’

Loropetalum chinense 'Ever Red'

True flagships of purple foliage, Loropetalums are stunning little shrubs that are still  underused in gardens. There are about ten varieties of evergreen or semi-evergreen purple foliage that have been easily available for several years. The Loropetalum ‘Ever Red’ is one of the most beautiful, combining the intense colour of its purple foliage, enhanced by bright red flowering in mid-spring (usually in April). It is one of the shrubs to plant without hesitation in the garden, not only for its foliage that brings a lot of character all year round, but also for the originality of its delicate strap-like flowers, reminiscent of Hamamelis blooms (they are indeed from the same family).

Remaining small in size (maximum 1.5 m in height and width at maturity), you can place this Loropetalum in many garden configurations. Just be sure to give it a spot in partial shade, in well-drained soil, ideally acidic and cool. 

Loropetalum chinense ‘Ever Red’ (© Sapho)

Lophomyrtus 'Magic Dragon'

For the lucky few with a garden by the sea or in a mild climate, Lophomyrtus ‘Magic Dragon’ has more than one asset in its foliage! Not only are its oblong leaves an incredible pink and purple variegation, very original, but they are evergreen, making it quite useful for dressing the garden in every season. It is in winter that the pink edging becomes more pronounced. Native to New Zealand, Lophomyrtus ‘Magic Dragon’ blooms here in late spring, producing delicate, lightly scented cream-white flowers. It remains compact, growing to a maximum height of 1.5m, slightly less in a pot.

Lophomyrtus ‘Magic Dragon’ enjoys acidic soils and pairs very well with heathers or azaleas, as well as with shrubs that, like it, hail from the antipodes: Leptospermum grey, Phormium golden, or even Croposma which is also purple.

Lophomyrtus ‘Magic Dragon’

Japanese Maples

We couldn’t talk about purple shrubs without mentioning Japanese maples! There are numerous varieties, and it must be said, it’s difficult to present just one in this article…

Indeed, there are many Japanese maples that boast incredible purple foliage. Between those that are more red and the truly purple ones, making a choice is challenging. They typically exhibit evolving foliage, transitioning from red in spring to purple in summer, and often becoming vibrant again in autumn. Purple maple varieties particularly thrive in semi-shaded to shaded environments.

Among the most beautiful cultivars with palmate leaves, we find the classic and large Acer palmatum ‘Atropurpureum’, as well as many other cultivars: the well-branched ’Bloodgood’ with its finely cut foliage, and ‘Shaina’ which changes from bright red to dark purple. Among the stunning laciniate foliage, resembling purple lace: Acer dissectum ‘Garnet’ with its beautiful scarlet red in autumn, and ‘Crimson Queen’ with a deep burgundy red, compact and even turning orange in summer, the latter tolerating a bit more sun than the others…

Acer palmatum ‘Bloodgood’ (spring foliage – © FD Richards), and Acer dissectum ‘Garnet’ (© Günter Grumer)