Purple foliage shrubs and perennials bring serious drama to the landscape from spring through fall, offering eye-catching color that stands strong even when flowers fade. From moody maroon to jet-black and violet-laced burgundy, these plants create stunning contrast in garden beds, borders, and containers.
Their color isn't fleeting either! These selections stay purple all growing season, not just when they leaf out in spring.
Whether you're building a Gothic-inspired garden or want to make chartreuse Hostas and Silver Artemisia pop, purple-leaved plants deliver! Many also offer bonus features like pollinator-friendly blooms, fall color shifts, and low-maintenance habits that Ma Nature would be proud of!
Let's dig into the boldest purple shrubs and perennials that hold their hue, and your heart, all season long.
- Top 10 Purple Foliage Shrubs
- Top 5 Purple Foliage Perennials
- Landscaping Uses: Bold Borders and Contrast Queens
- Care & Maintenance: Keep That Purple Poppin'
- A Purple Patch Worth Planting!
Top 10 Purple Foliage Shrubs
These beauties don't just turn heads! They stay purple from spring through the end of the growing season.
Royal Purple Smokebush (Cotinus coggygria)
Smokebushes typically have fantastically colored foliage! Featuring feathery blooms and wine-purple foliage that deepens as summer progresses!
- Zones: 4-8
- Height/Spread: 12-15 feet tall, 10-12 feet wide
- Bonus: Dramatic fall foliage in orange and red
Pearl Glam® Beautyberry (Callicarpa)
Upright shrub with deep purple foliage that holds its color all season, accented by clusters of white flowers followed by vibrant violet berries in fall!
- Zones: 5-8
- Height/Spread: 4-5 feet tall, 3-4 feet wide
- Bonus: Multi-season appeal, flowers for pollinators, bold foliage, and bright fall fruit for birds
Winecraft Black® Smokebush
A compact, deep purple to near-black version of the classic Smokebush.
- Zones: 4-8
- Height/Spread: 4-6 feet tall and wide
- Bonus: Great for smaller spaces or containers
Diabolo Ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius)
Dark burgundy to purplish-black foliage with peeling bark and clusters of white-pink flowers.
- Zones: 3-7
- Height/Spread: 8-10 feet tall, 6-8 feet wide
- Bonus: Gorgeous fall color and native plant benefits
- Or try the tiny Tiny Wine® Ninebark or the beautiful Summer Wine® Ninebark
Black-Foliaged Elderberries
Deeply cut, dramatic black-purple foliage with clusters of fragrant pink flowers in early summer, followed by dark berries that attract wildlife.
- Zones: 4-7
- Height/Spread: Varies by cultivar, from 6 to 15 feet tall, 4-8 feet wide
- Bonus: Striking ornamental foliage and flowers, plus berries for birds and pollinators
- Black Lace® Elderberry - finely cut, lacy leaves for a delicate, Japanese Maple look
- Black Tower™ Elderberry - upright, columnar form with bold presence
- Laced Up® Elderberry - narrow, fastigiate habit perfect for tight spaces
Eclipse® Bigleaf Hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla)
One of the only purple-leaved Hydrangeas that keeps its deep color all season long.
- Zones: 5-9
- Height/Spread: 3-5 feet tall and wide
- Bonus: Mophead flowers bloom in pink-purple or blue-purple, depending on soil pH
Kodiak® Black Honeysuckle Bush
Glossy, nearly black foliage that flushes with red tones in spring and fall, paired with cheerful yellow summer flowers.
- Zones: 5-7
- Height/Spread: 3-4 feet tall and wide
- Bonus: Drought-tolerant, deer-resistant, and thrives in sun or shade for year-round interest
Black Diamond® Crape Myrtle Series
Glossy, deep-black to purple foliage with vibrant summer flowers in shades of red, pink, and white. Blooms all summer into fall for lasting color.
- Zones: 6-10
- Height/Spread: 10-12 feet tall, 8 feet wide
- Bonus: Compact, mildew-resistant, and perfect for dramatic landscape contrast
Purple Leaf Sand Cherry (Prunus × cistena)
Dense, glossy maroon foliage that stays vivid all summer. These are great small trees or large shrubs, exploding in fragrant baby pink blooms each spring.
- Zones: 4-7
- Height/Spread: 6-8 feet tall and 7-8 feet wide
- Bonus: Fragrant pinkish-white flowers in spring
First Editions® Crimson Fire™ Fringe Flower
Glossy, rich burgundy evergreen foliage with vibrant hot-pink, fringe-like blooms in spring.
- Zones: 7-9
- Height/Spread: 4 feet tall and 4-5 feet wide
- Bonus: Naturally compact, colorful year-round, and one of the smallest varieties
Royal Burgundy Barberry (Berberis thunbergii)
Low-maintenance shrub with rich reddish-purple leaves that don't fade.
- Zones: 4-8
- Height/Spread: 2-3 feet tall and wide
- Bonus: Deer-resistant and drought-tolerant
Top 5 Purple Foliage Perennials
These perennials keep the color coming year after year, with foliage that stays richly hued through summer.
Burgundy Lace Painted Fern
Silvery fronds brushed with deep burgundy and purple tones, creating a soft, shimmering effect in shade gardens.
- Zones: 4-9
- Height/Spread: 12-18 inches tall, 18-24 inches wide
- Bonus: Low-maintenance, deer-resistant, and a colorful twist on a classic shade-loving fern
Forever Purple Coral Bells (Heuchera)
Vibrant violet leaves with silver veining and hot pink blooms.
- Zones: 4-9
- Height/Spread: 10-12 inches tall, 16-20 inches wide
- Bonus: Holds color even in winter in mild climates
- Or try Primo® Black Pearl Coral Bells
Black Scallop Bugleweed (Ajuga)
A ground-hugging perennial from Proven Winners® with shiny, black-purple, scalloped leaves.
- Zones: 4-9
- Height/Spread: 4-6 inches tall, 12 inches wide
- Bonus: Excellent groundcover with violet flower spikes
SunSparkler® Firecracker Sedum
Clusters of vibrant, ruby-red succulent foliage form a dense mat, topped with rosy-pink flower clusters in late summer.
- Zones: 4-10
- Height/Spread: 6-8 inches tall and wide
- Bonus: Heat-tolerant, drought-tolerant, and deer-resistant groundcover with season-long color
Chocolate Shogun Astilbe
Unique, dark chocolate-purple foliage with airy plumes of soft pink flowers in early to mid-summer. A dramatic twist on a shade garden favorite.
- Zones: 4-8
- Height/Spread: 2-3 feet tall, 18-24 inches wide
- Bonus: Deer-resistant, pollinator-friendly, and thrives in moist, shady spaces with standout foliage color
Landscaping Uses: Bold Borders and Contrast Queens
Purple foliage adds depth, mood, and high-contrast color to nearly any landscape design. Use these shrubs as:
- Backdrops for other dark foliage plants or moody cottage gardens
- Hedges or privacy screens with seasonal drama
- Contrast and accent plants in all-green, bright chartreuse, or silvery gardens
- Statement plants in container gardens or front yard focal points
- Perennials with purple foliage are perfect for edging pathways
- Underplanting larger shrubs
- Creating vivid textural layers in rock gardens and shade beds
Care & Maintenance: Keep That Purple Poppin'
To maintain the deepest, richest purple leaves all season:
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Sunlight is key: Most purple foliage color develops best in full sun (6+ hours). Some plants, like Heuchera, tolerate part shade but may fade if too shaded.
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Soil matters: Rich, well-drained soil helps prevent stress. A layer of arborist mulch helps conserve moisture and maintain soil temperatures.
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Water wisely: Water new plants regularly in their first year. Use the Finger Test to check soil moisture.
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Feed for foliage: Use a balanced fertilizer or one with slightly higher nitrogen to support strong leaf growth, but avoid overfeeding.
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Pruning: Avoid harsh pruning, especially for foliage-focused plants. Light shaping is best to avoid cutting away the season's best color.
- Watch for pests: Aphids and spider mites can damage leaf color. Use neem oil or horticultural soap as needed.
A Purple Patch Worth Planting!
Purple foliage plants bring mood, magic, and movement to any yard, holding their own even without blooms. Whether you're chasing a sultry dark-foliage garden vibe or designing an ultra-modern landscape, these richly colored shrubs and perennials are the secret sauce for standout style!
Happy Planting!
