One way to add a new look to the garden this season is by incorporating plants with unusual leaf color, and burgundy foliage is in abundance this year. Look to old favorites as well as recently introduced varieties that offer dazzling plums, chocolate browns, and mahogany reds.
Plants with purple-toned leaves can easily be found in annuals, herbs, and perennials. Whether a ground-hugging punch of purple is needed or an elegant focal point in a mass of green, the choices are limitless and very exciting, too.
While a whole garden bed of purple foliage may be a bit overwhelming, a small grouping of burgundy-leafed plants strategically placed will be more effective. Try repeating burgundy-rich tones in two or three different areas to provide continuity. Use the same plant or choose another with similar toned leaves. Fortunately, burgundy is a very easy color to blend and adapts well to most gardens.
For starters, look for cultivars named ‘Atropurpureum’, ‘Nigrescens’, or ‘Purpurescens’—a visit to the local nursery will unveil many more options.
Look to annuals to add colorful foliage interest to the garden. One of their best advantages is the versatility they offer by their short life span. Yes, annuals need to be planted each year, but don’t get in a rut—try something new. Try something purple.
The castor bean plant, Ricinus communis, is a star among foliage plants with its huge, deeply indented coppery red leaves and reddish purple stems. This is easy to grow from seed if containerized plants are not available. Attaining a height of nearly five feet, this magnanimous wonder deserves a special spot..
Hibiscus ‘Red Shield’ is unlike the more familiar shiny-leafed hibiscus that most gardeners know. It has rich purple foliage and can reach five feet in the garden. ‘Red Shield’ is an effective accent plant that can be underplanted with other annuals or groundcover. It may need staking in a windy site, but pinching it back will help make this plant more compact. Choose a sunny or lightly shaded, well-drained spot.
The annual purple fountain grass has become a “must-have” for many garden enthusiasts. The most voiced complaint? “It isn’t a perennial!” But even the most snobbish of perennial purists lower their standards each spring and pick up a few of these gems. It is a gorgeous sight when massed but equally pretty when a single plant acts as an accent in an urn or garden bed. Slender burgundy leaves are topped with reddish purple plumes by midsummer.
Coleus features a rich palette of colors and reddish purples are among the choices. Traditionally a shade plant, some coleus are bred to be grown in full sun without color fading, so this plant can really adapt to many different light exposures. It is an invaluable plant for adding swatches of color throughout a garden.
Among herbs, Perilla is perhaps one of the deepest purples, bordering on black. Its coarse, crinkled leaves and burgundy red stems add wonderful texture and color to a garden. A member of the basil family, Perilla is also called the beefsteak plant due to its use in tenderizing meats; it is also said to make a fine vinegar. Growing best in full sun, Perilla reaches two to three feet in height and does self seed.
Perilla’s relative, purple-leafed basil, is equally pleasing to the eye and palate. Purple-leafed sage has wonderful scented fuzzy foliage to enhance the herb garden, containers, or the perennial border, as does bronze fennel’s fine smoky purple foliage.
Perennials
Okay. Maybe there are too many coral bells to choose from today and the number of purple Heuchera varieties shows no signs of decreasing. ‘Palace Purple’, the Perennial Plant of the Year in 1991, is one of the favorites with its purple-bronze color on top and pinkish purple underneath. Newer selections have added pewter tones, such as ‘Pewter Moon’ and ‘Pewter Veil’; mottled characteristics, such as ‘Garnet’ and ‘Plum Pudding’; and ruffled foliage, such as ‘Amethyst Mist’. Lesser known Heuchera villosa purpurea features matte purple leaves which are understated but very pretty.
Euphorbia ‘Chameleon’ is a fairly new introduction from the Spurge family. Slender leaves emerge grayish purple and deepen by midsummer. Its deep color really stands out in the garden particularly in fall as other plants begin to face. A mounding habit of ten to twelve inches suggests a spot in the front of the border.
The sedums offer lush purple tones in leaf such as Sedum ‘Mohrchren’ and ‘Arthur Branch’, both 18 to 24 inches tall. ‘Elizabeth’ is a ground hugging variety with dark maroon leaves. Sedum are known for their ease of care and reliability. Best purple color is achieved in full sun.
A low-growing groundcover to dress up areas beneath trees is Ajuga, or bugleweed. Another easy to grow perennial, many varieties of ajuga feature bronzy, burgundy leaves and most stay beneath six inches in height, forming dense, matlike coverage. Try early-blooming spring bulbs such as scilla or grape hyacinths in beds of purple-leafed ajuga.
A stately plant for the shade garden is Cimicifuga, or snakeroot. Two striking purple varieties include ‘Brunette’ and ‘Hillside Black Beauty’. Fernlike, rich burgundy foliage decorates the summer garden, and white flower spires reach a whopping six feet in early fall. These are unbelievably attractive plants well worth investigating.
Ligularia can also contribute burgundy color to shady areas. Bold, handsome leaves characterize this perennial which does especially well in wet areas. A height of three to four feet works well as a background plant or showy accent.
Date: February 21, 2000
Author: Ellen Panozzo
Ellen Panozzo is a Horticulturist at The Planter's Palette