Adding vibrant purple tones to your garden instantly creates a striking visual contrast and a touch of elegance. Purple heart plants, with their vivid foliage and unique growth patterns, can serve as ground covers, borders, or statement plants. Whether you want cascading color from hanging baskets or a dense carpet of rich hues, these plants are versatile and easy to maintain. Below are six beautiful purple heart plant varieties that will give your garden a captivating pop of color all year round.
1. Tradescantia pallida (Purple Heart)
The classic Tradescantia pallida, commonly known simply as the Purple Heart, is loved for its deep purple, lance-shaped leaves and delicate pink flowers. This hardy plant thrives in both garden beds and containers, making it versatile for various spaces. Its trailing habit works wonderfully in hanging baskets or as a ground cover. Low-maintenance and drought-tolerant once established, it thrives in full sun, which deepens its purple color. Perfect for adding year-round drama to your garden, this plant is a reliable choice for bold foliage lovers.
2. Tradescantia zebrina (Wandering Jew)
Tradescantia zebrina is a stunning vine with purple, green, and silver-striped leaves that shimmer in sunlight. While often grown indoors, it can also flourish outdoors in mild climates, adding a lush and colorful layer to garden beds or containers. Its trailing growth makes it ideal for hanging baskets and vertical displays. Fast-growing and easy to propagate, it quickly fills empty spots with vibrant foliage. The combination of purple tones and metallic sheen ensures it stands out as a garden centerpiece.
3. Alternanthera dentata (Purple Knight)
The Purple Knight offers broad, deep purple leaves that create a rich contrast against green foliage and brightly colored flowers. This heat-tolerant plant can grow up to three feet tall, making it an excellent choice for borders or as a backdrop in mixed beds. It thrives in full sun, where its color becomes more intense. Low-maintenance and adaptable to various soils, Purple Knight is perfect for gardeners who want bold, upright purple foliage with minimal care requirements.
4. Tradescantia spathacea (Moses-in-the-Cradle)
Also called Oyster Plant, Tradescantia spathacea features sword-shaped green leaves with striking purple undersides. Its unique “cradle” holds tiny white flowers, adding extra charm. This plant works well as a ground cover in warm climates or as a container plant in cooler regions. Drought-tolerant and hardy, it can add structure and year-round color to pathways, borders, or patio areas. The two-toned leaves make it especially eye-catching when planted alongside green or yellow foliage plants.
5. Iresine herbstii (Bloodleaf)
Known for its vivid magenta-purple leaves and red veins, Iresine herbstii adds a bold splash of color to any garden. This tropical plant thrives in warm weather and prefers full sun to partial shade. Often used as a border plant, it pairs beautifully with green or white flowers, enhancing the vibrancy of its foliage. Its bushy growth and long-lasting color make it an excellent choice for adding contrast and depth to garden beds or container arrangements.
6. Coleus ‘Royal Purple’
Coleus plants are famous for their colorful foliage, and the ‘Royal Purple’ variety stands out with its deep violet leaves edged in lighter tones. Adaptable to both sun and shade, this coleus can thrive in beds, borders, or pots. Its vibrant purple hue remains striking throughout the growing season, and its upright, branching growth makes it perfect for mixed plantings. Regular pinching keeps it bushy and full, ensuring a continuous display of bold color in your garden.
