Build Harmony with Purple

Trees, shrubs, perennials, and annuals with purple leaves look exotic yet are serene and soothing in the landscape. Purple leaves have the unique ability to bring out the best in its neighboring plants, no matter what the color.

Purple leaves combine so well with other colors it equally compliments both hot and cool colors. Hot colors include the flashing and bright shades of red, orange, and yellow. The addition of purple leaves to a hot-colored garden, creates a oasis, a cool quiet place for the eyes to rest.

Cool colors include the mild and tame shades of gray, pale pink, and blue. When cool colors are set against purple leaves they come alive. They suddenly gain character which went unnoticed when surrounded by green. In either situation purple leaves enrich the landscape without clashing.

In the plant world, there are many shades of purple which includes reddish burgundy like barberry 'Crimson Pygmy', or the nearly black of mondo grass 'Nigrescens'. For the purposes of this article when I refer to purple leaves it means to be inclusive of reddish burgundy and the nearly black purple as well.

Each year, new varieties of plants with purple leaves are introduced at nurseries. Their rise in popularity in recent years is a testimony to their versatility in the landscape, and containers, as well. The plants described here is just a small sample of plants with purple leaves that I enjoy.

Redbud 'Forest Pansy' (Cercis canadensis) has new leaves shimmer with purple and mature to maroon. They are delightfully heart shaped with rounded edges. This outstanding tree is covered with magenta pink flowers in early spring. It is a choice it you are looking a flowering tree for a small yard, it grows 20 feet tall by 25 feet wide. Good companion plants for Forest Pansy include: New Zealand flax 'Maori Sunrise' with striking variegated colors of magenta and apricot; fountain grass 'Hameln' with mauve blooms; escallonia 'Newport Dwarf'; and helianthemum 'Dazzler'.

A recent introduction, Ninebark 'Diabolo' (Physocarpus opulifolius), is grown for its wonderfully intense reddish purple foliage.

To add to its beauty, Diabolo displays clusters of creamy white flowers in summer.

This is a deciduous shrub that prefers sun and grows 6 to8 ft tall with equal width. A relative of our PNW native ninebark, it is ideal for our climate and our acidic soils. It is a great choice for any wildlife or native garden where seasonal changes and habitat are important. I often plant Diabolo with spireas such as 'Pink Princess' or 'Shirobana' because they each tolerate wet soil.

Another favorite is Elderberry 'Black Knight'(Sambucus nigra) which has extraordinary color in both the leaves and the flowers.Named for its dark purple, almost black leaves, it blooms in June with massive 12 inch clusters of light pink flowers. The flowers sparkle against the dark purple leaves.

A deciduous shrub, Black Knight appreciates full sun for best color, it quickly grows to 8 feet tall and as wide. For magnificent color contrast plant it with variegated weigela 'Nana' or variegated hardy fuchsia 'Tricolor'. Please note you will also a find similar very variety called 'Black Beauty' in local nurseries.

I absolutely loves ferns, so I was very excited when Japanese Painted Fern 'Burgundy Frost' (Athyrium niponicum) became available. Burgundy Frost adds texture and luminescence to a shade garden. It has intense purple fronds frosted with a metallic grey. It's a great companion to plants with yellow leaves such as Japanese forest grass 'Aureola', or Japanese variegated sedge, and hosta with yellow variegation. It also works with the evergreen shrubs sarcococca, or skimma and the evergreen perennial bergenia.

I hope you now have a better appreciation for purple leaves, and what a fantastic addition they are to any landscape. May I dare say - 'Is anything more satisfying than gardening?'

Author Mary Jo Buza, is a landscape designer and owner of Gardens by Design. She has 25 years experience maintaining, designing, and teaching gardening in the South Sound region. For more information on a custom landscape design or consultation call 923-1733.