They say that money can’t buy you happiness, and that’s true, but it can buy you an awful lot of purple houseplants.
Now, I’ve always loved the idea of a home filled with dramatic and slightly unusual houseplants, but in reality I’m often guilty of buying yet another green plant (snake plants are my current obsession) because… well, because I know how to keep those alive.
Give me something particularly precious-looking? Why, I immediately start worrying that I’m going to kill it within a fortnight. I did, anyway, until I fell hard and fast for some of the easiest purple houseplants out there.
6 Purple Houseplants
I love purple flowers, so it stands to reason I’d love purple houseplants, too. Still, there’s something about deep plum, burgundy and violet foliage that makes even the most ordinary windowsill scream ‘quiet luxury’.
And you don’t necessarily need to become a houseplant expert to get the look, either; there are some surprisingly low maintenance plants that come in glorious shades of purple. To help you whittle things down, I’ve picked six of my favorites below, and I’ve deliberately gone for plants that give you plenty of purple color without demanding your undivided attention…
1. Purple Waffle Plant
The name might sound more like something you’d order at brunch, but the purple waffle plant (Hemigraphis alternata) is actually one of the most stylish little houseplants around.
Its leaves have a gorgeous puckered texture, with purple and green coloring that catches the light beautifully. Better still, it’s compact, growing to around 6 inches tall, so you don’t need a huge amount of space to make an impact.
Just give it medium to bright light and keep the compost slightly moist rather than letting it dry out completely, as too little light can cause those rich purple tones to fade.
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2. Purple Shamrock
If you’ve never grown a purple shamrock (Oxalis triangularis), prepare to become slightly obsessed. Its triangular leaves are beautiful enough on their own, but this is one of those houseplants that has a little more personality than you’d expect.
The leaves open during the day and fold up as light levels drop, giving the plant an almost butterfly-like quality. It also produces delicate pink or white flowers above the foliage, and I think this is one of the easiest ways to introduce yourself to the world of purple houseplants without buying something enormous.
Pop something like this purple shamrock from CZ Grains into a simple ceramic pot, give it bright indirect light and well-drained compost, and let the foliage do the talking. Oh, and don’t panic if it eventually looks as though it’s dying back! Purple shamrocks can have a natural dormant period, after which they’ll return with fresh growth.
3. Purple Orchid
There are few things that make a room look expensive quite as quickly as an orchid. And, while orchids have a reputation for being slightly intimidating, moth orchids are actually considered easy-to-grow houseplants. (They’re also the birth month orchid for January, if you’re wondering).
Their flowers can last for several months, and purple is among the colors available, alongside pink, white, yellow and burgundy. It’s a really good choice if you’re trying to create that slightly “expensive hotel” look at home; just pop one beside the sink, on a console table or somewhere with plenty of filtered light and suddenly the room feels considerably more put together.
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4. Tradescantia ‘Purple Heart’
If your definition of a good houseplant is “the more purple, the better” (and if it is, I love that for you), meet Tradescantia, and, in particular, the glorious Tradescantia pallida ‘Purple Heart’ from CZ Grains.
Unlike some plants on this list, this one isn’t merely purple around the edges; its foliage is properly, gloriously purple, with small pink flowers providing a pretty contrast.
You can grow it both an indoor houseplant and an outdoor annual, and Tradescantia in general is popular partly because it’s so easy to grow, and it’s an especially lovely option if you like your houseplants to trail. Let it spill over the edge of a shelf or hanging planter for true purple majesty!
5. Purple Rubber Plant
Now we’re getting into statement-purple houseplant territory! The rubber plant (Ficus elastica) is already one of those houseplants that makes a room feel instantly more grown-up, but look for a dark-leaved ‘Burgundy’ type and you’ve got something altogether more dramatic.
The glossy leaves emerge in deep red-burgundy tones before maturing to very dark green, giving the plant a wonderfully moody appearance. Rubber plants are also relatively low-maintenance when given the right conditions, and they can tolerate some lower light, although brighter indirect light helps them maintain good growth and color.
Basically, I’d choose something like the air-purifying Burgundy Rubber Plant from Wekiva Foliage above if you’re trying to fill an awkward empty corner rather than decorate a windowsill.
6. African Violet
Finally, we have a classic addition to the world of purple houseplants – and I think it’s time we stopped overlooking it, because African violets are compact, inexpensive and wonderfully pretty. Their velvety foliage and clusters of flowers that can come in beautiful shades of violet, mauve, pink, red and white; better stilll, they can (given the right conditions) flower for months at a time, too.
They’re particularly useful if you don’t have room for a huge statement plant. A little African violet on a bedside table, kitchen windowsill or desk can add a surprisingly rich hit of colour without taking over the room.
And there’s something rather lovely about the fact that this is a plant your grandmother might have grown, but it can still look completely at home in a modern interior. Sometimes the classics really are classics for a reason.
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I’m not suggesting you need to replace every green houseplant in your home with something purple. That might be a little much, even for me. Still, adding one or two plants with deep violet, burgundy or plum coloring can completely change the way a collection looks.
The contrast makes your greener plants stand out, while the darker foliage adds a little more depth and drama to the room. And that’s perhaps my favourite thing about purple houseplants: they look like far bigger divas than they actually are.
Which, as far as I’m concerned, is exactly the sort of gardening bargain I’m looking for.
