Plants with colorful foliage have always been popular, but with gardeners’ newfound interest in color, these plants are in high demand. The beauty of plants with attractive, colorful foliage is that they look attractive whether they are in bloom or not. This is all the more important for perennials and flowering shrubs that normally bloom for four weeks or less.
Here are some favorite purple flower selections from Tim Wood, Resident Horticulturist for Spring Meadow Nursery. Check with Proven Winners and Spring Meadow Nursery for dealers in your area.
Aguja reptans
This perennial also goes by the names Bronze-burgundy, ‘Atropurpurea’, ‘Bronze Beauty’ and ‘Gaiety’. Aguja reptans is native to Europe but has become an invasive species in parts of North America. In gardening, it is a useful ground cover plant.
Cimicifuga racemosa
This trailing plant produces white flower spikes in late summer. It is an outstanding but hard to find plant that has many medicinal properties. It is native to North America and was widely used by indigenous peoples. The flowers are dark purple, and it thrives in zones 3-8. It grows up to five feet tall.
Cimicifuga racemosa ‘Brunette’
This breed is also hard to find but it is worth looking for as it is quite beautiful. It belongs to the same genus as atropurpurea. The flowers are bronze-purple, and it thrives in zones 3-8. It grows up to four feet tall.
Euphorbia dulcis ‘Chameleon’
Euphorbia belongs to the incredibly diverse spurge genus. The genus is named after the physician of the Greek king Juba. This plant thrives in zones 4-9, and it reaches 15 inches tall.
Heuchera americana
Also known as ‘Bressingham Purple’, ‘Cascade Dawn’, ‘Persian Carpet’, ‘Chocolate Ruffles’, ‘Chocolate Veil’, ‘Palace Purple’, ‘Ruby Ruffles’ and ‘Velvet Night’. Heuchera Americana is known for its large sometimes marbled or veined leaves.
Penstemon digitalis ‘Husker Red’
This eye-catching plant blooms in mid-summer. This native of eastern North America needs moist soil and direct sunlight to thrive. This reddish purple flower thrives in zones 4-9 and reaches up to 28 inches tall.
Rheum palmatum and Atrosanquineum ornamental rhubarb
While many people use the plant for medicinal purposes, ingesting too much of it can make you very ill. This plant is great if you have a large space to fill in your plot. This dark purple plant thrives in zones 4-7 and can sometimes grow up to seven feet tall when in bloom. It really is a strange plant.
Acer platanoides ‘Crimson Sentry’
These maple trees are native to Europe and Asia. They are popular for their beautiful leaves and the delicious syrup they produce. This plant does well in zones 3-7. They are good for tight spaces because they provide dense foliage.
Acer palmatum (cultivars)
The fir tree / Evgeniya Vlasova
Another member of the maple family originating in Japan. ‘Atropurpureum’ dark red leaves fade in summer, ‘Bloodgood’ one of the best for color retention, ‘Burgundy Lace’ good color resists fading, fine lace leaves, ‘Garnet’ similar to ‘Burgundy Lace’ but said to be tougher. You’ll find these plants in zones 5-8, and they can grow up to two feet tall depending on variety and location.
Corylus maxima ‘Purpurea’ (purple leaf filbert)
Often grown as a shrub, the purple leaf filbert plant’s deep purple color fades to a greenish purple in late summer, earlier in the south. It is native to Europe and Southeast Asia. It is a relative of the hazel family as it produces edible nuts. It grows well in zones 4-8 and can grow up to 20 inches tall.