Yes, green plants… are not necessarily! If most of the species commonly grown in our interiors have foliage rich in chlorophyll, from soft green to dark fir green, there are a number of species with more original hues: violet, purple, light blue, pink…
They are my little indulgence: my collection of non green plants being quite substantial, I like to associate small touches of color to vary the panorama!
Today, I come to offer you about ten references of the genre, in order to guide you if the idea of a purple or blue plant interests you. There are certainly others: I focused on those I know, either because I own them myself, or because I come across them regularly in garden centers.
I hope my suggestions about non green plants will inspire you!
NON GREEN PLANTS OF PURPLE COLOR
Misery – tradescantia zebrina
Initially, this plant is rather green with silver highlights above and purple below, but depending on its light conditions, the older leaves tend to ‘bleed off’ more and more as it grows. On mine, the central stripe becomes purple and the rest is colored with parma, I find it very pretty! Misery also has the advantage of being easy to maintain – it is satisfied with a good amount of light and a little watering from time to time – and of taking cuttings very easily, simply leaving pieces of stem in water.
Purple misery – tradescantia pallida
This one does not look very impressive at the moment (it is made up of several small cuttings cut short, it will grow!) but its color of a true dark purple, so original, makes it one of my favorite plants! Like its cousin zebrina, purple misery is ultra easy to care for and creates long vines, here quite thick, almost succulent. Mine even bloomed several times in a row! For its color to be more intense, the ideal is to place it in a very bright place, or even leave it outside during the summer.
Purple clover – oxalis triangularis
This poetic and delicate plant, which is not actually part of the clover family, is very popular at the moment thanks to its triangular leaves that evoke butterflies, and its pretty blushing purple color. She grows very well from her bulbs: with just one of them, I had about 8 stems and already several blooms! The little extra detail: the foliage folds back on itself in the evening, when the light drops, to reopen the next morning once the sun has arrived.
Purple basil – ocimum basilicum purpurascens
If you are already used to growing herbs in your kitchen to flavor your dishes, purple basil is a perfect, more colorful and original alternative (example here )! Its hue is a deep purple almost to black, and it grows just like the large-leaved green basil we all know. Its flavor is similar, with a little spicy touch in addition.
NON GREEN PLANTS OF PINK COLOR
Sedum “pink jelly bean” – sedum rubrotinctum aurora
When purchased, this small sedum with plump and shiny leaves like candy beans is often almond green, with a more or less intense pink color at the tips. In case of lack of light, it can even lose these colored touches – but on the contrary, if it is exposed enough, for example by leaving it outside during the summer season, it becomes entirely flamboyant!
Plant with ephelides – hypoestes phyllostachya
I often see small specimens of this tropical plant in garden centres, and I am always surprised by its intense colors (example here )! On most varieties, the leaves are mottled pale pink, fuchsia pink or red over the entire surface, except the veins which remain greener. Be careful though: these “ephelides” are like human freckles: if they don’t have enough sun or light, they fade. The hypoestes phyllostachya is also one of the species that needs a minimum of atmospheric humidity: they must be misted regularly!
Southern Cordyline – cordyline australis “pink passion” or “sunrise”
Also available in more red or purple colours, this yucca or small palm-like plant is quite impressive in its brightest pink colors (example here )! It can be grown in pots indoors during the winter months, and taken out once the frosts have passed. It is a very easy to maintain plant because it is drought tolerant.
NON GREEN PLANTS OF BLUE COLOR
“Moonstone” plant – pachyphytum oviferum
You know my passion for moonstone – I also happen to be in love with a succulent called ‘moonstone’! In addition to the 2-3 cuttings that have been growing on my window sill since March, I treated myself to another small size copy a few weeks ago. In addition to its ultra-fleshy leaves, which I love, this plant has the particularity of presenting a bluish to purplish pastel hue. You must avoid touching its leaves, otherwise the white powder that covers them disappears and leaves marks
Pilosocereus Azureus
It was its slightly dull mint blue color that immediately caught my eye in store: I find the contrast with the beige needles absolutely lovely and so summery! Like most cacti, it needs a lot of light but very little water: I water it once in a while when I think about it in summer, and almost never in winter.
Blue cider gum tree – eucalyptus gunnii
I will certainly end up falling for this pretty little eucalyptus with round leaves (example here ), which has been catching my eye for one or two years for its color and delicacy. It is one of the varieties used for bouquets, but also for its essential oils, which make the plant quite fragrant: try rubbing its bluish foliage between your fingers! It can be grown in a pot indoors in a well-lit area, as well as on a balcony or in a garden, since it is very hardy (down to -18ºC).
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MULTICOLORED NON GREEN PLANTS
Stromanthus triostar
This beautiful plant with elongated leaves features a mix of green and pale pink on top, while it is fuchsia pink on the underside.
Calathea
The different species of calathea usually have very graphic green leaves on the top, and a violet or purple coloring on the underside.
Echeveria
If you are looking for small succulents that are easy to maintain and not very invasive, echeverias have a whole range of different shades depending on the variety: there are several blue references (echeveria blue bird, white cloud, etc.), purple ( purple pearl, etc.), red ( agavoides romeo…) or pink ( echeveria laui pink …).
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