Pretty in Purple. Purple Foliage Shrubs, Trees & Perennials for Your Landscape.

Flowers are great but a unique color throughout the season, priceless

I have to say that I love plants that have unique foliage colors. Think yellow arborvitaes, blue spruces, red Japanese maples and even purple, yes purple. these mingle well against the greens, make pinks pop and develops some depth in any garden. Here are a few of my favorite purples that you can try in your landscape.

Ninebark.

These vibrant shrubs come in a wide variety of colors and sizes making them a perfect replacement for the invasive barberry. There are plenty of dark purple varieties for this easy to grow shrub. One of my favorites being 'Ginger Wine'. For a compact variety try 'Panther'.

Purple Leafed Sand Cherry.

This small tree not only had beautiful purple leaves but will add an extra pop of white flowers in spring. More of a shrub than a tree, unless pruned, this can be used in small spaces.

Smoke Bush.

These are named for their unusual plumage that covers the top of the shrub or tree like a layer of smoke in the last summer. The most common variety that you may come across is 'Royal Purple', a small tree, it has a tendency to be a bit scraggly. I suggest adding a dwarf variety to your landscape. 'Winecraft Black' tops out around 5-6ft and has a deep purple color that turns deep red in the fall. A perfect addition to your gardens.

Purple Beech Tree

This luxurious purple tree will grow to be 50-60' tall and enjoys an area that is a moist but will not tolerate a site that stays wet so plan accordingly when adding this to your landscape. A unique tree specimen for your landscape that will grow in a nice rounded mound form and add color to your tree line. It turns a warm copper color in the fall. Want something even more unique? Try a 'Purple Fountain' beech a smaller weeping variety that turns gold in the fall.

'Thunder Cloud' Plum

A good replacement for the invasive 'Crimson King' Norway Maple. In the spring this tree will be covered in a blanket of pink blossoms before the leaves emerge and produces small red edible fruit. Great option with loads of interest for your landscape.

Coral Bells.

Another tool in the arsenal of purple foliage. These coral bells come in shades from red to near black. Easy to plant perennials that can sit in the sun or shade. Clump these in groups of three to make a bigger impact along the edge of your gardens.

Sedum.

Add sedums to warm areas of your landscape. These purple perennials will add unique color and succulent like texture to your garden and crowns of pink flowers in late summer. With numerous varieties and different heights these pick from ones that are true purple likes a Purple emperor or ones with hints of purple like the picture above.