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Our selection of six of the best purple indoor plants provides a nice and attractive look to your interior. It’s a great way to add contrast to a green forest environment if you like the idea of mixing things up a bit.
Choose bright purple plants for a vibrant color or dark, inky plants for a more contemporary feel. We asked plant experts to share their thoughts on the best purple indoor plants that both look good and are easy to care for so they don’t take up too much of your time.
Follow their suggestions to help you create an indoor plantscape The best indoor plants In a range of plum and violet shades.
The best purple indoor plants
Why not consider before you make your choice Fast growing indoor plants Also, as well The best tall house plants To add height, and Flowering indoor plants To add color, especially if you like purple flowers too. Now find out what our expert-led top tips are for the best purple indoor plants.
1. Velvet plant
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The wonderfully named velvet plant’s gorgeous purple foliage is as plush as you’d expect. Also known as purple passion, the color and texture of this stunning houseplant means it will soon become a favourite.
Easy-going velvet plants like bright light and sunny windowsills but will need protection from afternoon sun. The purple color of the leaves will be lighter, brighter and more vivid.
Velvet plants do best in well-draining soil, and such as are well-watered and allowed to dry out completely before the next watering.
Expect rapid growth (the good news is you’ll be able to take lots of cuttings to get more of these beauties) and keep your plants compact by regularly deadheading and cutting off any leggy growth. We think it’s one of the best purple indoor plants around.
2. Purple oxalis
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The rare and desirable Oxalis triangularis plant has beautiful distinctive purple leaves that close at night and open again in the morning. They look like butterflies. This amazing plant also has edible flowers that taste like lemon.
This plant is easy going and forgiving too. If you miss watering, it will soon bounce back. ‘It prefers bright indirect light to medium indirect light,’ says the home decor and plant expert Emily Offrey. ‘Water about once a week in spring and summer and usually twice a week. Cut off the flowers after they die back, near the base of the stem. Just make sure to keep it away from AC and heat vents.’
This plant likes a moist place so stand it on a saucer of pebbles to keep the surrounding humidity high, especially during winter. Allow your plants to rest during the colder months by reducing the amount of water you give them. Then you’ll see lush growth in the spring.
3. Tradescantia ‘Zebrina’
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If you like trailing plants, Tradescantia ‘Zebrina’ is the one for you. Fast-growing with an easygoing nature, it’s also a great choice for new plant parents, and will soon be happily trailing your shelves, room dividers or boho macrame hangers with lots of lush, leafy growth.
Regularly cut back any leggy bits from your Tradescantia ‘Zebrina’ to encourage a bushier plant. Pinch the stem tips to encourage branching, and cut back any wayward stems. Try propagating your plants to get babies by taking stem cuttings and rooting them in water or soil.
While the leaves are predominantly purple, silver and green are also found, creating a beautiful pattern. These plants aren’t fussy about where you put them but grow best in indirect light. Avoid placing your plant in direct sunlight, as it can burn and dry the leaves.
You need to water them only when the soil is dry. Give them a good drink then let the water drain well.
4. Coleus
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Some of these colorful plants with their attractive bold-patterned leaf markings make a great addition to your houseplant collection. In addition to purple, this attractive foliage plant comes in pink, white, cream, yellow and maroon, with different colors often mixed together on a single leaf.
Coleus are also easy to grow, often reaching full size in less than a year. The main story with this plant is the foliage. The flowers are nothing special and should be cut off or they will set seed, reducing the amount of beautiful colorful leaves you get on your plant.
Place your plant where it gets plenty of light but move it out of direct sunlight in the summer as this will fade the color of the leaves. Their frilled, puckered leaves mean they are one of the best purple indoor plants you can invest in.
5. Begonia
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There are hundreds of different types of begonias to choose from, but if you want one with purple leaves, one of the Begonia Rex varieties is a good place to start. Some have a mixture of dark purple hearts, edges or ribs, with splashes of green, pink or cream in the mix, which is why they are known as ‘painted leaf’ begonias, while others are pure purple.
‘Begonias have long been a favorite of plant collectors because there are always new ones being created,’ says the plant expert. Daryl Cheng. ‘They hybridize easily to produce new varieties.’
Try ‘Nightfall’ for gorgeous shades of purple, with gorgeous leaves edged with thick purple stripes, with dark hearts and ribs. It looks stunning against a light green background. Meanwhile ‘Black Heart’ is a mix of purple and dark red, or try ‘Purple Curl’ for a hit of pure plum.
6. Echeveria ‘Purple Pearl’
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‘Echeveria plants are the darlings of the little succulent world,’ says the plant expert Johanna Silver. ‘They are always rosette forms and may be fuzzy or lumpy, or have frilly tips, a powdery coating or a metallic sheen. They come in a range of colors, from pale pink to the deepest purple.’
With its small but fleshy leaves and delicate purple tones, ‘Purple Pearl’ is the one if you’re looking for a dark shade.
Like most succulents, Echeveria prefers full sun, is not keen on poor locations and will tolerate well watering and then allowing the soil to dry completely. Give ‘Purple Pearl’ the sunny spot it craves and the color will darken significantly, taking your plant to the next level of deep purple.
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Now that you have all the inspo you need to choose the best purple indoor plants, why not take the search further and include some leafy beauties as well. Best tropical indoor plants And the best Low maintenance indoor plants for the living room To keep you plant collection fluff-free and on-trend.
