Purple foliage: how to use and pair them with other plants in the garden?

Purple, symbols and nuances

The purple colour is obtained by mixing red and blue. From these two primary colours, we therefore obtain this deep and rich hue, often associated with royalty, nobility and wealth. According to cultures, purple symbolises power, wisdom and creativity. It also carries a spiritual character by evoking inner peace and meditation.

In the garden, this hue evokes elegance, even sophistication and offers a striking contrast with the green of the foliage or the blue of the sky, not to mention the many interesting pairings it allows. When well used, it helps create a sense of balance and serenity in your borders. Sometimes the plant names evoke this hue, such as Corylus maxima ‘Purpurea’, Acer palmatum ‘Dissectum Atropurpureum’ or Heuchera ‘Forever Purple’, but many others give no clue. Furthermore, there are numerous purple shades: so dark that it appears almost black (Heuchera ‘Dark Secret’), with purplish nuances (Penstemon digitalis ‘Dark Towers’), silvery (Heuchera ‘Little Cuties Sugar Berry’), bluish (Sedum ‘Sunsparkler Blue Pearl’) or greyish (Salvia officinalis ‘Purpurascens’) to name but a few. Don’t hesitate to select the colour of the foliage in the search filters of our online nursery to see how wide the range of purple foliage is.

The Heuchera ‘Dark Secret’, with almost black foliage

Role and appearance of purple foliage in the garden

Lavender is used in perfumes.

Purple-leaved plants

Trees and shrubs

Several varieties of elder shrubs bear purple foliage that forms a stunning backdrop to a white or pink flowering display of stunning beauty, as with the popular Sambucus ‘Black Lace’. The Cotinus also offer a beautiful range of purple foliage, such as Cotinus ‘Grace’ or its cousin ‘Lilla’ whose modest dimensions allow it to fit into the smallest of gardens. The Albizia ‘Summer Chocolate’ or ‘Evey’s Pride’. The Callicarpa ‘Pearl Glam’ offers a striking combination between its purple foliage and its berries of a bright violet. The list could still grow by selecting certain varieties of Berberis, crape myrtle, Weigela, Loropetalum, Pittosporum, Judas trees, Hydrangea, Physocarpus, Japanese maples and many others…

→ Discover all our purple-leaved trees and shrubs.

The Callicarpa ‘Pearl Glam’ showcases its violet berries against dark purple foliage

Perennials

Many perennials also feature purple foliage. Among Heuchera, Acaena and Phormium, the foliage is generally evergreen, thereby creating a permanent display. The deciduous foliage is not to be overlooked either, with, for example, some Sedum, Lobelia, Penstemon, Actaea or hardy geraniums, not forgetting grasses such as Andropogon ‘Blackhawks’ or the purple sugar cane. Pennisetum x. advena ‘Rubrum’ has very handsome purple foliage, but it is a frost-tender species to be used as an annual.

→ All our purple-leaved perennials.

Pairing and harmonising purple

Purple is a colour that fits very well in the garden, provided you don’t overdo it and place it next to plants with hues that enhance it or that pair with it harmoniously. Depending on the choices, the combination can be more or less energising, fresh, soothing or vibrant. Below are a few examples and ideas to explore for you to test and enrich in your own borders.

Purple and yellow in an energetic duo

Purple and yellow are complementary colours and work therefore very well together, bringing a touch of vitality to the garden. You could, for example, use a bush such as Cotinus ‘Royal Purple’ to contrast with yellow-flowering blooms: intense with Hemerocallis citrina or a pale cream-tinged one such as Achillea ‘Hymne’ for example. This pairing can also be achieved through a grassy plant such as Deschampsia ‘Tatra Gold’, whose golden foliage provides both colour contrast and texture. As a bonus, your border lights up in autumn when your Cotinus dresses in orange-red and your grass-like plant looks parchment-like. You can enrich the display with a grey groundcover such as Stachys byzantina or opt for the dark green of a heather ‘Kramer’s Rote’ which also brightens winter with its pink flowering.

Elegance of purple and white

Placed beside white, purple is brightened and enhanced, and serves to make white appear purer. This type of pairing creates an elegant and soothing atmosphere, evoking a sense of freshness and purity. For example, aim for Loropetalum ‘Black Pearl’ with almost-black foliage so deep is its purple. Of small size, it can fit into a small garden and illuminate it with its intense pink flowering. Evergreen in mild climates, plant white-flowering perennials at its base, such as Iberis sempervirens or hardy geraniums ‘Album’ which provide a pretty setting for it. If space allows, pair this duo against a large Deutzia with green foliage and white flowering, such as Deutzia ‘Pride Of Rochester’.

Vibrant mix of purple and orange

Very trendy and modern, the pairing of purple and orange creates a bold visual impact, evoking energy and warmth in the garden. The Physocarpus ‘Diabolo’ displays dark purple foliage with bronze-orange tints and boasts a charming white pom-pom flowering. It pairs perfectly with Crocosmia ‘Zambesi’, whose yellow-orange tones, highlighted by a stronger edging, stand out beautifully against its neighbour. Other possible candidates include Achillea ‘Terracotta’ or Geum ‘Totally Tangerine’, unless you prefer an ornamental Salvia ‘California Sunset’. It is possible to place the whole arrangement on a carpet of green or white-variegated foliage, or push the theme further with a Sedum ‘Dragon Blood’ or a Geranium ‘Black’n White Army’.

Sobriety of purple and grey

The grey pairs with all colours, so it is well suited in a pairing with purple. If you place a strong colour against a more neutral one, you create an interesting visual contrast between vibrant colour and softer tones, the final effect being elegant without being dull. It’s possible to imagine a pairing between a Berberis ‘Atropurpurea’ with autumn-red foliage and pale yellow spring flowers or a Phormium ‘Purpureum’ with a Lavandula ‘Richard Gray’ or a Helichrysum italicum with metallic reflections, all of which are drought-tolerant. You can reverse the proportions by choosing a grey-leaved shrub such as Caryopteris ‘Sterling Silver’ or Pyrus salicifolia ‘Pendula’ which emerge from a carpet of Sempervivum ‘Chick Charms’ or Sedum ‘Jose Aubergine’.

Shade foliage games

Even though purple foliage can tend to pale and green in shade, some plants are perfectly suited to this exposure and retain their colours there. They help to energise woodland scenes and, placed beside light-coloured foliage plants, create plays of shadow and light that mimic the natural brightness under trees. Interpose, for example, Heucheras ‘Plum Royal’ and ‘Binoche’ among other varieties with green, golden or silver foliage. Continue by adding contrast in foliage and silhouettes with variegated and golden Carex, Hakonechloa, architectural ferns, Lamium and Hostas. Bring forth a purple-leaved shrub such as Acer palmatum ‘Dissectum Garnet’, which then becomes the focal point of your planting scheme.

In shade, deep purple foliage and golden foliage. Clockwise: Acer palmatum ‘Dissectum Garnet’, Lamium maculatum ‘Ann Greenaway’, Heuchera ‘Plum Royal’, Heuchera ‘Binoche’