A Gardeners Forum Forums Gardening Reference Gardening in 2003 purple foliage plants

looking to add some purple foliage plants to some spots in yard.would like to know what all is out there& if will grow sun/shade/full shade.........I have one spot that is full shade is 12 ft at back of a shed.shed is gold with black trim.
also if it blooms or not and what time of yr it blooms.plus needs to be "hades resistant for 40 days of hell" I don't mind watering 4 times a day

Njoynit,
One that comes to mind immediately is
the Purple Sweet potato Vine~"Blackie"
I think it is, looks awesome with the
lime green one, somebody had in a
mystery picture, was it you???
Can't remember, Brain Drain!!!
I'm pooped!!
(I have been in the yard, most of the day,
pulling, raking, chopping, throwing, rollin'
walking, sat down to eat an apple with the
wee~one, then we walked and picked up the
oldest from school and now the wee~ones taking
a quick nap and I'm back outside for more grueling
work, but I love it, it was about 60 )

I'll look up somemore tonight!!!

Hmmm... I saw a neat purple ivy looking thing at the nursery on Sunday...if i get a chance I'll go back and get the name for you. I didn't look at it too close, I was on a mission for some star jasmine...

Njoynit, how about Tradescantia pallida 'Purple Heart'? Here's a pic:

Purple Heart

It's a perrenial, hardy in zones 8a thru 11. Tolerates sun to part shade, very drought tolerant (recommended for xeriscaping).
Blooms throughout the year with small pink flowers, which are rather insignificant, it's grown for it's purple to burgundy foliage.
Makes an excellent ground cover, but if not restrained can become invasive.
It is very easily propagated by cuttings.

Will post others as I think of them...


Nikkal

How about oxalis regnellii - purple shamrock. It can be a bit invasive but easy to pull out. Doesn't like it colder than zone 7b even though this site says it will take it. I brought in some last winter and the ones I left outside didn't make it. We did have a particularly hard winter though.
http://www.plantdelights.com/Catalog/Current/Detail/00589.html

There's also a corydalis with purple leaves.
http://www.rainyside.com/features/plant_gallery/perennials/CorydalisPurpleLeaf.html

How about purple leafed sage - salvia officinalis 'purpurea'.
http://www.gilbertiesherbs.com/herb_guide/gilb_hg_results_main.cfm?nameValue=Purple%20Sage

There's also purple ruffles basil - Ocimum basilicum 'Purple Ruffles'.
http://www.gilbertiesherbs.com/herb...n.cfm?nameValue=Purple%20Ruffles%20Basil

Newt

I have the purple heart .i know it as purple jew.it does flower great as long as i keep breaking pieces off and sticking in ground or in pots.have 3 containers of it and a few in ground around tree with my aujuga& hosta.the hanging basket one needs divided again.they get petty rooty
I was watching HGTV when seen some purple shamrock.it is what caused me to think of purple foliaged plants to add elsewhere in yard.they had grown as a groundcover was hosta and some kind of purple shrub that had plum in the name
I have some seeds for purple ruffles basil& i grow the blackie sweet potato vine& some wandering jew vine(it grows darker in shaded spot)oh and have some mullin seeds that will be purple

Ohhhhh Nikkal another mystery solved and you didn't even know it! I have the purple heart in a hanging basket....will tag it! Thanx

There are several purple leaved Heuchera cultivars, such as 'Palace Purple', which grow well in shade.

Glad I could help, Catlover , even if it was by accident!!


Nikkal

Nikkal, I always knew purple heart as moses in the basket. I like the purple heart name better. have a pot of it to bring in for the winter.