5 Purple-Leaf Majesties of Shrubs
Looking for beautiful depth and dynamism in your landscape? Just add purple
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!
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.
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.
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
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.