These purple plants that grow from cuttings are the best options for those who want a colorful garden with little effort!
If you’re looking to break away from the sea of green in your garden, why not try some purple plants that grow from cuttings? Here are some beautiful alternatives you could try!
Purple Plants that Grow From Cuttings
1. Wandering Jew
Botanical Name: Tradescantia zebrina
Arguably the most popular plant of the Tradescantia genus, the wandering jew has a beautiful variegation of silver and purple stripes running down its foliage. The best bet is to root it in water; in fact, you need not worry about transplanting it to soil as it can survive in water for a lifetime.
During the active growing season, snip a 5-6 inch stem and place it in a jar of water. You’ll notice new roots in about a week.
2. Purple Heart
Botanical Name: Tradescantia pallida
Famed for its deep purple foliage that intensifies in full sun, the Purple Heart propagates effortlessly from stem cuttings. Simply cut a piece in the spring, let it callous for a day to prevent rot, and then plant in moist soil.
While you can definitely house it in pots, the foliage looks more fascinating as groundcover or garden borders, especially in warm climates.
3. Coleus
Botanical Name: Plectranthus scutellarioides
Coleus’s serrated-edged foliage offers a riot of color, including shades of purple, burgundy, and green. Growing this colorful houseplant is pretty straightforward, just like other plants on the list. You can either root the cuttings in water first or grow them directly in soil.
Just keep the medium somewhat moist in the initial days and the plant; root in water or directly in soil to start a new plant that will turn heads with its colorful, patterned foliage.
4. Rex Begonia
Botanical Name: Begonia rex-cultorum
With its dramatic purple-splashed leaves, Rex Begonia is a stunner in any shaded garden. However, this plant is a bit finicky about its humidity needs and would appreciate high moisture levels in the air. So, you can line its cuttings on the kitchen counter or hang them in your shower room, especially on cold, dry days.
5. Persian Shield
Botanical Name: Strobilanthes dyerianus
One of those metallic houseplants that displays a beautiful blend of purple, silver, and black, the Persian Shield is perfect for humid spots that don’t receive much light. For successful propagation, cut a young stem in early summer, strip the lower leaves, and plant in a peat-based soil mix.
Keep it warm and mist regularly to maintain the high humidity it loves.
6. Purple Passion Plant
Botanical Name: Gynura aurantiaca
Its soft, hairy leaves shimmer with a purple glow, ideal for adding texture to your indoor garden. Propagate by stem cuttings in spring or early summer. Insert the cutting into a soil mix rich in organic matter, ensuring the few remaining leaves are above soil.
Keep it under indirect sunlight and watch as the vivid hues intensify.
7. Inch Plant
Botanical Name: Callisia repens ‘Purple Queen’
This mat-forming plant looks beautiful in hanging baskets with its small, rounded foliage, which features a beautiful blend of lavender and green color that becomes even more pronounced when exposed to bright, indirect sunlight.
Although easy to root, cover it with a poly wrap to create a mini greenhouse to meet its humidity needs.
