7 Purple Houseplants to Add Color to Your Home


Purple houseplants can add a splash of color to your home. Which ones should you consider growing?
By     

Your home’s interior design is enhanced when you have plants; they add life, light, and warmth to any space. Why not go beyond simply adding greenery to also adding a touch of purple? 

The color purple can have a calming and revitalizing effect on the body, which helps with concentration and comprehension. Here’s a list of purple plants that will add a splash of calming color to your home.

1. Coleus

Coleus is a small but hardy houseplant known for its leaves, which come in hues of emerald, pink, white, yellow, maroon, and purple. Its leaves can also be used for medicinal purposes.

A coleus plant doesn’t require much maintenance – they only need an adequate amount of light and humidity. 

2. Ti Plant

Ti plants, which are also known as cordyline, cabbage palm, or good luck plants, are  houseplants that have vibrant purple leaves with hot pink, white, or purple streaks. 

Ti plants grow best in a well-lit room. If you prefer to liven up your patio or cabana with this plant, place it where it will get direct sunlight. And although it does well in drought conditions, the leaves may turn brown if it goes too long without water.  

This plant can handle the humidity levels in most houses, but if the air in your house is excessively dry, increasing the humidity level around your ti plant will help it maintain its exuberance.

red ti houseplant in a simple pot

3. Rex Begonia

The rex begonia is a beautiful houseplant that has variegated leaves. Other names for the rex begonia include painted leaf begonias or fancy leaf begonias. 

This plant grows best in humid areas that receive indirect light. They should be watered regularly, but be careful not to overwater them to avoid the development of powdery mildew. This plant is ideal for adding color to shaded areas in flowerbeds and landscaping. 

They grow well in pots and can be used to brighten shady balconies and patios.

rex begonia houseplant on the table

4. Waffle Plant

The waffle plant is a charming tiny house plant with brilliant purple metallic leaves that look great on any table or desk. It makes an excellent inside houseplant because of its extraordinary air-purifying qualities. 

The purple waffle plant can also be grown in gardens as a perennial in areas not prone to freezing; it’s otherwise considered an annual plant.

This plant only needs two things to thrive: warm temperatures and water. Plant them in humus-rich soil and fertilize them once a month if necessary.

waffle plant close up picture of leaves

5. Purple Shamrock

The purple shamrock, sometimes called the faux shamrock, is a plant with extremely deep purple leaves. It also produces small, trumpet-shaped pink or white flowers in the spring.

This plant grows best in full sun to moderate shade, which equates to four hours of direct sunlight on most days. It can also grow in a variety of soil types as long as the soil is well-drained. Well-established plants are drought-tolerant.

purple shamrock houseplant decoration

6. Persian Shield Plant

The Persian shield plant has thin, pointed leaves that grow to be 4 – 7 inches long. The veins of each leaf can be purple or silver.

This plant can be placed in a planter outside when it’s warm outside but be sure to find a place for it inside when the temperature drops. Whether inside or out, it thrives in full sun to moderate shade. 

Keep the plant’s soil moist and keep it in a humid environment. The best way to increase humidity is to place a small layer of water and pebbles on a saucer and balance the pot on top. 

beautiful purple leaves of a shield plant

7. Wandering Jew

Wandering Jew is an herbaceous annual that has beautiful purple and silver-striped leaves. It grows well in any indoor environment.

Place this plant in indirect light and maintain a moderate moisture level for the soil. Avoid pouring water directly onto the crown because it could cause unsightly rot. Make sure it doesn’t get too dry, especially during the cooler winter months, and feed it once a month with a half-strength liquid fertilizer.

This low-maintenance plant should be cleaned up in the early spring before its active growing season begins.

Alaine Connolly
Alaine has been working way too hard in horticulture since 1992, beautifying golf courses, resorts, and hotels. She is a part time landscape designer who works full time caring for a 28,000 square foot public garden. At home, she maintains her own 400 square feet plot. Alaine lives in northern Illinois - zone 5b.
More ArticlesHouseplants