There’s no doubt about it, houseplants are a joy to behold. And when you want to add a new dimension to your collection, what could be better than purple hues to bring stunning color and diversity?
Okay, full disclosure… not every plant has deep purple foliage from the root base to the tip of every leaf.
So in this article, you will find a list of the 25 best purple house plants ranging from plants that are pure purple to those that dazzle and wow because of their architectural structure coupled with a harmonious blend of purple and green. Rest assured, there’s sure to be something in here for you.
- Begonia 'Maori Haze'
- Plant Care
- Caladium
- Plant Care
- Calathea Rattlesnake
- Plant Care
- Coleus
- Plant Care
- Echeveria
- Plant Care
- Greenovia
- Plant Care
- Iron-Cross Begonia
- Plant Care
- Persian Shield
- Plant Care
- Prayer Plant
- Plant Care
- Purple Oxalis
- Plant Care
- Purple Passion (Gynura Aurantiaca)
- Plant Care
- Red Aglaonema
- Plant Care
- Rex Begonia
- Plant Care
- Rubber Tree (Ficus Elastica)
- Plant Care
- Silver Squill
- Plant Care
- Sweet Caroline ‘Purple’ Potato Vine
- Plant Care
- Ti Plant
- Plant Care
- Tradescantia Pallida 'Purpurea' Purple Heart
- Plant Care
- Purple Waffle Plant Hemigraphis Alternata
- Plant Care
- Wandering Jew
- Plant Care
- Purple House Plants Summary
Begonia ‘Maori Haze’
Keyword Plant Alt Name
Begonia Maori Haze (also known as Begonia rex Beleaf) is an unscented tropical plant with a striking purple leaf pattern and shape.
The foliage of this evergreen rhizome perennial makes it the perfect houseplant that boasts visual interest all year.
Begonia’s need moist, slightly acidic soil and can be prone to powdery mildew.
Plant Care
Caladium
Angel Wings or Elephant Ear
An attractive and unusual flowering plant that boasts large, wafer-thin foliage with varying colors, shapes, and patterns.
Expect vibrant leaf color in pinks, reds, and greens in an array of shapes such as arrows, lances, or hearts.
Needs well-draining and nutrient-rich soil.
Plant Care
Calathea Rattlesnake
Calathea lancifolia
With bold white veins against the purple leaves, the Calathea rattlesnake features narrow-shaped foliage in a reddish-purple color.
Prone to brown or curled leaves if humidity is not high enough.
Well-draining soil that is kept slightly damp during the growing season is a must for this plant.
Plant Care
Coleus
Plectranthus scutellarioides
Mainly grown outdoors, but is a great choice of purple house plant for indoor growing also.
The vibrancy of its rich, purple leaves draws the eye instantly, and the small structure makes it the perfect fancy plant for a windowsill.
This plant gets thirsty during the summer months so water regularly but ensure that water is well-draining to avoid the tendency for root rot.
Plant Care
Echeveria
Native to semi-desert regions, echeverias are flowering plants that are formed as charming leaf-like rosettes.
These beautiful houseplants are one of the best-known rose-shaped succulents. The light purple leaves are fleshy with waxy edges on the exterior.
Great for those new to houseplants. They need very little water and propagate from leaves or ‘pups’ easily.
Plant Care
Greenovia
Another unique-looking succulent (Greenovia dodrantalis) is a species of rose succulent and features circular-shaped petals in symmetrical patterns.
This blossoming flower typically grows in clusters, but as a houseplant, it’s quite rare to find – unless you live in Spain!
Plant in fast-draining, sandy soil with plenty of grit to avoid yellow leaves caused by overwatering.
Plant Care
Iron-Cross Begonia
The iron-cross begonia (begonia masoniana) features wide, dark-color markings that stand out against the green backdrop.
This unique houseplant resembles the German iron cross, thus the name. Its foliage has a coarse, pebbled texture with purple blooms.
Plant in neutral soil and add perlite for drainage. This plant is prone to root rot and mildew if kept damp for long periods.
Plant Care
Persian Shield
Also known as the royal purple plant (Strobilanthes dyeriana) and has to be considered of the best purple house plants thanks to its structural beauty and year-long vibrancy.
A flowering plant that is ideal for growing indoors as an ornamental. With its unique foliage that shimmers in shades of green veins and purple.
This plant thrives in slightly acidic soil and prefers warm and humid conditions. Remember to fertilize with a half-strength fertilizer every 2 weeks during the growing season.
Plant Care
Prayer Plant
The unusual tropical perennial, prayer plant (maranta leuconeura) is mainly noted for the eye-catching patterns on its wide foliage.
This houseplant boasts strikingly marked purple-brown leaves, which fold at night, thus creating the appearance of praying hands. It also exhibits stunning texture with velvet-like fuzzy leaves.
Avoid brown leaf tips and curling leaves by watering with distilled or filtered water.
Plant Care
Purple Oxalis
Oxalis plants (Oxalis triangularis) boast unique pinwheel leaves with bursts of starry blossoms.
This purple-leaf plant has tiny, butterfly-shaped leaves that close at night and will only open in partially shaded environments.
The delicate foliage and small flowers make it the perfect choice for growing in containers.
Plant in nutrient-rich well-draining soil and avoid overwatering (that can cause powdery mildew) and too much sun (that can cause white spots on leaves.
Plant Care
Purple Passion (Gynura Aurantiaca)
With fuzzy purple sheen hairs on its green, velvety foliage, purple passion comes to life as soon as the sun shines on this plant.
This characteristic plant has an upright growing habit when young before spreading like a vine as it matures. You have to love this purple fuzzy plant.
Plant in well-draining soil mixed with perlite and water infrequently to avoid potential pest infestations.
Plant Care
Red Aglaonema
Commonly known as Chinese evergreen, red aglaonema flaunts red-tinted green leaves with elegant purple stripes.
This easy-to-grow, low-maintenance houseplant will add a pop of color to any indoor space no matter where you display it: on the shelf or windowsill – just as long as the plant is in a shaded area.
Needs slightly acidic, well-draining soil to avoid root rot caused by overwatering.
Some argue that it’s best to prune back their rather unattractive flowers as they are said to be nutrient-hungry and will zap your precious plant of energy.
Plant Care
Rex Begonia
Rex begonia (Rex-cultorum) features a broad spectrum of colors, stripes, and shapes.
The primary foliage colors that stand out are purple, silver, pink, and black in unique shapes that make up this pretty tropical plant.
Rex begonia enjoys partially shaded areas, which makes it highly suitable for indoor gardening.
Plant in a rich and loamy potting mix and feed every 4-6 weeks during the growing season.
Plant Care
Rubber Tree (Ficus Elastica)
The leaves of this particular variety of Ficus start with a bright red color when young and turn dark purple once they mature.
This ornamental houseplant is highly popular because of its waxy, shiny leaves, and larger-than-life appearance. Once it has grown to about 2 feet, it makes a beautiful focal point on a table, windowsill, or shelf.
Needs a well-aerated, sandy potting mix and a 10-10-10 fertilizer throughout the growing season.
Plant Care
Silver Squill
Silver squill (Ledebouria socialis) is a species of a bulbous perennial plant and flaunts unique and colorful foliage displaying mottled silver and green leaves with purple hues and stems.
This unusual houseplant is definitely a head-turner when displayed indoors with its silver-colored polka dots on the leaves and the deep purple undersides of its stems.
Benefits from regular fertilizing during the growing season and needs to be planted in well-draining soil to avoid overwatering.
Plant Care
Sweet Caroline ‘Purple’ Potato Vine
One of the most versatile and attractive houseplants is the sweetly named plant Sweet Caroline potato vine (Ipomoea batatas).
This purple leaf plant is mostly cherished for its rich purple foliage with ivy-shaped leaves.
It is easy to care for tolerating most soil types, infrequent watering and low levels of humidity.
Plant Care
Ti Plant
The red-purple-colored Ti plant (Cordyline fruticosa) features flamboyant foliage with a classy appeal.
This plant is the perfect choice for any room that needs a pop of style and color. Most varieties of Ti plants feature strap-like leaves with bright streaks of light and dark purple. To maintain this vibrant foliage, use a high nitrogen fertilizer during the growing season.
These plants have quite specific care needs to thrive. Plant in slightly acidic, well-draining soil and avoid overwatering that can cause leaf drop. Similarly, avoid too much exposure to direct sunlight that can cause the yellowing of leaves.
Plant Care
Tradescantia Pallida ‘Purpurea’ Purple Heart
Purple Heart’s stems and upper leaves feature a deep royal purple shade with a subtle hint of turquoise that darkens as the foliage matures.
The blooms of these unusual purple house plants appear in small clusters throughout the warm season with vividly pink flowers that remain open in the morning.
Once mature, these plants are drought tolerant.
Plant Care
Purple Waffle Plant Hemigraphis Alternata
The interestingly named purple waffle plant is also known as red ivy.
This tropical perennial is a common houseplant with a metallic-tone purple color and striking appearance.
To keep your waffle plant in its tip-top condition, make sure it receives adequate sunlight and is planted in slightly acidic and moist soil. Otherwise, it may lose its purple coloring.
Plant Care
Wandering Jew
The purple-striped Wandering Jew (Tradescantia zebrina) has small petal blooms in violet or white colors.
This widely available trailing houseplant needs more attention during its younger years, from regular watering to feeding.
The characteristic silver and olive markings on the top leaf layer and the dark purple on the undersides make this plant the center of attention.
Plant Care
Purple House Plants Summary
This list of stunning purple house plants shows off a large array of species from succulents to border plants all of which can thrive indoors and bring a splash of flair to your living space.
Use our plant care guidelines for each plant to find the variety that suits your growing space and home environment and just watch it flourish.
