The Beauty of Striped Foliage with Purple Undersides
Plants with colorful variegated leaves are always eye-catching in gardens and indoor spaces. But some varieties take it a step further, combining striped foliage with a rich purple underside for dramatic contrast. These plants provide visual depth and sparkle lighting up shady corners or softening bright spaces. In this article we’ll explore some of the most popular striped leaf houseplants and perennials that showcase purple undersides.
Tradescantia Zebrina – The Stripe and Shimmer Queen
Perhaps the queen of purple-underside foliage is Tradescantia zebrina, also called inch plant or wandering Jew. This fast-growing houseplant displays stunning silver stripes traversing deep green leaves. Turn them over to reveal the vibrant magenta-purple undersides, which seem to glow. The striking contrast makes the leaves appear to shimmer as they catch the light.
Along with its pretty leaves, Tradescantia zebrina has small purple-blue flowers in the summer. However, it’s grown primarily for its fabulous foliage. There are also unique types with different colored leaves, such as “Quadricolor” and “Burgundy.” Indoors, give Tradescantia some light and keep the soil just barely damp. Prune back long stems to encourage bushiness.
Fittonia Albivenis – Nerve Plant with Purple Undersides
Another houseplant grown mainly for its leaves is Fittonia albivenis, or nerve plant This species displays a netted vein pattern with main veins etched in white across small green leaves. Flip them over to see deep purple undersides. The contrast showcases the intricate veining dramatically.
Although nerve plant enjoys moist soil, it’s prone to fungal issues if overwatered. Provide bright indirect light indoors. Pruning encourages dense growth. There are some fun varieties too, like ‘Red Anne’ with pink-red veining over green.
Persian Shield – Vibrant Tropical Color
Persian shield (Strobilanthes dyerianus) isn’t variegated but has intense solid purple foliage that almost glows. The tropical subshrub makes quite an impact in containers on patios or indoors. The fast-growing, mounding purple plant is popular for containers, hanging baskets, or planting in a semi-tropical shade garden.
Coral Bell Plants with Purple Leaves (Heuchera)
Heuchera ‘Forever Purple’ (left) and ‘Palace Purple’ (right)
The leaves of coral bells are show-stopping. They have deeply lobed plum-purple, pink-purple, maroon, and glossy burgundy leaves. This small, clump-forming plant does well in most soils and does best in full sun to complete shade. Coral bells are great for mixed beds and containers because they come in many color combinations.
Coral Bells “Forever Purple,” which has glossy purple leaves with fluted edges, is one example. The coral bells plant called “Grape Expectations” grows in a mound and has leaves that are purple like grapes and have striking black veins. Large, evergreen, lobed leaves that are dark purple on top and burgundy red on the bottom of Purple Palace Coral Bells.
Caladiums – Vividly Patterned Leaves
Gardeners love caladiums for their dramatic foliage splashed in various vivid combinations of white, pink, red and greens. Turn the leaves over to find they are typically deep purple underneath, which heightens the color contrast. There are too many caladium varieties to name, but some feature purple undersides with white and pink variegation above like ‘White Christmas’ and ‘Carolyn Whorton’.
This group of plants shows how beautiful and interesting leaves with purple undersides and striped tops can be in both indoor and outdoor settings. Find these plants that are very different from each other. Their bright colors and shimmering textures will make your home and garden look better.
The calathea at a glance:
Botanical name: Calathea.
Other names: Prayer plant, zebra plant, rattlesnake plant, peacock plant, cathedral plant.
Height and growth rate: Calatheas have a moderately fast growth rate when the plant is happy. It can reach maturity within a year, reaching a potential height of up to two feet before stopping growing.
Light: Needs indirect light. Direct sunlight can burn the leaves of this plant.
Watering: It needs to be watered regularly and to be kept moist but not soggy.
Soil: This plant needs slightly acidic soil with a pH of around 6.5.
Temperature: For this tropical plant, its essential to maintain warmer temperatures.
Toxicity to pets: Non-toxic.
Plant parent level: On the trickier side, so a great choice for experienced plant parents – but not impossible for beginners.
There are more than 300 species of calathea in the wild, boasting a huge variety of arresting leaf colours, leaf veins and patterns. Some of them even grow eye-catching tropical flowers. The most popular and commonly found versions kept as houseplants are:
• Calathea zebrina: Sometimes known as the zebra plant, this calathea has stripy green markings on the top of its leaves, while the undersides are a bright, rich purple.
The undersides of Calathea makoyana leaves are light purple, and the tops of the leaves are green and white. This plant is often called the peacock plant.
• Calathea ornata: Youve definitely seen this plant on Instagram. Famous for its adorable pink and white striated leaves, its sometimes known as the femme fatale plant.
• Calathea crocata: This plant has plain leaves but bright lobster-colored flowers that stand upright. You may have heard of it as the “eternal flame.”
How to care for your calathea
Calathea plants are used to growing under the jungle canopy when in the wild, so they prefer indirect light and partial shade. Too much sunlight can in fact burn the leaves and can cause their bright patterns to fade and become indistinct.
Think soil that is consistently moist, but not soggy. You may need to water it as frequently as every few days, depending on the climate. It’s best not to use tap water on this plant because it can turn its leaves yellow when it comes into contact with some minerals and chemicals that are found in it. Instead, water with rainwater or filtered water, or let some tap water sit overnight to allow any fluoride and chlorine present to evaporate.
Calatheas like things to be warm, and they hate drafts. When thinking about placement, its best to choose a spot thats consistently balmy rather than one where the temperature climbs up and down, as this will make your plant unhappy. If it gets colder than 15° Celsius, expect there to be problems. If youre struggling to keep your calathea cosy enough, consider keeping it in a terrarium (but only one large enough to contain its sprawling growth).
This plant is a little fussy about its soil. It needs to be mildly acidic, with a pH approximating 6.5. You also need to choose a soil blend which retains water well, such as an airy and peat-heavy potting mix, to ensure your calathea stays moist enough. However, you must also plant into a pot with sufficient drainage, as root rot can set in if things end up waterlogged.
For a plant with full, glossy leaves, fertilise once a month with a liquid fertiliser diluted by half in all parts of the year except winter, when growth naturally slows down.
Why Are My Tomato Leaves Purple? Mg & K Will Not Fix This.
FAQ
What plant has stripes and purple underneath?
Tradescantia zebrina – Wandering Dude: A Closer Look The leaves are a deep green or purple color with silver or white stripes that look like zebra stripes. This is how the plant got its common name, “zebrina.”
What plant has purple underneath the leaves?
Prayer Plant—The beautiful leaves of prayer plants have a soft purple underside that adds a touch of color and texture to your home. Mar 23, 2024.
How do you care for purple spiderwort?
Spiderwort grows easily in most types of soil, but ideally, aim for a slightly acidic pH. Outdoors, plant your spiderwort in moist soil that drains easily. Indoors, plant your spiderwort up to six inches deep in a large container with similarly moist, well-draining soil.
Is Tradescantia Zebrina an indoor or outdoor plant?
Tradescantia Zebrina is a tropical perennial that is a native ground cover in parts of Mexico. It can be grown outside year-round in zones 8 through 12. However, in most other locations, people treat it as a year-round trailing container houseplant.